Beginner’s Guide to Pale Ale

Anyone exploring the wild variety of beers often starts with pale ales. These are very approachable, easy to drink, and have a refreshing vibe, just what you’d want on a warmer day. And they’re the majority of beers brewed by the hundreds of independent Australian breweries, as well as some more familiar names. You’ll be cracking open a pale ale at the local pub, at home with the barbie and on match day.

What’s a Pale Ale?

Pale ale encompasses a wide variety of beer styles. They’re brewed with paler malts and using a top-fermenting ale yeast at a slightly higher temperature. Colours will differ but range from light golden to darker copper. They’re also easy to spot as the beers are generally clear, with no yeast residue.

What Does a Pale Ale Taste Like?

Pale ales are balanced beers full of flavour. They bring out slightly malty overtones weighed up with a hoppy taste with medium bitterness. More hops mean refreshing fruity, citrusy flavours. The beers are light to medium bodied, have a low to medium alcohol content (ABV), and are paired with a variety of favourite Aussie bites. Get pale ale beer Australia-wide from hundreds of retailers, or enjoy a few at your local pub.

A Little History

Pale ales originated in the British Isles as a lighter answer to traditional stouts and porters. The town of Burton-Upon-Trent is hailed as the birthplace of the beer style, with its hard, mineralised water, giving the beer its earthy structure. Combined with innovations in roasting, and the use of coke, the beers assumed a lighter colour, hence the name. Today there are different varieties, but all pale ales are light, approachable beers and highly drinkable. The beer style is also the foundation of the ultra-popular Indian Pale Ales or IPAs, known for the eager use of hops and open citrusy flavours.

Types of Pale Ales

Pale ales come in a few distinct types. Variants are classified by region or country.

• English Pale Ales – Or ‘bitters’ have a moderate to high bittery taste brewed with mineral-rich water and matched with an often moderate to high maltiness. They’re medium-bodied in terms of thickness and mouthfeel, but with earthy and hoppy overtones. ABV ranges from 3.5 to 5.5 per cent, but stronger beers can exceed 6% ABV and are more bitter. Pair these with foods rich in oils and fat, such as fish and chips, roast chicken, pork or shepherd’s pie.
• American Pale Ales – These use American hops (mainly Cascade) for a moderate to high level of bitterness and typical fruity and citrusy flavours. The ales are balanced by low to moderate maltiness, hinting at caramel. Beers are medium-bodied, not as bitter as other pale ale varieties, have an ABV content of around 5 per cent and go well with steaks, burgers and other roasted and grilled dishes, as well as sweet and fruity desserts like apple pie.
• Australian Pale Ales – This category, along with beers from New Zealand are also called Pacific Pale Ales. Aussie ales are reminiscent of American ales in that they accentuate the hoppiness of the beer over the malts. This produces light beers in terms of thickness and mouthfeel, but are full of crispiness. Beers are slightly less bitter. ABV content varies, often between 4 and 6 per cent, but there are stronger beers (especially XPAs) out there. The refreshing flavours are down to the use of varying hop varieties and err on tropical overtones. Foods that go well with a typical Aussie pale ale are roast beef, lamb and burgers, as well as spicy Thai or Indian dishes. An ideal beer variety for the warmer months.
• Belgian Pale Ales – These are easy-to-drink sessional beers, light to medium bodied, but a high ABV for a pale ale (between 6 and 8 per cent). Flavours verge on notes of herbs and spices, so pairing with similar seasoned dishes brings out the best in both beer and food. Drink Belgian pale ales with highly seasoned roasted meats, leaner fish dishes, as well as a wide variety of cheeses.

What are the Aussie Favourites?

Adelaide brewery Cooper’s has a legendary status among Aussie drinkers with its first batch of pale ale brewed way back in 1862. With a fruity and floral flavour, balanced malts and an ABV of 4.5 per cent this is an Aussie staple. Dozens of other varieties have emerged from the growing craft beer scene. Beer lovers are spoilt for choice, with pale ale beer Australia’s favourite beer style. Established beers are James Squire One Fifty Lashes, Fat Yak Pale Ale, Balter XPA, 4 Pines Pale Ale, Little Creatures, Hop Nation The Heart, (McLaren) Vale Pale Ale and hundreds more. If you’re having a hard time picking, maybe a gift pack with two dozen different beers (mostly pale ales) can tame the taste buds.

Popular American varieties are the staple that is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and what started the craft beer craze, as well as beers like Pseudo Sue from Toppling Goliath, Liberty Ale from Anchor Brewing Company and more. English ales are well represented with Timothy Taylor’s The Landlord, Black Sheep Ale, and Fuller’s London Pride. Belgium makes one of the world’s most popular ales, Leffe Blonde.

The Final Sip

Pale ales are full of flavour, refreshing, easy to drink and best served cold. They are mild in ABV content, a finer alternative to lagers, go well with a range of foods and are pub favourites.