After a recent review that I have put together for a fruity and hoppy pale ale, I was shocked to discover that there isn’t a Pale Ale Appreciation Society, and I think there should be. Before some clever brewer realised that there were some lovely flavours to be got from an India Pale Ale (IPA), pale ales were bees knees; drinkers admired their drinkability, there balance of mild sweetness against the mild hoppy bitterness, but it just seems that today, as they don’t have the alcohol punch or the intense hop bitterness that characterises some modern day IPAs, pale ales seem to have proper fallen out of favour amongst drinkers. For one like think that there is still a place in the glass for a pale ale, and that they have much to offer, especially for those who enjoy a subtler, more refined beer experience (like I do sometimes). A Very Quick History Lesson Pale ales were first brewed in the early 1700’s as an alternative to the darker, richer and more robust ales that were around at the ...
Beer Reviews: Follow me on a slightly boozy (and delicious) journey, as I write about beer and the brewing industry from the standpoint of a typical beer drinker.