Pale ale

Not to be confused with Pale lager.

Pale ale is a golden to amber coloured beer style brewed with pale malt.^[1][2][3] The term first appeared in England around 1703 for beers made from malts dried with high-carbon coke, which resulted in a lighter colour than other beers popular at that time. Different brewing practices and hop quantities have resulted in a range of tastes and strengths within the pale ale family.

A glass of pale ale

History

Coke had been first used for dry roasting malt in 1642, but it was not until around 1703 that the term pale ale was first applied to beers made from such malt. By 1784, advertisements appeared in the Calcutta Gazette for "light and excellent" pale ale.^[4]

By 1830, the expressions bitter and pale ale were synonymous. Breweries tended to designate beers as "pale ales", though customers would commonly refer to the same beers as "bitters". It is thought that customers used the term bitter to differentiate these pale ales from other less noticeably hopped beers such as porters and milds.

By the mid to late 20th century, while brewers were still labeling bottled beers as pale ales, they had begun identifying cask beers as "bitters", except those from Burton on Trent, which tend to be referred to as "pale ales".

Types

Different brewing practices and hop levels have resulted in a range of taste and strength within the pale ale family.^[5]

Amber ale

 

An amber ale

Collier Brothers of London applied for the UK trademark of The Amber Ale in 1876 and the trademark was maintained through changes in ownership until it expired as UK00000009744 in 2002.^[6] It was a "pure delicately hopped Pale Ale" positioned between their light bitter and IPA.^[7] Since the expiry of the trademark some traditional British bitters have been rebranded as amber ales, in some cases to distinguish them from golden ales sold under the same brand eg Shepherd Neame Spitfire.

Amber ale is an emerging term used in Australia, France (as ambrée), Belgium and the Netherlands and North America for pale ales brewed with a proportion of amber malt and sometimes crystal malt to produce an amber colour generally ranging from light copper to light brown.^[8] A small amount of crystal or other coloured malt is added to the basic pale ale base to produce a slightly darker colour, as in some Irish and British pale ales.^[9] In France the term "ambrée" is used to signify a beer, either cold or warm fermented, which is amber in colour; the beer, as in Pelforth ambrée and Fischer amber, may be a Vienna lager, or it may be a bière de garde as in Jenlain ambrée.^[10] In North America, American-variety hops are used in varying degrees of bitterness, although very few examples are particularly hoppy.^[11] Diacetyl is barely perceived or is absent in an amber ale.^[12]

American pale ale

Main article: American pale ale

American pale ale (APA) was developed around 1980.^[13] The brewery thought to be the first to successfully use significant quantities of American hops in the style of an APA and use the name "pale ale" was the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company,^[14] which brewed the first experimental batch of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in November 1980,^[15] distributing the finished version in March 1981.^[16] Anchor Liberty Ale, a 6% abv ale originally brewed by the Anchor Brewing Company as a special in 1975 to commemorate Paul Revere's midnight ride in 1775, which marked the start of the American War of Independence, was seen by Michael Jackson, a writer on beverages, as the first modern American ale.^[17] Fritz Maytag, the owner of Anchor, visited British breweries in London, Yorkshire and Burton upon Trent, picking up information about robust pale ales, which he applied when he made his American version, using just malt rather than the malt and sugar combination common in brewing at that time, and making prominent use of the American hop, Cascade.^[17] By 1983, it was commonly found.^[17] Other pioneers of a hoppy American pale ale are Jack McAuliffe of the New Albion Brewing Company and Bert Grant of Yakima Brewing.^[18][19]

American pale ales are generally around 5% abv, with significant quantities of American hops, typically Cascade.^[20] Although American-brewed beers tend to use a cleaner yeast, and American two row malt,^{[21][self-published source?]} it is particularly the American hops that distinguish an APA from a British or European pale ale.^[22] The style is close to the American India pale ale (IPA), and boundaries blur,^[23] though IPAs are stronger and more assertively hopped.^{[24][self-published source?]} The style is also close to amber ale, though these are darker and maltier due to the use of crystal malts.^[25]

Bière de garde

Main article: Bière de Garde

 

A bière de garde

Bière de garde, or "keeping beer", is a pale ale traditionally brewed in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. These beers were usually brewed by farmhouses in the winter and spring, to avoid unpredictable problems with the yeast during the summertime.

The origin of the name lies in the tradition that it was matured or cellared for a period of time once bottled (most were sealed with a cork), to be consumed later in the year, akin to a saison.

There are a number of beers named "bière de garde" in France, some of the better known brands include: Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre, Trois Monts, Brasseurs Duyck, Jenlain and Brasserie La Choulette, ambrée.

