New World pale ales make a great tangy summertime beer.

According to Waitrose, “One topic of conversation that dominates the beer world is the seemingly insatiable demand for New World pale ales. The number one attraction of these beers is their intensely hoppy flavour, which comes from American, Australian and New Zealand hops and delivers punchy, tropical-fruit flavours.”

The trend was seeded by bottled beers imported from the US, like Sierra Nevada and Brew Dog (which quickly switched to cans with very bold graphics) and then by UK craft breweries using imported New World hops. The volume growth has been enough for mainstream UK brewers to get involved with their own American pale ale style beers with the same New World hops.

The supermarket shelves are brimful of choice. Cans are popular for keeping the beer fresher, they pack better in cold boxes or in the boat bilge (to keep cool) and they are a larger canvas for ultra-modern packaging graphics. Lined up together on the supermarket shelf they present a dominant splash of colour – but also a dilemma in deciding which to go for.

There is more recipe creativity to come, according to Waitrose, with new yeast strains and protein-rich malts. So the choice can only get bigger and the humble British best bitter may be under volume threat.

This may be a current trend now but, as often happens, there was a comparatively long gestation period before it suddenly took off a couple of years ago.

PALE ALES FOR YOU

Here are a few in the New World or American pale ale genre I think are worth trying.

I would start with the US Sierra Nevada which could be credited with being the first to gain serious traction in the UK – that was back in 1980 when it first made its appearance over here. Some would compare it to a lager type but it is genuine pale ale style and, at 5.6.per cent abv, a meaty beer. I had the chance to visit their distillery a couple of years ago. Stunningly clean and efficient, and the beer we get over here is top quality. About £1.80 for a 355ml bottle.

Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Scorcher India Pale was created to ‘cut’ spicy foods and to go with salads, grilled meats and cheese. At 4.5 per cent, it costs £1.99 for a 335ml bottle.

Beavertown Gamma Ray American Pale Ale is brewed at a small North London craft brewery. Flavours are juicy tropical fruits and, at 5.4 per cent, it costs £2.40 for 330ml can.

Established UK brewers are fighting back with their own ‘craft’ offers. One is Fullers Wild River Pacific Pale Ale, inspired by US Californian ales. At 4.5 per cent abv, it is £1.99 for a 330ml can at Waitrose. And Fullers Frontier Lager, distinctly American but also brewed in London, features New World hops and Old World malt. At 4.5 per cent, it is nicely tangy, £1.79 for 330ml.

One from our side which would make a good benchmark to judge against the US styles is Whitstable Bay Pale Ale. It is labelled as from the Faversham Steam Brewery which has been resurrected as a brand by Shepherd Neame brewery, which many East Coast readers will know. With a light, sharp citrus flavour, this one is made from English hops and is a very nice summer ale for the picnic ice box or the boat bilge. A perfect UK pale ale, 4 per cent abv and £4.70 for a four-pack of 500ml cans – excellent value!

The post One Ale of a Beer appeared first on All At Sea.