Beer Style: Pale Ale Family
Holden’s Black Country Bitter clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyHolden’s Black Country Bitter won Silver in the Bitter category in 2005 and is described as “A medium-bodied, golden ale; a light, well-balanced bitter with a subtle, dry, hoppy finish.” The data I have for this beer is: OG: 1.039. Malt bill: 85–95% Maris Otter pale malt, 0–10% crystal malt, 0–5% torrefied wheat, 0–2% brewing sugar. Hops: Fuggles, optional Goldings. Dry hops: Fuggles. EBC: 24–26.
Rudgate Viking clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyRudgate Viking won Silver in the Bitter category in 2002 and is described as “An initially warming and malty, full-bodied beer, with hops and fruit lingering into the aftertaste.” The data I have for this beer is OG: 1.039. Malt bill: 90% Halcyon pale malt, 10% crystal malt. Hops: Fuggles, Northdown or Challenger, Goldings. Late hops: Goldings. IBU: 24. EBC: 24–30.
Bateman’s XXXB Bitter clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyBateman’s XXXB Bitter won Gold in the Premium Bitter/Special Bitter/Strong Bitter category in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1997. It is described as “A brilliant blend of malt, hops and fruit on the nose with a bitter bite over the top of a faintly banana maltiness that stays the course. A russet-tan brown classic.” From this I would suggest a yeast that provides a fruity character. The data I have for this beer is: OG: 1.048–1.049. Malt bill: 72–87% Pipkin or Maris Otter pale malt, 7.5–12% crystal malt, 0–3% wheat flour, 15–18% invert sugar. Hops: Challenger, Goldings. IBU: 37. EBC: 40–42.
The Kernel Brewery’s Table Beer clone
FREEThe best selling beer at Kernel Brewery (London, England) is their table beer, which is a well-balanced session ale with a great hop presence, smooth body, and a surprising hoppiness for a 3.3% ABV beer.
Riveter Rye Pale Ale
Digital and Plus Members OnlyA little stronger than your typical pale ale and not as hoppy as some IPAs, this is an easy-drinking brew that’s great for the summer.
Grantham Mild
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe best thing about brewing a mild is that you get to dial up pretty much all of your favorite malt flavors, in whatever ratio you’d like, in a session-strength beer – and all you need to do is back out the black barley and sub in a bunch of fun character malts. You can still have a touch of roast in there (if you want), but you also get biscuit, toffee, nut, molasses, toast, plum, raisin . . . you get the picture.
Cologne Kölsch
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe word Kölsch has several connotations in the German language. If used as a noun, it refers to the distinct Cologne dialect and accent. As an adjective, it means “anything from Cologne.” Thus, it is a local joke that Kölsch is the only language that you can also drink!
Düsseldorf Altbier
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe grain bill of the classic copper-colored altbier — which is internationally also known as a German Brown Ale — is almost Munich-like, but with a slightly less “caramelly” character than a Märzen, and less dark than a dunkel. It differs from a Munich brew, however, in its much more pronounced hoppiness. This creates a wonderful blend of malt-and-hop aromas in the finish, which is often described as bitter-sweet. The uniqueness of this beer — an ale after all — comes from the clean fermentation of a relatively cold-tolerant, top-fermenting specialty yeast.
Bone Idle Bitter
Digital and Plus Members OnlyA schwarz’ed version of an English bitter.
Tafelbier
Digital and Plus Members OnlySimilar to Trappist single, Tafelbier is a low-gravity session style beer with a nice Belgian character in the background that is a great beer to drink on brew days when you need to keep your wits about you but would also like to have a few beers. It also has a quick turnaround, so it’s perfect for brewing when you need a beer for a fast-approaching event.
Bombing Range Brewing Co.’s Medusa Dry Hopped Pale clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThis beer from Bombing Range Brewing (Richland, Washington) had limited availability but was easily one of the best using MedusaTM that I personally had. Founder and Head Brewer Mike Hopp describes it as a smooth, easy drinker with huge stone fruit and apricot flavors and aroma.
Oskar Blues Brewery’s Dale’s Pale Ale clone
Digital and Plus Members OnlyDale’s Pale Ale is an iconic American pale ale, balancing caramel and biscuit malt and fruity, citrusy, piney hops. The first craft beer in a can comes with a little extra oompf at 6.5% ABV — just enough to cap off a solid day in the mountains!