Blonde

Blonde ales are very pale in colour. The term "blonde" for pale beers is common in Europe and South America – particularly in France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, and Brazil – though the beers may not have much in common, other than colour. Blondes tend to be clear, crisp, and dry, with low-to-medium bitterness and aroma from hops, and some sweetness from malt. Fruitiness from esters may be perceived. A lighter body from higher carbonation may be noticed. In the United Kingdom, golden or summer ales were developed in the late 20th century by breweries to compete with the pale lager market. A typical golden ale has an appearance and profile similar to that of a pale lager. Malt character is subdued and the hop profile ranges from spicy to citrus; common hops include Styrian Golding and Cascade. Alcohol is in the 4% to 5% abv range. The UK style is attributed to John Gilbert, owner of Hop Back Brewery, who developed "Summer Lightning" in 1989, which won several awards and inspired numerous imitators.^[26] Belgian blondes are often made with pilsner malt.^[27] Some beer writers regard blonde and golden ales as distinct styles, while others do not. Duvel is a typical Belgian blonde ale, and one of the most popular bottled beers in the country^[28] as well as being well known internationally.^[29]

Burton pale ale

Later in the second half of the nineteenth century, the recipe for pale ale was put into use by the Burton upon Trent brewers, notably Bass; ales from Burton were considered of a particularly high quality due to synergy between the malt and hops in use and local water chemistry, especially the presence of gypsum. Burton retained absolute dominance in pale ale brewing^[30] until a chemist, C. W. Vincent, discovered the process of Burtonization to reproduce the chemical composition of the water from Burton-upon-Trent, thus giving any brewery the capability to brew pale ale.

English bitter

Main article: Bitter (beer)

 

Pale ale, English style

The expression English bitter first appeared in the early 19th century as part of the development and spread of pale ale.^[31] Breweries tended to designate beers as "pale ales", though customers would commonly refer to the same beers as "bitters". It is thought that customers used the term bitter to differentiate these pale ales from other less noticeably hopped beers. Drinkers tend to loosely group modern bitters into "session" or "ordinary" bitters (up to 4.1% abv), "best" or "special" bitters (between 4.2% and 4.7% abv) and "strong" bitters (4.8% abv and over).

India pale ale (IPA)

Main article: India pale ale

India pale ale (IPA) is a style of pale ale developed in England for export to India. The first known use of the expression "India pale ale" is in an advertisement in the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser on 27 August 1829.^[32]

Worthington White Shield, originating in Burton-upon-Trent, is a beer considered to be part of the development of India pale ale.

The colour of an IPA can vary from a light gold to a reddish amber.

Irish red ale

Main article: Irish red ale

Irish red ale, red ale, or Irish ale (Irish: leann dearg^[33]) is a name used by brewers mainly in Ireland and the United States, but also in other countries. Smithwick's and Kilkenny are typical examples of macro-brewed commercial Irish red ale. There are many other smaller and craft examples, such as O'Hara's, Sullivan's, Murphy's, Porterhouse and Franciscan Well.

Irish red ales are characterised by their malt profile and typically have a sweet, caramel or toffee-like taste, low bitterness and amber to red colour - hence the name.^[34]

The term "Irish red ale" was popularised in the United States and subsequently exported worldwide. Irish brewers have increasingly adopted the term to distinguish their beers in both the domestic and international markets. In the US, the name can also be used to describe a darker amber ale or a "red" beer that is a lager with caramel colouring, for example Killian's Irish Red.

Strong pale ale

Strong pale ales are ales made predominantly with pale malts and have an alcohol strength that may start around 5%, though typically start at 7 or 8% by volume and may go up to 12%, though brewers have been pushing the alcohol strength higher. In 1994, the Hair of the Dog Brewing Company produced a strong pale ale with an alcohol by volume of 29%. In 2010, Brewdog released "Sink the Bismarck!", a 41% abv pale ale,^[35] which is stronger than typical distilled spirits (40% abv).

Beer Festivals and Pale Ales

Beer festivals provide a platform for showcasing a diverse range of Pale Ales from around the world, including both traditional English and American varieties. These events offer visitors the opportunity to taste and compare different styles of Pale Ales, while also promoting craft breweries and encouraging experimentation with new Pale Ale recipes. According to an article on the Beer Council website, regional variations of Pale Ales have gained popularity, with English beers focusing more on malt-forward flavors and American versions showcasing bolder hoppiness from US hop varieties, such as citrus and pine notes.^[36]

Craft breweries have played a significant role in giving new life to classic beer styles like Pale Ale, experimenting with different yeast strains, hop combinations, and brewing processes to create unique interpretations of an old favorite.^[37] Beer festivals often feature such innovative brews, giving attendees a chance to explore the exciting world of Pale Ales and their evolving place in the global beer landscape.

