Classic American Pale Ale

You can't go wrong with Anchor Liberty ale.

 

New Dogtown by Lagunitas is quite solid as well.

 

Melvin Hubert is fantastic. St. Lupulin from odell is a summer favorite as well as rupture.

 

I'll have to look for that one, considering that your favorites and my favorites match up -- I know we get some Troegs beers around here (had a pilsner from them last year that I really liked), so with some luck and checking the right beer stores at the right time I figure I'll be able to stumble across it.

 

Betty by Hangar 24. Perhaps a 'small' IPA by some definitions. Exceptional balance.

 

I consulted my Untappd account that I created in 2012 when I decided to go all-in after visiting CO - gonna have to dance with the one that brought me .... Dales

 

It's expensive, but Maine MO is APA perfection.

 

Caldera Pale Ale is my favorite, followed by SNPA.

 

I think there’s a sort of 2 waves/approaches to pales. A more traditional approach along the lines of SNPA and the new wave so to say like Zombie Dust, Born Yestersay, etc

That being said I love SNPA, Two Brothers Sidekick, and A Tiny Beautiful Something

 

I dunno. 37 years later and it looks overwhelmingly like they are still on top.
One more vote for SNPA.

 

As far as a pale ale and pale ale alone it doesn't get better than SNPA

 

I’ll be one of many that votes for SNPA, and I’d agree with Deschutes Mirror Pond as well. And I don’t think it’s made anymore, but I drank a lot of Drifter Pale Ale from Widmer back when I lived in Portland between 2008-2011.

 

I'll echo Deschutes Mirror Pond, I've always liked it even more than SNPA. Pretty soon Deschutes will drop their seasonal Red Chair APA, which is not just the best pale ale I've ever had, but one of the best all around beers in general. Get some fresh Red Chair, you will not be disappointed.

 

I have not read the thread.

That said, I have always considered SNPA the prototypical American IPA. If one is willing to accept SNPA as an IPA, then we can open the thought that a HopBomb isn't the definition of an APA.

For me, the perfect APA is, still, to this day, Deschutes Mirror Pond.

 

Classic = SNPA

The one I've found recently that I really enjoyed was Pizza Boy's Dub 56.

 

I'm not sure entirely what you mean by "IPAs disguising themselves as Pale Ales" and some additional clarity would be helpful. (ABV, Hops?)

In no particular order:

FW 31
SNPA
Hill Farmstead Edward
MBC Peeper
Daisy Cutter

Unfortunately not much new being added to what's already said above. I guess that's telling about these beers!

 

Everyone's taken their stand, nothing wrong with SNPA and Daisy. The challenge is the ABV 'spread' of these pale ales. On the low end, you have things that are disguised or re-branded as 'session IPAs' (yeah, right) that are completely drinkable like Easy Jack and AllDay IPA. Up a bit on taste is HA Tuna, which has become my new 'starter' beer when I'm looking for something low ABV, Daisy Cuttter is a step up at 5.2, and then it tops out (for me at least) at around 6% for any pale in the likes of Melvin's Hubert - I think Hubert is their most balanced and most interesting beer for the alcohol level. Enjoy...whatever you prefer.

 

Edward.

 

Balast Point Grunion

 

Although tasty, it's a bit too high in ABV for a pale ale IMO - it's higher than other brewery's IPAs. BJCP caps pale ales out at 6.2% (still too high IMO but that's still below Fort Point). Styles noted for individual beers on this site aren't always true, and one does not have to believe everything a brewer claims because where do we draw the line? If a brewer makes a 9% hop bomb and calls it a pale ale, do I have to believe them? We all know it would be one of the highest rated pale ales on this site because of the ABV alone...