If you haven’t already, check out part 1 of this review for some more delicious American pale ales. And if you finish reading both of these reviews and still have a hankering for more light-bodied, American ales, I have two reviews coming up for American wheat ales! Stay tuned and keep it quaffable.

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‘PEEPER ALE’ – MAINE BEER – American Pale Ale – 5.50% ABV (Eye Choir’s Top Choice)

Appearance: Poured a light gold with a touch of orange and a two finger, off-white head. There is a little bit of soft particulate sediment as well as moderate carbonation. 5/5

Smell: Strong hop aroma which is predominantly orange peel, with some milder notes of holly needles, wildflower, and grapefruit that meshes with a strong fruit character that touches on pineapple and other tropical fruits. This is balanced by a subtle but significant flaky cracker malt with a touch of honey. Very powerful and complex but without sacrificing balance. 5/5

Taste: Mild to moderate sweetness draws out some vaguely buttery shortbread character from the malt, while a mild tartness comes in to keep balance with the fruity yeast. The mild to moderately bitter finish becomes a bit more off-dry, with lingering acidity drawing out the citrus peel character as well as a dusty pollen character from the hops. Powerful flavors are accentuated by a dynamic mouthfeel. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body, with a very smooth mouthfeel, though eventually the carbonation kicks in, lending a well-balanced refreshing bite. There is also an almost imperceptibly faint alcoholic heat that persists with the prickly carbonation into a long finish. Is similarly dynamic to the taste. 4.5/5

Overall: Excellent combination of balance and strength that makes for a very complex pale ale that still fits perfectly inside the style guidelines. Side bonus of being dangerously drinkable and fresh. 5/5

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‘NEW DOGTOWN PALE ALE’ – LAGUNITAS – American Pale Ale – 6.20% ABV

Appearance: Poured a light golden orange with a one finger, off-white head. There is a moderate particulate haze, though the body is quite transparent, which allows a good amount of carbonation to be seen. 4/5

Smell: Has a fresh, quintessentially West-coast hop aroma up front, which includes grapefruit and notes of lemon, pine and earthiness. Warm toasted caramel malt aromas filter through but this flavor is more subdued in comparison. Reasonably balanced but a the design is a little bit plain 3.5/5

Taste: Almost more of an IPA, with a moderate bitterness which amplifies some of the details of the hops, leading to additional floral and fruit notes. This is slightly out of balance with a mild sweetness which does not quite evoke the full potential of the malt, and becomes quite dry in the finish. 3/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, with a vaguely oily mouthfeel which is balanced quite well with moderate carbonation. Some alcohol heat, though without a strong malt presence this is a little bit odd. 3.5/5

Overall: Very nice hop profile, but unfortunately a relative lack of malt negatively affects the taste and mouthfeel. 3.5/5

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‘DALE’S PALE ALE’ – OSKAR BLUES – American Pale Ale – 6.50% ABV

Appearance: Poured a moderately dark tan-orange with a two-finger, light tan head. There is no sediment visible, so the moderate carbonation can be seen quite easily. 3.5/5

Smell: Hops are the dominant aroma here, with a mostly pine and citrus aroma, alongside fainter notes that touch on tangerine, wildflowers, and a little grapefruit. Malt character is also quite notable with a rich but not heavy toffee character mixed with traces of honey that puts the hop character in an interesting context. Very distinctive with a unique balance. 4/5

Taste: Starts with a good dose of mild to moderate sweetness which along with a hint of boozy flavor and a mild tartness brings out apricot and a little lemon alongside the caramelized grain. Mild to moderate bitterness comes in as well, reintroducing the resinous hop and bringing some pithiness to the citrus flavors. The finish still retains a little sweetness as well as tartness. Pleasant, but a little extra bitterness might bring the hop character into a cleaner balance. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with a slight sticky oiliness that complements a mild alcoholic heat. This is punctuated by carbonation whose bite builds a bit throughout the drink, which balances the relative thickness of the mouthfeel. 3.5/5

Overall: Flavor profile is as detailed as it is intense, but the strength of the darker malt needs to be better accommodated. Still quite enjoyable and subtle at times. 3.5/5

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‘LIVE’ – SOUTHERN TIER – American Pale Ale – 5.50% ABV

Appearance: Poured a fairly light amber yellow with a two-finger, eggshell head. There is a surprising amount of finely particulate haziness, though the beer is still quite translucent. No carbonation can be seen, however. 4/5

Smell: Rich hop presence which meshes ripe citrus along a variety of tropical fruit aromas such as melon and papaya as well as a touch of cool dank pine. Malt character is comparatively light, with a mild toasted whole-grain bread note. Somewhat simply structured, but fairly diverse and quite vibrant as well. 3.5/5

Taste: A mild to moderate bitterness hits immediately, bringing out ample pine leaves and a little floral quality too. There is also a mild to moderate tartness that seeps in through the finish, accentuating orange, grapefruit, and lime from the citrus, which supports the highly unique fruit palate. There is never more than a relatively mild sweetness, but a light toasted biscuit malt character is present throughout, with perhaps a touch of butter. Leaves a strong impression without sacrificing balance. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, with a slight bite of carbonation that highlights the tartness just the right amount. It also leaves the finish long though not totally dry, without significant alcoholic heat. Smooth, and surprisingly, not particularly slick. 4/5

Overall: A bright flavor palate and refreshing body make this an enjoyable and easy to drink beer. Not especially subtle, but a distinctive hop profile keeps things from being too straightforward. 4/5