Classic American Pale Ale

Haven't seen it around in years, but I always really liked Widmer's Drifter Pale Ale. Felt like it was a pretty good comparison to SNPA, solid malt backbone with a mix of pine and citrus hops. Moderate bitterness and very drinkable.

 

I'll second Yards, and put Flying Doggy Style in there too. Perfect balance and a lovely biscuity malt that refreshes and relaxes all at once. Don't all shout at me at once, but I've never liked SNPA, finding it too hoppy, and not particularly balanced. I've revisited it several times in the last 13 years I've been drinking and never once gotten into it.

 

Man...I forgot about Anchor Liberty!

 

SMPA works for me.

 

I love Lizard King.

 

SNPA is all but undrinkable. There's a reason it's 9.99

 

Yes, there is a reason, but that's not it.

 

I wonder, if you haven't already noticed, at what point you will realize how different your (perfectly valid) opinions about beers are?

 

@cavedave
Very well stated. But...please don't feed the troll

 

Alpine recently released a "classic American Pale Ale" called Truck Trail. It reminded me a lot of SNPA, which is a good thing.

 

At first I thought you were just a troll considering your join date and your above hot take/comment, but then I read some of your past comments and....you just seem pretty miserable in general.

I could keep going on and on but it's kinda depressing, really. Unless your some sort of masochist or something, why even bother commenting on subjects that make you so miserable?

 

Funny I did the same and ended up thinking that @TriggerFingers was right after reading them.

 

Sweet Water 420 Pale Ale. Haven't had one in years but It's one of the beers that got me to make the switch to Craft along with Magic Hat #9 not quite pale ale. I am thankful that I was introduced to these pale ales and my eyes were opened. No more wasting money on Budweiser and Corona.

 

Maine Peeper... game over

 

Mirror Pond and Manny's for me.

 

For a national beer - Firestone Walker Pale 31 for me.

 

SNPA is a classic, and I still pick it up in 12pk cans from time to time. A few others I would throw in the ring would be Mirror Pond by Deschutes, Drumroll by O'Dell, Moon Man by New Glarus, and City Wide by 4 Hands. All really good, but certainly "modern" pales.

 

I liked that one too. Then they got rid of it and replaced it with the ghastly alchemy pale. I think they brought back drifter earlier this year but in the time between old drifter and new drifter I have stopped seeing Widmer on the shelves almost completely.

 

I remember liking Central Waters HHG a lot

 

I believe SNPA is simply the classic APA.

However, my favorite is probably Shoals Pale Ale by Smuttynose. Unfortunately I haven't seen it around here lately.

Locally, Proof Brewing Co. here in Tallahassee makes EightFive-O which is hard to beat as it flows freshest!