Pale Ales.... why?

[DalekSec]

In todays most bizarre edugeek thread....

 

Why have Pale Ales suddenly got so popular? I mean their not bad but i much prefer a proper ale like spitfire or any of the badger line-up (Bar Fustey Furret as it makes you smell and you can taste weed).

 

I've already got a few Pale ales around xmas and i do drink them and they are nice but i'm just wondering why the sudden popularity? My local Tesco (small one, local shop for local people there nothing for you there) has one huge unit full all different pale ales. From the nice ones such as Brewdog to the WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT ones where they stick monkey hair or something stupid in them.

 

Maybe i'm just getting old and just prefer old normal ales.... i'll go sit in the pub corner putting Oasis on the music box and sob into my trooper beer

[3s-gtech]

Because FASHION. It's why people are evidently drinking Bud Light, despite stuff like that being piped in directly from the bowels of hell. Thankfully, there's still plenty of choice and some better choices haven't disappeared from shelves, but there does appear to be a wider range of different gins than actual beer/ale, which is a bit mad.

[PotNoodleTech]

The real answer is... who cares why? Just drink them and enjoy! Dark or light citrusy with a hint of peach or gravelly with a hint of weed, drink them all and be merry!

[admars]

I "discovered" IPA when I was at college some 20odd years ago (Green King etc), and enjoyed real ales, and I like some of these "modern" craft beers, and pale ales, but I don't understand the obsession with making them grapefruity, a few I get past a couple fo mouthfuls and that's enough.

 

I think it comes down to lots of clever marketing, if ppl like them fine, but Brewdog (personally I think Punk IPA is vastly overrated bu that's cos its alcholic grapefruit jouce ) have sort of created a rod for their own back, they found a niche, exploited it, now there's a billion "craft" ales with wierd and wonderful names and packages.

 

Like the Lidl beers, are quite nice, good value for money, they were Marstons, now Shepherds Neame, or vice versa, rebadged as "craft" hatherwood Craft beer co. but they have silly names

 

it's like gin, gin used to be Gordon's or Beefeater, now there's a billion varieties, and you "have" to make sure you drink the correct tonic with the correct gin?!?!?

 

yes, we're getting old, don't like these new fangled drinks. Directors and Bass were 2 favevourits of mine at college, can you still get them? i don't go to pub much.

[DalekSec]

The real answer is... who cares why?

 

For this simple reason: It's taking up real estate on the beer aisle, meaning less space for ales i like

[synaesthesia]

Too ruddy easy to drink. Rather fond of an IPA although prefer Charles Wells (been to their brewery a few times) and the majority of local pubs stock that rather than Greene King. Father in law got me onto IPA many moons ago, and decided that every sunday downing 15 pints of the stuff was probably not the best idea. Stick to real ales mostly; London Pride and Doom Bar being current favourites!

[korifugi]

I think with lagers getting less popular, and the rise in popularity of 'craft' beers, people have been looking for something to replace lager with. Light, etc. So pales have exploded onto the scene.

 

I quite like a good range of ales, right from some of the really deep and dark tripels & porters - all the way to some of the fruity pales recently coming out.

 

If anyone wants to compare notes - feel free to add me on Untappd (phone app - basically Pokémon Go for drunk people). Same username as here.

[Dos_Box]

I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of this is down to a US influence as to what is fashionable over there.

Ever since we've been doing shows in the US the American craft beer scene has grown ever stronger. Forget the image most of you may have of American bars being full of taps of Budweiser and Coors etc. you are more likely to find the vast majority of beers on tap are locally produced craft beers, the large bulk of which of which are IPA's.

And, credit, where credit is due, they are getting rather good at it (their cider still needs work though).

The can designs you see over here now are also influenced by US designs which were doing that years before we saw them over here.

Here are some pictures taken in a Whole Foods (think hip Waitrose) of their offerings, I should have bought the wine!

 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2018 by Dos_Box

[TechMonkey]

I seem to recall reading that in the the US there was a federal law against being able to brew at home or some limitation on the amount, with tax implications and the like, probably left from the Prohibition. Once this was removed the scene quietly built up over 5-10 years and then when it got properly discovered everyone got on it. I'll try and dig out the article as it was quite interesting to compare how the UK has always had brewing 'scene'

[bossman]

Its just what the "In Crowd" are drinking darn sarf!

 

It used to be "Red Stripe" back in the day where everyone and their dog would have a can or bottle of it......

 

Pi** water really...but that was the fashion of the day...Same as these "Pale Ales"....whatever takes your fancy....personally I cannot stand the taste...Give me a good old porter any day!.....

[Reboot_IT]

I enjoy having a choice and trying different Ales and IPA's but I'm relatively new to it. I had a spitfire for the first time last week and really enjoyed it.

 

Sapporo is my favourite lager at the moment, definitely worth a try!

[DeGrimmy]

I've never been overly keen on darker ales, so I'm most definitely an IPA kind of beer person. Brewdog make a couple of my favourites (Punk IPA, Elvis Juice), although I'm just as happy with a London Pride, Speckled Hen, Pedigree or some Badger beer. My dad and I picked up a Badger selection box for our Christmas drinks. I quite like Belgian and German beers too, the popular choices of which are usually on the light side.

 

I find IPAs and lighter real ales more refreshing. I like the fruity and citrus flavours that are often in IPAs. Darker beers have that heavier, malty or biscuity flavour that I'm not a fan of.

