Why Pale Ales?

Are there a lot of Pale Ale variants out there, no one can argue that, but to ignore the variety that we have available to us is short sighted. There are several breweries producing ridiculously diverse lineups with widespread distribution. We are spoiled with what we have available on the shelves everyday. It is far too easy for us to focus on what is new while we take for granted what we always have access too. Unless you are one of the unfortunate few who live in a true beer wasteland, none of us are running out of great beer to drink. Too much great beer out there to focus on those that we don't enjoy.

 

Session IPAs: no good. DIPAs and IPAs: excellent!
Uinta Pale Ales: great beers!
the best brew maker in Utah.

cheers!

 

More creativity is not what I'm looking for. There's now thousands of breweries with tens of thousands of beers in the US. What we need is an increase in quality, consistency, and freshness. Breweries that have perfected their craft and can deliver these items are what I desire. I'll take a Sierra Nevada who can crank out a fresh, well-made, consistent Summerfest in June when I want it, as opposed to an Imperial Peanut Butter Porter Aged in Cocoa Nibs.

And Sierra Nevada is a great example. When I want a stellar American Pale Ale, I know that six pack will be fresh (and if it isn't, the Julian date is clearly marked), perfect, and delicious every...single...time. No gimmicks, barrels, or witty hop nick name. Just Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

 

I sorta agree if a brewery has a pale ale then they dont need a session ipa. Oskar Blues has a great pale ale and they dont have a session ipa I think.

 

My point is does EVERY brewery need a pale ale or session IPA? I quoted this because hell if I want a pale ale, Sierra Nevada is fine, same for Oskar Blues. I don't need all 10,000 breweries brewing the exact same style of generic hogwash.

 

I agree in theory though I don't think that I have come across many Session IPAs that I would say are directly comparable to the same breweries APA. For example, I love Founders All Day IPA but never touch their Pale Ale, two complete different flavor profiles.

 

I do agree with part of your point. It's not neccessarily pointless, but I believe that breweries that make 10 different kinds of IPA's could and certainly should try to expand. Instead of making 8 different IPA's, cut it to 4 and make for example, a Helles Lager, a Bock, a Stout and a Strong Ale. If they don't sell well, then move on. So I certainly agree with you on that!

 

So let me get this straight:

You're complaining about the overabundance of these styles yet still buying them? That's like a person lecturing on the evils of fast food whilst munching on an Arby's roast beef sandwich.

Personally I love those styles. And yes, there are a lot of mediocre to shitty examples out there, but there's nothing like a truly fabulous, well crafted pale. Give me one of those over a barrel aged stout or Barleywine any day.

 

In defense of Uinta: Their Trader "IPA" is one of those beers that we all would have called "hoppy" 10-plus years ago.

 

Because they're making beers for customers other than just you?

 

Since APAs are so widely available, and people like them, including me, I'm assuming there is a reason for them, OP. I hate RIS, but I don't complain about their production.

 

If a local brewery wants to be successful, they better brew something that isn't a huge departure from the AALs most people drink. It's a starting point to get people into their beer without busting them upside the head with a hop sledgehammer. And then it's a place for people who have chased the big hops for a while to return when they want something a bit more sessionable. If it wasn't profitable, they wouldn't brew it. All IMO.

Not everything has to be the biggest, newest, craziest, etc. A well-crafted, classic style will take you far.

Now, should the session IPA or Pale Ale be the beer you ship four states over? Arguable and I could see the point for no, but again, I assume if there wasn't profit in it, they wouldn't do it.

 

If the Uinta APA that you are referring to is the Wyld Extra Pale Ale.....I would buy that before I bought Hop Notch. Blasphemy, I know.

 

The point of my post is that you're not likely to pay your bills if you don't have something that appeals more to the masses than a big IPA. That's why everyone has some variant of a mildly-hopped pale, whether it's well-crafted or not.

 

Yep. I'm not saying you're wrong from a BA point of view by any means. But they (any brewery) gotta pay the bills so they can afford to pump out the good stuff.

Cheers!