BJCP 18B · Pale American Ale
American Pale Ale
A pale American ale with citrus, pine or tropical fruit hops over a clean malt base. Medium bitterness and a dry finish, lighter than an American IPA.
American Pale Ale by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.5 – 6.2%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 30 – 50 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 5 – 10 SRM10–20 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.045 – 1.060on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.010 – 1.015on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What American Pale Ale is like
A pale, refreshing ale with American hops up front and a clean malt base supporting them. It's lighter and less bitter than an American IPA.
Appearance
Light gold to light amber, clear to slightly hazy from dry hopping. White head with good retention.
Aroma
Moderate to strong American hops with citrus, pine, resin, floral or tropical fruit notes. Bready or light caramel malt in the background.
Flavor
Moderate to high hop flavor with clean bready or biscuity malt and a light caramel note. Medium to medium-high bitterness and a medium-dry to dry finish.
Mouthfeel
Medium-light to medium body and moderate to high carbonation.
Where American Pale Ale comes from
It's the style that launched the craft beer revolution in the United States in the 1980s, with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale as the benchmark. It was based on English pale ales, but with American hops like Cascade.
Ingredients
American pale malt with some light crystal, sometimes Munich or wheat. American hops such as Cascade, Centennial, Citra or Simcoe and a clean American ale yeast. Water with some sulfate helps the bitterness come across drier.
Brew it yourself
How to brew American Pale Ale at home
Mash at 65-66 °C (149-151 °F) and ferment at 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) with a clean American yeast. Add a good share of the hops late in the boil or in the whirlpool, and dry hop for 3-5 days. The classic mistake is overdoing the crystal malt, which masks the hops and makes the beer heavy.
Food pairing
Burgers, pizza or Mexican food.
Glassware: nonic pint glass, the classic pub glass, made for long drinks.
Classic examples
- Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
- Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Frequently asked questions
How strong is American Pale Ale?
Between 4.5% and 6.2% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is American Pale Ale?
It has 30 to 50 IBUs, a high bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is American Pale Ale?
Gold to copper: 5 to 10 SRM (10 to 20 EBC).
What food pairs well with American Pale Ale?
Burgers, pizza or Mexican food.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Blonde Ale, American IPA and American Amber Ale.
If you like American Pale Ale, try these
Classification and statistics: official American Pale Ale guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.