References

1. . www.beer-pages.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
2. Paige Williams (May 2003). "Atlanta, Vol. 43, No. 1". Atlanta. Emmis Communications: 104. ISSN 0004-6701. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
3. D. E. Briggs; J. S. Hough; R. Stevens; Tom W. Young (1982). Malting and Brewing Science. Springer. p. 810. ISBN 978-0-8342-1684-6. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
4. Steele, Mitch (10 September 2013). IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale. Brewers Publications. ISBN 978-1-938469-02-2.
5. India Pale Ale 8 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Roger Protz, beer-pages.com
6. "Trade mark number UK00000009744". UK Intellectual Property Office.
7. "Collier Brothers advert". Tottenham and Edmonton Weekly Herald. The British Newspaper Archive. 24 May 1879. p. 8.
8. James Squire Amber Ale 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Michael Jackson 1 October 2001: "The designation Amber Ale is to be taken seriously".
9. "CraftBeer.com - American Ales". craftbeer.com. 29 July 2012. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012.
10. "Duyck Jenlain Ambrée". ratebeer.com. 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011. Jenlain Ambrée
11. "Amber Ale". beerbrewguru.com.au. 23 October 2009.
12. "Ale Styles Guide - IPA & Ale Beer Styles | Beer of the Month Club". The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
13. Randy Mosher (2011). Tasting Beer. p. 212. ISBN 9781603420891. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
14. Sam Calagione (19 January 2011). Brewing Up a Business. John Wiley and Sons, 2011. ISBN 9781118061879. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
15. "Sierra Nevada Our Story". sierranevada.com. 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
16. Maureen Ogle (2006). Ambitious Brew. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 305. ISBN 9780156033596. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
17. Michael Jackson (1997). Michael Jackson's beer companion. Running Press. pp. 161–162. ISBN 9780762402014. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
18. John Holl (2011). . craftbeer.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
19. Michael Jackson (2011). "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - How Bert Grant Saved The World". beerhunter.com. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
20. "CraftBeer.com | American Ales". craftbeer.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
21. Chris Wright (2007). The Beer Journal. Lulu.com. p. 38. ISBN 9781430312468. Retrieved 8 July 2011.^{[self-published source]}
22. Eric Asimov (28 June 2010). "Sampling American Pale Ales - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. New York. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
23. Andy Crouch (2010). Great American Craft Beer. Running Press. p. 126. ISBN 9780762441600. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
24. Chris Wright (2007). The Beer Journal. Lulu.com. p. 56. ISBN 9781430312468. Retrieved 8 July 2011.^{[self-published source]}
25. Marty Nachel (2008). Homebrewing For Dummies. For Dummies. p. 128. ISBN 9780470374160. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
26. "Hop Back Summer Lightning « Beer Culture with Des de Moor". desdemoor.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
27. Tim Webb. Good Beer Guide to Belgium, 6th edition, p 81.
28. The Complete Handbook of Beers and Brewing Brian Glover
29. Miller, John W. "Belgium's Duvel Finds Crafty Success". WSJ.
30. Simmonds, Peter Lund (1858). The dictionary of trade products ... - Google Books. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
31. "Bitter, Ordinary and Special". All About Beer - Beer News, Reviews, Events, and Education. November 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
32. "Classified Advertising". The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842). NSW: National Library of Australia. 27 August 1829. p. 3. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
33. "BeerTools.com Recipe Library - Leann Dearg". www.beertools.com.
34. "Irish-style Red Beer". craftbeer.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
35. "Hair of the Dog Dave from Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, a Barley Wine style beer: An unofficial page for Hair of the Dog Dave from Hair of the Dog Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon , United States of America". Ratebeer.com. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
36. "Getting To Know The Pale Ale: From English Origins To American Variations". Beer Council. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
37. "Getting To Know The Pale Ale: From English Origins To American Variations". Beer Council. Retrieved 20 April 2023.

Bibliography

• Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the European Tradition, Phil Markowski, ISBN 0-937381-84-5
• Great Beer Guide: 500 Classic Brews, Michael Jackson, ISBN 0-7513-0813-7
• Dictionary of Beer, Ed: A. Webb, ISBN 1-85249-158-2

External links

• Difference between pale ale and india pale ale