The 15 Best American Pale Ales of 2022
Earlier this year we wrote about "The 9 Best Belgian Pale Ales of 2022" led by the highest-rated Orval from Brasserie d'Orval in Belgium. Last weekend, we celebrated the official Orval Day 2022, an entire day dedicated to this renowned beer.
Now that we've given our due to the OG Belgian pale ales, we wanted to show a little love to its contemporary cousin—the American pale ale.
Pale ales are the backbone of American craft beer. Long before American IPAs reigned supreme, the American pale ale (APA) reigned as royalty.
Iconic beers such as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, considered crucial to igniting the craft beer revolution within the United States, became like stepping stones to the rise of West Coast IPAs.
Actually derived from the English pale ale (a style we'll cover later this year), the American pale ale differs in quite a few ways. Whereas the English version has a muted hop character dominated by English hop varieties and balanced by a definitive malt backbone, the American style is lighter, cleaner, and less malt-forward. Plus, American versions typically feature American hop and ingredients.
For instance, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale featured Cascade (a little-known hop when Sierra Nevada Founder Ken Grossman first used it in his beer in 1980).
People love American pale ales because they're kind of like the Goldilocks of beers. They're not too hoppy like a West Coast IPA, but they're also not too light like a blonde ale. They're just right, pairing well with almost any food or simply perfect on their own.
Here is a true testament to how much American brewers respect this style: Almost every brewery well known for its IPAs…also has a fantastic APA.
For example, in the list below you'll find incredible American pale ales from breweries such as Hill Farmstead, Tree House Brewing Company, 3 Floyds Brewing, Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, and Half Acre Beer Co.
Untappd's 15 Highest-Rated American Pale Ales of 2022*
1. Edward - Hill Farmstead Brewery
5.2% ABV
65 IBU
65,938 Ratings
2. Zombie Dust - 3 Floyds Brewing
6.5% ABV
62 IBU
286,823 Ratings
3. Taters (8th Anniversary Edition) - Other Half Brewing Co.
Taters (8th Anniversary Edition)
Variant of Taters
Collaboration with Monkish Brewing Co.
Pale Ale - American
5.5% ABV
N/A IBU
1,246 Ratings
4. Mini Creamsicle - Tree House Brewing Company
5.2% ABV
N/A IBU
2,585 Ratings
5. Juli-ish - Tree House Brewing Company
5.2% ABV
N/A IBU
11,609 Ratings
6. Pseudo Sue - Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.
5.8% ABV
45 IBU
224,951 Ratings
7. Tiny Treat - Tree House Brewing Company
5.4% ABV
N/A IBU
4,154 Ratings
8. Double Daisy Cutter - Half Acre Beer Company
8.2% ABV
N/A IBU
37,743 Ratings
5.8% ABV
45 IBU
19,955 Ratings
10. Moon Man - New Glarus Brewing Company
5% ABV
N/A IBU
109,145 Ratings
11. Photon - Equilibrium Brewery
4.8% ABV
N/A IBU
38,041 Ratings
12. First Drop - Upper Pass Beer Company
5.9% ABV
65 IBU
29,784 Ratings
13. Prophetmaker - Burial Beer Co.
5.3% ABV
35 IBU
7,368 Ratings
14. Alpha King - 3 Floyds Brewing
6.66% ABV
68 IBU
157,180 Ratings
15. Lizard King - Pipeworks Brewing Company
6% ABV
36 IBU
90,863 Ratings
*Powered by Untappd Data (minimum of 1,000 check-ins)
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