"Real" American Pale Ale Advice

My new favorite is Pipeworks Lizard King.

 

Bell's Midwestern Pale Ale is pretty good, nice and malty...

http://bellsbeer.com/brands/#Year_Round-8


Atwater Detroit Pale Ale is also worth a try, it is pretty well balanced.

http://www.atwaterbeer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/pale_ale.jpg

 

Deschutes Mirror Pond. I've always considered SNPA to be an IPA, due to the high hops. Mirror Pond has nice balance, a solid grain base, with just enough hops that you can drink a bunch of them without getting bored.

 

Yards Philly Pale Ale

 

I bet you can get Westbrook One Claw in VA. I love that stuff!

 

What's the over/under for the first Zombie Dust post #?

 

Well the Victory Headwaters Pale Ale might be worth a try. Quite popular around here.

I'm also quite fond of the Full Nelson Pale Ale from Blue Mountain there in VA.

 

I will second the Lizard King pick, great stuff. I also think the Zombie Dust post should be along any second...

 

I'm glad you posted this, because I realized I haven't had an APA in a seemingly long time. The market is so flooded with IPA's that whenever I want some hops I just grab 1 of thousands. I've neglected the APA style quite a bit, actually. Though now, and your post says it, many beers labelled as such are basically just IPA's anyway.

 

I remember enjoying Starr Hill's Grateful pale ale the last time I had it -- should be pretty easy to find in Virginia, too.

 

At the risk of being too obvious- is Anchor Liberty Ale a regular part of your rotation?

Another one that comes to mind is Caldera Pale Ale.

Are Ambers ok to suggest? Some hoppy ones like Anderson Valley seem to border on APA territory.

 

One Claw is a pretty good beer, IMO far better than their IPA. Well worth a buy.

 

One of my favorite styles because you cant go wrong with them ive not had a bad pale ale they are always at the least decent or better

To start Sierra Nevada is not my favorite but because ive had it so often.

Lagunitas New Downtown is hoppier than Sierra Nevada but because of the malt bill you can tell its not an IPA. Worth trying at least.

Troegs Pale Ale

Headwaters Pale Ale is very good from Victory

Firestone Pale 31 is a bit hoppy but a good beer especially if you like tropical.

312 Urban Wheat from Goose Island was a bit better than the other adjunct lagers and was nice all last summer.

If you get flying fish, their hopfish is an english ipa but to me is comparable to an APA in that the hops are toned down and the malt is very "tea" like and on the thinner side of medium feel.

 

Brooklyn American Pale Ale is a good choice.

 

I think these are all available in VA but check your freshness dates:
Brothers Great Outdoors
Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale
Wild Wolf Alpha Ale
Highland St Terese's
Anderson Valley Poleeko Gold
Blue Mountain Full Nelson and Victory Headwaters as others have mentioned

 

Gansett Big Mamie is solid.

 

Fist City from Rev is a recommendation on a straight-up classic styled APA for OP

 

Some of these might be hoppier than SN pale ale, but they definitley carry more of a malt profile

DC Brau The Public
Lagunitas New Dog Town
Union Craft Duckpin Pale Ale
Great Lakes Burning River
Spring House Seven Gates (might be tough to find in Virginia)

 

Mirror Pond or Dales are both solid APA's