During a recent event, I found myself in the familiar situation of inquiring about the type of beer being served.
"We've got a pale,” the bartender replied, and I fought back the urge to ask what type.
IPA? American? British?
It's a good predicament for us hops-lovers: Pale ales have diversified, so now we can identify which flavors we prefer. While British pale ales will have more of a balanced flavor with malts, "extra" pale ales---also referred to as American pale ales---are lighter in body, with more hops flavor.
This distinction is well represented in Odell’s summer seasonal
St. Lupulin , which fits the extra-pale-ale bill perfectly. The flavor starts with a blast of hops, and it finishes light and clean.
St. Lupulin is available through September.