When it comes to warm-weather beers, it’s difficult to beat the appeal of a well-made, balanced pale ale. With its malt backbone, medium body, and a pleasant hop bitterness, there are very few beers that refresh like a pale ale on a hot, summer (or unseasonably warm spring) day. If you enjoy a nice pilsner or lager, but you wish it had a little more bitter pine hop presence, but not as much as an IPA, pale ales are for you.
In my two decades of writing about beer, there have been moments when a West Coast IPA was a little too aggressive for me. But I never tired of the balance of a pale ale.
What is a pale ale?
Before we go any further, it’s important to define what exactly a pale ale is. First popularized in England in the 1700s, the term pale ale is used for a group of styles that are brewed with pale malt and are known for their golden to amber color, caramel malt-forward flavor, and gentle to moderate hop bitterness. Pale ales include the traditional English pale ale, Belgian pale ale, hazy pale ale, session pale ale, and the widely popular American pale ale.
While there’s a possibility you haven’t tried all of the different pale ale varieties, if you’re a beer drinker, there’s a good chance you’ve imbibed a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or two. First brewed in the 1980s, this beer created the American pale ale style and paved the way for the West Coast IPAs and other piney, bitter IPAs you see on store shelves from Seattle to St. Petersburg (and everywhere in between)
The best pale ales, according to beer experts
Now that you’ve learned a little about the definition of a pale ale and why it’s such a great choice for warm weather, it’s time to find some to add to your refrigerator. To help you on your pale ale journey, we went to the professionals for help. We asked a handful of brewers, bartenders, and beer experts to tell us the pale ales they always drink. Keep scrolling to see all of their answers.
Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue
“One pale ale I always come back to is Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue. It’s super hop-forward with bright citrus notes. Think grapefruit, mango, and a little pineapple, balanced by a soft, slightly bready malt backbone. There’s a clean bitterness, but it’s not overpowering, which keeps it really smooth and approachable. I like it because it delivers big, juicy flavor while still being incredibly drinkable. It’s the kind of beer you can keep coming back to without it wearing you out.” – Paul Kowalewski, Beverage Manager at Clinton Hall in New York City
New Glarus Moon Man
“As a Wisconsinite, Moon Man from New Glarus is less a beer and more a citizenship requirement. It’s one of those pale ales that reminds you beer doesn’t need to be extreme to be unforgettable. I love it because it’s nimble. Bright hop character, but not the kind that stomps all over the furniture. You get citrus, a little apricot, some gentle pine, and a sturdy malt backbone that keeps the whole thing feeling grounded, like a guy who can dance in cowboy boots without spilling his drink.” – Garth E. Beyer, Certified Cicerone and founder and owner of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
“Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a classic for a reason. It has fresh, bright citrus flavors—think grapefruit and orange peel—alongside subtle floral notes. What I appreciate most is its balance: flavorful and expressive, yet super approachable. It’s a pale ale I return to often and one that never goes out of style.” – Christine O’Connell, Director of Beer & Hard Beverages at Total Wine & More
Half Acre Daisy Cutter
“I love Half Acre Daisy Cutter. It has a touch of bitterness in the hops recipe. While you get some nice citrus tones and a touch of tropical fruit, it finishes dry, dry, dry. You always want to go back for another taste.” – Sarah Clark, Assistant GM and Beverage Director at The Dearborn in Chicago
Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
“There’s nothing subtle about Dale’s Pale Ale. Right out of the gate, it hits with bold pine and citrus tones, supported by a solid malty backbone that makes its presence unmistakably known. It doesn’t chase balance. Instead, it builds a rugged harmony with big flavors that work together without collapsing into chaos. I appreciate the honesty this beer exudes. It tastes like what it is: a bold American take on the American Pale Ale. It’s like me, unapologetic and a little brash. There’s no attempt to smooth out the edges or make it more “approachable.” It trusts that if you’re drinking it, you want flavor, and guess what, it delivers. And then there’s the can. Dale’s was one of the first craft beers that made drinking straight from aluminum feel not just acceptable, but kind of essential. It fits the beer’s personality: portable, durable, and no-nonsense. A perfect vessel for a perfect scene, and an absolute gem of a beer. In my opinion, Dale’s Pale Ale succeeds by leaning all the way into what makes it memorable.” – Warren Wilson III, the Brewmaster at Readington Brewery & Hop Farm
