134 of the Best Pale Ales, Blind-Tasted and Ranked

Learn about how we rate & review beers with our BJCP blind panel here


Avery Brewing Company IPA (74)

“Colorado’s hoppiest pale ale, Avery IPA demands to be poured into your favorite glass to truly appreciate the citrusy, floral bouquet and the rich, malty finnish.”

Omission Beer Pale Ale (79)

“Bold and hoppy, Omission Pale is a hops-forward American pale ale, brewed to showcase the Cascade hops profile. Amber in color, Omission Pale’s caramel malt body complements its floral aroma.”

Glutenberg American Pale Ale (82)

“Most likely the first gluten-free beer in the world that presents such a hopped character, our American Pale Ale is the true flagship of Glutenberg beers. Its citrus and caramel notes, coupled with a mild bitter finish, come together in perfect harmony.”

Destihl Synchopathic (83)

“Synchopathic is the cool harmonization of a tart and acidic sour ale with citrusy, fruity, and floral dry hops normally in concert with pale ales, with totally rad aromas and flavors reminiscent of grapefruit, orange, lemon, tangerine, pineapple, and hints of pine.”

Alma Mader Brewing Small Oasis (84)

Effortlessly drinkable while still packing a mighty hop punch. This one finishes dry with aromas reminiscent of berries and dank peaches.

Moonraker Brewing Co. Captain Mo (85)

“Made with a double dry hop of hand-selected Mosaic and Oregon-grown Cascade. Blueberries and pine all day long. Healthy bitterness.”

Cerebral Brewing Ripping Through Dimensions (85)

“Hopped with Cascade, Strata, Centennial, and Amarillo.”

Black Lung Brewing Company Trampled by Sliders (85)

“Mostly classic American pale ale with thiolized yeast and very punchy Citra, Mosaic, and Motueka hops.”

Moonraker Brewing Co. Bone Frog (85)

Hops: Mosaic, Citra, El Dorado. Malt: two-row, white wheat, flaked oats, dextrin.

Bent Water Brewing Company Suborbital (85)

A nebula of tangerine and tropical-fruit flavors will welcome you to another world while keeping you grounded on this one.

WeldWerks Brewing Co. Steambarrel IPA (85)

“West Coast-style India pale ale”

Westbound & Down Brewing Company Colorado Pale Ale (86)

“West Coast pale ale brewed with Simcoe, Centennial, Citra.”

Broad Brook Brewing Company Chit's & Giggles Pale Ale (86)

“Amarillo, Centennial, and Mandarina Bavaria hops.”

West Sixth Brewing Co Pennyrile Pale Ale (86)

Our pale ale has a big, fruity hop aroma with a taste that follows suit. A subtle and balanced malt character creates a canvas for the hops to shine.

Odell Brewing Co Drumroll (86)

“Each year we select the rock-star hops of the harvest to craft this bold, juicy, tropically hop-forward brew.”

Protagonist Beer Gwen (86)

“Notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and slight honey.”

Fremont Brewing Sky Kraken (86)

A contradiction of the senses offering ripe melon, juicy citrus, pineapple, and pepper flavors to the brave.

Stoudts Queen of Hops Brut IPA (86)

Brewed using Pilsner and pale-ale malts and flaked rice for added dryness. Then dry hopped with loads of Citra, Amarillo, and Azacca for a pungent yet crisp flavor!

Schilling Beer Co. Alexandr 10° (86)

“A sessionable pale lager inspired by similar Czech beers.”

Casa Agria Specialty Ales Nyland Extra (86)

“Export helles-style pale lager brewed with German malt and hops.”

Dutchess Ales G.B. Pale Ale (87)

“‘Brewed with a variety of U.S. and U.K. malts and hops and a hybrid yeast. Drinks a bit like a refreshing Kölsch.”

Grand Canyon Brewing Company Horseshoe Bend Pale Ale (87)

“Full-bodied, with bittersweetness but light in body, complete with grapefruit and tropical flavors and subtle caramel notes.”

Firestone Walker Brewing Co DBA (87)

“Always malty, never bitter. A smooth mid palate with ribbons of caramel, English toffee, toasted oak.”

12 West Brewing Company Stop Human Trafficking (87)

“Brewed with Crystal and Callista hops in collaboration with AATN to bring a stop to human trafficking.”

Cinderlands Beer Co. Squish (87)

“Crushable house pale ale hopped to evoke sticky mango, candied pineapple, tangerine zest, pine needles. Low bitterness, soft and juicy.”

Allusion Brewing One Inning More (87)

“Hints of earthy, floral, and spice with a floral aroma.”

Temescal Brewing Plant Parent (87)

“Brewed with thiolized yeast and dry hopped with Citra, Mosaic, Riwaka.”

Fonta Flora Brewery Well, I'll Be! (87)

“A hazy pale ale dry hopped with Citra, Galaxy, and Mosaic.”

Uinta Brewing Co. Hazy Nosh (87)

With big, juicy hop aromas of mango, orange, and pineapple juice, Hazy Nosh features low bitterness with a soft mouthfeel and a velvety, opaque appearance.

Russian River Brewing Co - Santa Rosa Row 2, Hill 56 (87)

Brewed with 100 percent Simcoe from the three original Simcoe hop-growing families.

Prison City Brewing 4 Piece with Strata (87)

Our single-hop pale-ale series features Strata from Oregon. Nice dank flavor and aroma. Great fruity and citrusy undertones as well.

