Classic American Pale Ale

I love Daisy Cutter, but unfortunately they don’t distribute down in FL so my choice would be Reef Donkey

 

Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale is a local classic and probably my favorite.

I really like Bells Oatsmobile. Plenty of flavor packed into a 4.3 ABV beer and good balance between hops and malts. It reminds me of an old favorite, 21st Amendment Bitter American, which was discontinued a few years ago.

Shout out to Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale too.

 

Trillium is not in that category, style wise. Or taste wise.

 

Neshaminy Creek JAWN is a good one

 

I said above that I don't consider it a "classic" APA, but Trillium lists Fort Point as a pale ale on the can and it's listed as an APA on this site. Meets a lot of the BJCP guidelines, too -- although I'm sure it's hazier than their reference.

As for classic APAs, I stick with SNPA and Stoudts -- although I agree with others here that Yards and Deschutes are excellent.

 

Nothing matches it. Since its availability is great too, there's little reason to find a substitute. For me, if I wanted to scratch that itch and not go with SNPA, I look to Bell's Amber and North Coast Red Seal even though they aren't thought of in the same category as SNPA.

 

Jawn

Fear of a Brett planet.....not classic as it has Brett in it

Love half acre but $ is too big

394.....just found this beer and its really good.

I remember stouts being a good one but I have not had it in years.

Enjoy

 

DEFINITELY loves me some Daisy Cutter, but if you don't like Thornbridge Kipling, you just don't like beer. I know, I know, it's not "American", but whatever.

 

Wyoming Pale Ales that are alternatives to SNPA, Melvin Hubert and Roadhouse Trout Whistle.

 

I really like Switchback's seasonal EPA. It's bright, clean, and hoppy. If it were year round, it would be a go-to for sure.

 

Sierra Nevada's is great of course (haven't had any in a while though -- need to pick up one of their variety packs or something, there's always a few in them.)

Deschutes' Mirror Pond is another favorite of mine, and possibly the only regular pale ale I've tried so far that I might like even more than SNPA.

 

Moon man for sure. Especially if you're in Northern Illinois. Take a quick drive across the border and savor the goodness. You can get NG almost anywhere in Wisconsin. It's about as available as Bud Light

 

Odell 5 Barrel covers that base for me.
There aren't all that many old school APA's coming out of the mountain region these days. Loads of great IPA's and "new school" pale ales, but our SNPA lineage isn't that strong anymore.

 

Deschutes Red Chair is another when it hits the shelves.

 

My two favorites are SNPA and Mirror Pond. I also really enjoy Troegs Solid Sender, but I’m not sure if that makes it out your way.

 

Almost forgot a new favourite. Odell Rupture!

 

Wow -- there's one I haven't thought of in a while -- have to see if I can track it down... is it still brewed?

 

SNPA is the pale ale I drink most often of course.

Locally, Greenbrier Valley's Wild Trail Pale Ale is an awesome, true to style classic pale.

Since its another 3 Floyd's brew you might consider it an IPA disguised as a pale, but Alpha King is one of the best pale ales I've had, aside from SNPA. I don't care what style one might otherwise label it--its a damn good beer, one of my absolute faves that I could drink anytime. Unfortunately, I'm only able to find it when I am visiting certain places in KY.

 

Red seal is very good but I dont remember ever seeing a date on bottles so I pass. I have had it fresh from dated cases and it's good ,old not so much.



Solid sender is also a pretty solid beer.

Enjoy

 

I've always thought Mirror Pond was an excellent example of the "classic" pale ale style but Maine Beer makes some of my favorites with MO, Peeper, and Tiny Beautiful Something