The 411 on APAs

There is a saying: "There is a beer for everyone."

There is another saying, "beer snobs are jerks."

America is a country full of amazing craft brewers with even more amazing beers, and people who'd rather just stick with their $2 European lagers. I don't blame them; for a lot of people, paying $9 or more for a six-pack of some no-name microbrewery's Brown Ale is not high on their list of favorite things to do on Friday nights. Me neither! I don't have the money to shell out every week on random beers (I wish I did). Plus, there is a certain risk involved whenever you buy a new beer, and for most people it's just not worth it.

The sheer selection in some liquor stores can be intimidating, if not unsettling. Dry Irish Stout, Milk Stout, Sweet Stout (which is technically the same thing as Milk Stout), Oatmeal Stout, Russian Imperial Stout, Foreign Extra Stout, etc. It is not uncommon to find all of these at larger stores. Where the hell do you begin?

The point of all this is that America is having a sort of beer revolution right now, and I see it as my civic duty to spread the word. With each article, I intend to shed just a little light on certain styles of beers and offer some good examples to try. I'm not going to talk about random Franco-Belgian Biere de Gardes that you can only get by bribing a rogue monk under a full moon. I will be talking about local beers and/or beers that are relatively easy to find in the area.

This week is American Pale Ales (or APA). Besides IPAs, there is no beer that better personifies American brewing like APAs. They're generally bright in flavor, citrusy tasting from the heavy use of hops, moderately bitter, and of moderate strength (4-6% ABV) with basic malt flavors (bready and toasty). They have a little caramel-like sweetness to balance the hoppiness. APAs are usually golden to dark copper in color, however darker versions are common. The yeast flavor is typically hard to find. Extra Pale Ales are a relatively new offshoot; basically hoppier versions of APAs. They are slightly more bitter and loaded with those citrus flavors that hopheads crave.

Floral or herbal aromas are also common depending on the strains of hops used. I'm not talking roses and petunias here; hops are genetically and aromatically similar to marijuana. As someone who routinely sticks his head in large bags of hops, I can tell you with all seriousness this is not a joke. I have found that Cannabis sativa tends to smell more skunk-like (sulphery), but they're very close.

One of my favorite examples of American Pale Ale, and one probably many of you have tried, is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. SNPA is a legend among American beers, and has been in production since the early eighties. It's smooth and crisp, with a hop to malt profile that leans slightly hoppier with strong orange and lemony flavors from the generous use of hops. It has a good body, but not too thick. In fact, you can drink several of these without even thinking about it.

Sierra Nevada also brews several fresh hop varieties in the vein of their signature brew, which are in my opinion better, albeit more expensive. Fresh hop beers are bursting with aroma and flavor, and this is no exception. Think of regular SNPA with a kick. Fresh hops are not dried like regular hops, which makes their volatile aroma compounds much stronger than normal.

Another great, and slightly more local beer is Berkshire Brewing Co.'s Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale. This beer has a great hop aroma and taste, balanced with a strong malt backbone. You can find them in large 22 oz bottles called bombers, or occasionally growlers.

If you're looking for something a little more subdued, but no less tasty, grab a bottle of Samuel Adam's Boston Ale. Extremely drinkable with a soft hop flavor and aroma; this is a great beer if you're not a hop head and personally my favorite Sam Adams (besides their Imperial Pilsner, which is seasonal).

And don't forget to try Willimantic Brewing Co.'s Rye Mail Ale; it will be back on tap starting January 23. A tremendous unfiltered beer with great spicy rye notes and full of amazing hop notes. It's a bit leaner than most pales, which makes it a great session brew.

Just remember, these are but a few of the great pale ales out there. Don't be afraid to try something new.

Until next time, Sláinte!