Pale Ale Style

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Harnkus, Apr 3, 2014.

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  1. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    Hi. I get that 2014 is the year of the Session IPA. I have no issues with this neo-style and I completely separate them from traditional American pale ales. If you disagree on the latter, you're not paying attention. Anyway, this morning I saw that Bear Republic is releasing a new APA (or new to me at least) in 6 packs, Grand Am Pale Ale. That got me thinking that I can't remember the last wide distribution release of an awesome pale ale, aside from Southern Tier Live (and I'm not really sure how far that one reaches). I know Maine Beer Company is killing it, but their prices are simply cruel (spare me the "if you are buying it then the price is right BS...I'm not listening) and for me, APAs belong in sixpacks.

    This is me asking for a reco, putting it out there that I am in NY, and I don't trade.

    Thanks,

    Paul Stanley
     
    #1 Harnkus, Apr 3, 2014
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  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Victory released Headwaters Pale Ale a few years ago. It is a tasty APA and it is selling well for Victory.

    Cheers to Victory!
     
    #2 JackHorzempa, Apr 3, 2014
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  3. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    Forgot about that one.

    I bet I'm going to say that a few times.
     
    #3 Harnkus, Apr 3, 2014
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  4. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you can make the trip up there, a growler of Amazeballs from Peekskill would be a good option. Maybe not as good value as Headwaters, but definitely cheaper than the MBC stuff (which I agree is both expensive and very tasty).
     
    #4 rozzom, Apr 3, 2014
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  5. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    A Pale Ale that is new to me is Two Brothers Sidekick Extra Pale Ale. I had my first Sidekick in 2013. I took note that this beer was added to BA on 3/15/13 so I am guessing this is a new beer?

    Anyhow, Sidekick Extra Pale Ale is OUTSTANDING!

    Cheers to Two Brothers Brewing!
     
    #5 JackHorzempa, Apr 3, 2014
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  6. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    I would love to have the lifestyle where I could drive a few hours for beer. I had Newburgh's Paper Box Pale Ale last week, because my neighbor brought it back for me. Did not care for it one bit
     
    #6 Harnkus, Apr 3, 2014
  7. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Pooh-Bah (2,303) Sep 4, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I guess I don't pay attention because Session IPA's are just a marketing term for Pale Ales...
     
    #7 Eriktheipaman, Apr 3, 2014
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  8. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    Yeah, but that is one, IMO, that really seems like the new "Session IPA". The galaxy hops take it fare away from what I have come to know as an APA. Good beer tho
     
    #8 Harnkus, Apr 3, 2014
  9. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    Nope. Try again.
     
    #9 Harnkus, Apr 3, 2014
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  10. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah fair play.

    It's hard to think of great APAs that come in six-packs (other than the obvious, like SNPA). It's one of my favourite styles as well, but my true favourites tend to me draught/growler/larger format only
    Great Divide Fresh Hop is great, but is a seasonal and in bombers. Still, a better "value" option than MBC.
     
    #10 rozzom, Apr 3, 2014
  11. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Pooh-Bah (2,303) Sep 4, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    The OP told me if I don't agree then I must not be paying attention, but didn't give any evidence or reason to support their opinion?

    Am I doing it right?
     
    #11 Eriktheipaman, Apr 3, 2014
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  12. DWheeler379

    DWheeler379 Zealot (747) Jun 15, 2012 Colorado

    Good post. I'm a big APA fan and they are totally different from the new session IPAs (particularly in the malt). I don't know of many newly released ones, but here are a few faves you might get in NY (& hopefully fairly fresh):
    -Lagunitas New Dogtown PA
    -Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
    -Founders Dry Hopped PA
    -Westbrook One Claw Rye PA
    Like Southern Tier Live a lot as well.
    Firestone Walker's Pale 31 is probably really good, too, but I can't get it and doubt you can.
     
    #12 DWheeler379, Apr 3, 2014
  13. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, there will be varying opinions on what constitutes an APA vs. a Session IPA. Sidekick has too much body/mouthfeel for me to classify it as a Session IPA. In addition the brewery is explicitly labeling this beer as a Pale Ale vs. a Session IPA.

    I suppose we will have to agree to disagree on Sidekick.

    Cheers!
     
    #13 JackHorzempa, Apr 3, 2014
  14. CalgaryFMC

    CalgaryFMC Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2013 Canada (AB)

    I think APAs are more malty and full-bodied than are session IPAs, which are purely hop flavor delivery vehicles. Of course one could probably name beers that bridge the gap.
     
    #14 CalgaryFMC, Apr 3, 2014
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  15. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    "Session IPA" is a "craft" marketing term for IPA Lite?
     
    #15 herrburgess, Apr 3, 2014
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  16. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    If you are buying it then the price is right.
     
    #16 KS1297, Apr 3, 2014
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  17. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    It's surely just a matter of names which is what beer styles are all about in any case.Beer exists along a spectrum and where the dividing lines are will always be arbitrary.We've had session IPAs for around a century and just called them bitters.
    Pale Ale is the overall family name and embraces IPA, Session IPA, ESB , good old fashioned bitter and the lot.
     
    #17 marquis, Apr 3, 2014
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  18. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    The OP specifically enquired about American Pale Ale (APA) beers.

    Cheers!
     
    #18 JackHorzempa, Apr 3, 2014
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  19. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    I know full well about the origins of English IPAs. In this case, you, and Englishmen, are not really fit to respond, since you do not have access to the rising plethora of American Session IPAs. Yes, there is a spectrum, and yes there will always be historic beer nerds to shit on your POV, but in this case, if you cannot decipher between a beer marketed as a session IPA and an APA, then your unfit to comment on any beer nuances...because the differences are that palpable and categorical.
     
    #19 Harnkus, Apr 3, 2014
  20. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #HarnkusNoFilter
     
    #20 rozzom, Apr 3, 2014
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