Paste Magazine, Best Pale ale blind test

same

 

Maybe that was one reason it made it to the top.

Or maybe the trendy lactose thing (would be more Paste like).

I have grown weary of brewers labeling a 7+ % hop bomb a pale ale. Lag Citrusinensis (7.7%) is a prime example. And I get that an IPA/DIPA are "pales" at heart.

 

Maybe this?


Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale

• Color: Straw to deep gold
• Clarity: Low to very high degree of cloudiness is typical of these beers. Starch, yeast, hop, protein and/or other compounds contribute to a wide range of hazy appearance within this category.
• Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: Low to low-medium malt aroma and flavor may be present
• Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Medium-high to very high hop aroma and flavor are present, with attributes typical of hops from any origin.
• Perceived Bitterness: Low to medium. Perceived impression of bitterness is soft and well-integrated into overall balance, and may differ significantly from measured or calculated IBU levels.
• Fermentation Characteristics: Low to medium fruity-estery aroma and flavor may be present, but are usually overwhelmed by hop fruitiness. Diacetyl should not be perceived.

Why would it being 4.7% be one reason it made it to the top?

 

True. They seemed to favor fieldwerks because of its hoppiness standing out. And then there was another brett pale ale that stood out.

Vastly different beers vs. others will always stand out when 80% are of the traditional c hop pale ale.variety. Best example I have seen is the Eddy line river runner. Citrus explosion with some piney notes. Not too sweet. Much in line with 12th of never.

Those are vastly different than any NE style juice bomb. I can appreciate 5-6% juice bombs. But anymore the lines are way too blurred for these lists to really make any sense.

 

As I drink a "Session IPA" I notice that it and most such-labeled beers are less hoppy than all the beers I've had in the top 50 on this list of pales, most of which are session strength or close.

 

Perhaps I give the folks there too much credit. I thought it was appropriate for a PA to be sub 6–even 5 but then read the lactose thing. Oh well.

I am weary of everyone just calling super hopped up high ABV beer a pale ale. Sure IPAs are a pale ale but Lagunitas Citrusinensis a pale ale at 7.7%???

It seems naming now is more so aimed at not competing with yourself or perhaps intentionally competing with others that the designations have lost meaning.

I guess I like to see more really balanced and less high pales out there.

 

that's nonsense, agreed. nothing over 6.x should be considered a pale, even 6+ pushing line.

this is a classic case of not many more entries than what PASTE was looking for, some of these entries unsightly. Many brewers making world class simply don't give a f--k is my best guess. So long days where Paste et al. or even a BA score even compute.