The meaning of ‘pale ale’ tends to change quite a bit depending on your geographic standards. Generally speaking, the only requirement for this style is the use of pale malt, resulting in a light-colored body. But depending on whether you are in England, America, or elsewhere, there are many other aspects to the brew that are subject to regional inclinations. Belgian pale ales, in particular, garner fruity and phenolic qualities from Belgian yeasts, as well as distinct hop aromas that are frequently absent from other Belgian styles of beer.

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‘FLEUR DE HOUBLON’ – OMMEGANG – Belgian Pale Ale – 6.80% ABV (Eye Choir’s Choice)

Appearance: Poured a vibrant pale yellow with a two finger, off-white head. There is a moderate amount of fine haziness, though moderate to strong carbonation can still be easily seen. 4.5/5

Smell: Very fruity with prominent aromas of apple, pear, and a bit of bubblegum which blend with a hop character which integrates lemon peel along with leafy floral notes that have a very light, fresh lavender character. The yeast also produces a distinct earthy spiciness which features both pepper and distinctively medicinal phenols. This melds nicely with the sharp but unobtrusive background of whole wheat bread. Yeast character is fantastic, with every other part of the aroma proving a great supplement. 5/5

Taste: Moderate tartness hits the palate first, blending together phenolic spice and slight yeasty funk with what could be the first bite of a crisp green apple. Understated mild sweetness comes next, bringing balance along with a rounded grainy character that benefits from the spice features. The finish is mildly bitter, with still a fair remnant of acidity, eschewing the standard floral hop profile for heady lemongrass underscored with pollen. Dynamic and enigmatically complex without losing balance. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, with generous effervescence which increases the juicy raw fruit acidity. Otherwise fairly smooth, with no alcoholic heat; reasonably refreshing and fits the style, but nothing overtly special. 4/5

Overall: Wonderful mix of fruit and spice notes which are quite unique without going too far outside the standards for the Belgian pale ale style. Flavors are intense but constitute a light enough aesthetic that they don’t wear out the palate excessively. Overall, excellent. 4.5/5

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‘RAYON VERT’ – GREEN FLASH – Belgian Pale Ale – 7.00% ABV

Appearance: Poured a fairly hazy amber orange with a towering, four-finger, eggshell head. The body is still clear enough despite the haze to see some moderate carbonation. 3.5/5

Smell: Big yeasty nose with lots of sour funk with spicy and medicinal notes. There is also a fair amount of fruit, notably sharp green apple with citrus and a little apricot as well. Malt lies in the background with lightly toasted biscuit and even caramel aromas, alongside a faint flowery hop. Fairly unique and definitely complex, but perhaps a little too fruit forward. 3.5/5

Taste: A moderate to mild tartness fleshes out the yeast flavors into a musty mix of barnyard and band-aid aromas with a mild sweetness which comes to suggest sourdough as well. Fruit aromas seem a little less dominant, though they are still fairly complex, being augmented by touches of clove as well as a mild to moderate bitterness that brings leafy hops in the finish. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body, with a heaping dose of carbonation that unfortunately disguises the subtle malt flavor with a prickly onslaught of fruit and funk. Could stand to be more smooth as well, though the lively carbonation does feel a bit refreshing. Very mild alcoholic heat on the finish. 2.5/5

Overall: Has some intricate flavors, though at times they seem a little bit unfocused. Overcarbonation further distracts from any subtleties that might even be present. It certainly doesn’t taste bad, but it is very much a let down. 3/5

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BELGIAN STYLE PALE ALE – WHITE BIRCH – Belgian Pale Ale – 6.40% ABV

Appearance: Poured a slightly hazy golden-orange with an incredibly large off-white head. There is a fair amount of carbonation to accompany this. 3/5

Smell: Strong fruit aromas, such as apple, pear, and banana dominate. There is also a moderately spicy earthiness from both the yeast and what I presume are noble hops. This is supported by a mildly caramelized Pilsen malt. A little unrefined but pleasing nonetheless. 3/5

Taste: Mildly to moderately sweet, which accentuates the caramel and apple combination. However, there is also a refreshing mild to moderate bitterness which exposes some of the flowery hops in the finish as well as a sour flavor which matches the strong fruit appropriately. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with a reasonably smooth mouthfeel and no alcoholic heat. There is enough carbonation to elevate the refreshing perception of tartness. 3.5/5

Overall: Pleasant flavors with a slightly more American take on a Belgian style. Composition is a little sloppy at times but still very drinkable. 3.5/5

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‘STAR ISLAND SINGLE’ – SMUTTYNOSE – Belgian Style Pale Ale – 4.70% ABV

Appearance: Poured a pale golden-orange with a one finger, white head. There is a fair amount of fine haziness, but there is plenty of vigorous carbonation still visible. 3.5/5

Smell: Has a moderate yeast character which is light and chalky, yet also features hints of funky medicinal phenols which pair with light notes of coriander. The malt is surprisingly strong, with a Pilsen malt reminiscent of sugar-wafers and a touch of honey which extends into some light, pear and lemon fruit notes. A mild aroma of perfumy floral hops rounds things off. Very individual take on the Belgian Pale Ale style without being closer to any other style. 4/5

Taste: Starts with a burst of mild to moderate tartness which highlights some lemongrass and yeast with a hint of underripe cherries, alongside a mild sweetness which accentuates a light but potent graininess in the malt character. A dry finish quickly sweeps in with a mild to moderate bitterness which not only brings out the polleny hop character, but also notes of clove and dry white wine which alludes slightly to the aesthetic found in hefeweizens. A little weird but still reasonably good. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, with a zingy carbonation which matches the initial touch of acidity. As this settles down, the mouthfeel becomes quite smooth, with no alcoholic heat, and the finish is quite long and perhaps even slightly puckering. Complements the distinctive yet easygoing drinkability of the flavors. 4/5

Overall: Not intense or overly complex, but the flavor palate is unique enough that continuous drinking fills in quite a few fascinating details. A great, sessionable summer ale. 4/5