Favorite APA??

[Lando]

One style I have not really taste tested a lot of is American Pale Ale. Sure, I have had a few and every brewery seems to have their version, but what are your favorite brands?
Home brews included...

 

[TheBeerNerd]

My local brewery has a good one...

www.santafebrewing.com

and then there's always SN...

 

[MikeG]

Sweetwater 420, always keep it in the fridge.

 

[jlpred55]

Three Floyds Alpha King and my all my APA's of course.

 

[Lando]

Sweetwater 420, always keep it in the fridge.

Funny you mention that... I have to spend a few weeks in Atlanta for job training starting next week. I will have to give that one a try.

 

[Walker]

Sweetwater 420, always keep it in the fridge.

That beer is not really a standard APA. I think they call it an "Extra Pale Ale". It's really light in color and flavor, IMO.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale should be available just about everwhere, and I think is a better representative of the APA style.

 

[rking]

Three Floyds Alpha King is one of my all time favorite beers! I really don't consider it an APA though... I think of it as more of an IPA.

Schlafly's APA is what I tend to think fits the category better and is my favorite APA. Its delicious.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

GLBC Burning River.

 

[BarleyWater]

I'm a big fan of Deschuttes Mirror Pond. A little on the softer side when compared to more apparently bitter SNPA.

 

[Walker]

I should have mentioned that I really like Flying Dog's "Doggie Style", too.

 

[smizak]

GLBC Burning River.

+ 1

My favorite APA. Slightly eeks out SNPA.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

Sweetwater 420, always keep it in the fridge.

Just tried for the first time a couple months ago... Moving to Alabama in a few days... can't wait to try more Sweetwater brews.

 

[Runyanka]

I should have mentioned that I really like Flying Dog's "Doggie Style", too.

+1... I actually like a lot of their beers.

 

[DavidSteel]

Does Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale count? What about Dreadnaught?

 

[craven_morhead]

New Belgium's summer seasonal, Mighty Arrow.

 

[BarleyWater]

Does Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale count? What about Dreadnaught?

Both IPA's, but both great beers.

 

[Shooter]

I'm a big fan of Deschuttes Mirror Pond. A little on the softer side when compared to more apparently bitter SNPA.

+1 on Mirror Pond. I'm a fan of almost everything Deschuttes brews.

 

[mmb]

GLBC Burning River.

My favorite as well!

 

[rico567]

Three Floyds Alpha King is one of my all time favorite beers! I really don't consider it an APA though... I think of it as more of an IPA.

Schlafly's APA is what I tend to think fits the category better and is my favorite APA. Its delicious.

I agree with this post. Alpha King I think of as an IPA (whatever it may be called), and I really enjoy Schlafly's Dry-Hopped APA.

 

[tedski]

Mirror Pond++

 

[Hoppus_Poppatopolis]

30 years ago this would've been a much shorter discussion. I'm having flashbacks to arguing about Bud vs Pabst vs Genesee vs whatever because that's all we had available.

It's a great time to be a beer drinker :rockin:

 

[Brewpastor]

GLBC Burning River.

That is great! I have not seen that brew, but I did go watch the river burn when I was a kid. We lived in Lakewood until 1971. When the river caught fire mom loaded us all in the station wagon and took us site-seeing! I can tell that I will need to get hold of a bottle to see if it lives up to my memory of the great event it celebrates!

 

[MBasile]

I'm a big fan of Deschuttes Mirror Pond. A little on the softer side when compared to more apparently bitter SNPA.

Mirror Pond is said to be a better example of a true APA than SNPA. However, I like them both.

 

[bgough]

Firestone Pale 31

 

[Yooper]

I agree with Great Lakes Burning River. Best APA I've ever had. It's even better than their IPA offering, Commodore Perry.

I also like SNPA. There are a lot of good ones out there, so make sure you sample as many as you can!

 

[remilard]

Mirror Pond is said to be a better example of a true APA than SNPA. However, I like them both.

Thats a pretty difficult argument to make, history being what it is.

 

[zanemoseley]

SNPA, Sweetwater 420 and New Belgum's Mighty Arrow are all good.

 

[Moe]

+1 on the Sweetwater 420. Definately preffer it on tap vs. bottle.

 

[Halldawg]

+1 also on Sweetwater. Great brew tour if you get a chance (ask to talk to Dock)!

 

[khiddy]

+1 on Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale. If you get a chance, it's the one to beat.

I also really enjoy the Pyramid Draught Pale Ale, which is served on Nitro and absolutely delicious. Only available at Pyramid Alehouses (Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, Berkeley).