[SpuffMonkey]

Prefer the darker sweeter beers myself - a porter would be fine, but I can settle for a stout of a red/amber beer

 

Some of the IPAs just seem like a dare to drink overhopped beer - but I guess each to their own

[Dos_Box]

I generally try and look for German beers these days.

I find them a lot kinder to my older body!

[TIOAOA]

If it's wet, fizzy and alcoholic I'll drink it. I really should be more fussy!! Actually come to think of it you can take fizzy out of my first statement

[hardtailstar]

The real answer is... who cares why? Just drink them and enjoy! Dark or light citrusy with a hint of peach or gravelly with a hint of weed, drink them all and be merry!

 

My thoughts exactly.

[Andycat]

Pale are easier drinking, and can attract the "lager" crew.

 

I'm an avid beer fan, CAMRA member, have shares in several breweries and am a Brewdog investor. In my 30 years of drinking I've always preferred lighter beers. Real Ales yes, but Blondes, Pales or IPA's. I DO appreciate a good stout or porter, but I would rather have hops than malt as the linger.

 

I think pales will stay as much as now, but Milk Stout/Nitro Stout is certainly coming in a big way.

 

And of interest, several "Craft" keg breweries are now starting to sell cask, most notably Cloudwater and Brewdog.

[36Degrees]

Directors and Bass were 2 favevourits of mine at college, can you still get them?

 

You can certainly get them in Asda. Directors is usually in the 4 for £6 and I have a feeling Bass is only about £1 a bottle when they have it in.

 

 

I'm just as happy with a London Pride, Speckled Hen, Pedigree or some Badger beer.

 

Happily drink all of these and "Spotty Chicken" is my wife's favourite! Golden Hen and crafty Hen are very good too.

 

 

I had a spitfire for the first time last week and really enjoyed it.

 

Try Spitfire Gold (Asda sell it) - I prefer it to normal Spitfire.

 

 

I'll throw in Golden Sheep, Black Sheep and Riggwelter plus Marston's Old Empire and Double Drop.

[Davit2005]

IPA and Doom Bar are my goto drink when Guinness is not available failing that nearly any Ale will do and some lager beers at a push.

[mikeprice]

I would prefer something darker - but NOT Guinness

 

If available (which it normally isn't) I would go for draft 'Dark Side of the Moose' by the Purple Moose brewery but the bottled stuff is less wonderful

 

problem with something becoming 'popular' and 'trendy' is that loads suddenly appear and I have no idea which are any good - so I just ignore them all. I suppose there must be good ones but if I try to find out which I like I would have to drink loads that I don't like.

 

I'd prefer to just sit in a pub that allows dogs (as all pubs should allow dogs - it's just how the world should be) with a pint of something I know about

and if someone occasionally brings me a burger that that would be great

(yes yes - I know - dogs around food - people who are allergic to dogs - etc etc - but I like dogs and it's my fantasy so just be thankful it doesn't include elves and daemons and 'other things'...........)

[korifugi]

Golden Hen and crafty Hen are very good too.

 

One of my favourite beers in existence is Old Nutty Hen from Morland Brewery, I can only describe the taste as "autumn". (and I don't mean wet leaves, wind and train delays)

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I've been a fan of a proper ale since before I was legally old enough to drink!

 

I love this sudden onset of Pales. An IPA was always my favourite as I prefer the hoppier taste.

 

Nowadays, having such choice is marvellous. You still get the old favourites in the supermarket, but I see no harm in having hundreds of new beers to try.

 

A good hoppy Pale, whether IPA or APA goes down a treat, and they're often full of character.

It's also worth mentioning that this small brewery revolution isn't limited to pales. You get lots of Red Ales, plenty of Craft Porters and tons of classic Amber Ales.

 

I've nothing against Badger, their ales are lovely, particularly Tanglefoot and Fursty Ferret, nice, refreshing and hoppy, same goes for your Wychwoods and the like, but I'm glad that there's more to choose from than your regular Marstons lot. These traditional brewers haven't come with with anything particularly new for years now, and while there are some classics out there, there are also some awful beers still being pushed.

 

Most recent favourites are Brewdog Cybernaught, Arbor Ales Laid Back Pale, Beavertown Gamma Ray (has the best can ever). There's always a selection of these in the house if I have my say

[admars]

I generally try and look for German beers these days.

I find them a lot kinder to my older body!

 

In Lidl today I got some "Patronus" Weissbier - 1.25 a 500ml bottle Erdinger Weissbier is one of my favourite beers so I'm hoping this is close

[Dos_Box]

In Lidl today I got some "Patronus" Weissbier - 1.25 a 500ml bottle Erdinger Weissbier is one of my favourite beers so I'm hoping this is close

 

I can't drink weissbier, I don't like the taste and it doesn't sit right once drunk

[36Degrees]

I'd prefer to just sit in a pub that allows dogs (as all pubs should allow dogs - it's just how the world should be) with a pint of something I know about

 

I visit a pub very, very rarely but definitely agree. Sat in a pub just outside Whitby in February with a roaring fire, drinking Directors while a guy at the next table had two cocker spaniels at his feet certainly had me thinking all was right with the world at that point in time!

 

One of my favourite beers in existence is Old Nutty Hen from Morland Brewery, I can only describe the taste as "autumn". (and I don't mean wet leaves, wind and train delays)

 

Never seen that one although as mentioned above I visit a pub very, very rarely.