Smuttynose Brewing Co. Big A IPA (87)

“Big A IPA is now a year-round, full-time beer! We’ll be brewing it more frequently and in smaller batch sizes to keep it as fresh as possible. Big A IPA has everything you’d want in a double India Pale Ale, only more: more hops, more malt, more flavor!”

Hop Butcher For the World Florida Citrus Commission (87)

“Simcoe-, Strata-, and NZH-102-hopped, plus Phantasm, triple India pale ale.”

Mikerphone Brewing The Black IPA Parade (87)

“West Coast–style black India pale ale with Citra, Amarillo, Columbus hops.”

Four City Brewing Company Four City Brewing Company St Cloud Belgian Style Dubble (87)

“Our Belgian ale made with pilsner, pale, and Munich malt with a generous amount of dark Belgian candi syrup.”

Stillwater Artisinal Ales Cellar Door (87)

“A base of German wheat and pale malts accented with Sterling and Citra hops that provide a blend of herbal grass and tangerine flavors and aroma. Gently finished off with white sage, lending a mild earthy spice character, and, of course, our house saison yeast.”

BKS Artisan Ales Simplicity & Patience (87)

“Dry-hopped pilsner with Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, and Hallertau Blanc hops.”

Indeed Brewing Co Day Tripper Pale Ale (88)

Four pounds of hops per barrel give this West Coast–style pale ale a heady, dank, and citrus-laced aroma supported by a complex and subtly sweet malt backbone.

Sun King Brewing Osiris Pale Ale (88)

An assertive West Coast–style pale with a distinct citrus-hop punch.

Wise Man Brewing Cosmic Perspective (88)

“Featuring Cosmic Punch yeast and double dry-hopped with Strata and Galaxy hops.”

Burgeon Beer Company Carlsbad Crush (88)

“Tropical, bright, and highly aromatic. Brewed with Mosaic and Mosaic Cryo.”

Tampa Bay Brewing Co Production Brewery Reef Donkey (88)

Our acclaimed dry-hopped American pale ale that drinks like a session IPA. Motueka, Ekuanot, and Citra hops give this beer a lemon/lime aroma with a citrus/tropical fruit flavor.

Light the Lamp Brewery Still Single (88)

“A Belgian- style single brewed with Mosaic and dry-hopped with Citra.”

Moonraker Brewing Co. Straight Up Nelson (88)

“A West Coast India Pale Ale with Nelson Sauvin.”

Reuben's Brews Crushable (88)

“An approachable, bright, and hazy pale ale that is easy drinking with lush tropical-fruit aromas.”

1623 Brewing Hefeweizen (88)

“This refreshing ale is pale in color, with a pillowy mouthfeel that finishes bright and dry. Our Hefeweizen is distinctively German, with prominent banana and clove flavors.”

Deep Ellum Dallas Blonde (88)

“In a town famous for its bottled blondes, we’ve reset the bar. This golden ale combines citrusy and floral American hops with pale, Vienna, and wheat malts. It’s a balanced, sessionable brew.”

Boulevard Brewing Co Pale Ale (89)

“Caramel malts impart a rich flavor and amber color, while liberal use of Cascade hops adds zest and aroma.”

Deschutes Brewery Lil’ Squeezy Juicy Pale Ale (89)

A blend of juicy hops and delicate malt character with fresh citrus flavors and zesty aroma.

Odell Brewing Co Drumroll Hazy Pale Ale (89)

Each year we select the rock-star hops of the harvest to craft this bold, juicy, tropically hop-forward brew, drumming up a citrus-inspired rhythm for what’s to come.

Burial Beer Co Malcontents of Dissonance Triple India Pale Ale (89)

“Double dry-hopped with loads of hand-selected Mosaic and Idaho 7, and a dab of Mosaic Cryo.”

Alma Mader Brewing Taxi Stand (89)

“A West Coast–style pale with a blend of Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic.”

Hop Butcher For the World Sliders (89)

“Mosaic, Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin-hopped American pale ale.”

Chapman Crafted Beer SMaSH Mouth (89)

“100 percent Skagit Valley Pilot pale malt and 100 percent Mosaic hops.”

Alvarado Street Brewery eight.1 (89)

“Double dry hopped pale ale with a trio of Cryo hops: Simcoe, Mosaic, and ‘Pop’ from YCH, with a little Zeus thrown in.”

Hop Butcher For the World Peak Mosaic (89)

“Mosaic-hopped triple India pale ale.”

Two Brothers Brewing Company Sidekick (89)

“Sidekick extra pale ale is a golden colored ale that is loaded with juicy citrus and passion fruit hops aroma yet balanced with malt and hops character. A true companion.”

Sovereign Brewing Dissensus (89)

“Belgian-style strong pale ale, aged in oak_._”

pFriem Family Brewers Pale Ale (90)

Go beyond the pale, with aromas of berry and citrus, notes of mango, cantaloupe, and a crisp, full, finish.

Burial Beer Co A Rather Genuine Expression of Apathy Double India Pale Ale with Peach & Lemon (90)

“Made with lactose, peaches, and Meyer lemons. Double dry-hopped with Galaxy, Idaho 7, Wai-iti, and Amarillo Cryo.”

Hidden Hand Val d'Or (90)

“Belgian-style pale ale. Harmonious marriage of citrus, raisin, and horsey cherry-pie funk.”

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Figueroa Mountain Mosaic (90)

“A staff favorite showcasing Mosaic hops.”

Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company Pocket Change (90)

“West Coast pale ale. A mix of tropical NZ hops and dank/piney American hops with a crisp, dry finish.”

Hop Butcher For the World Satan's Mile (90)

Amarillo, Chinook & Mosaic-hopped red India pale ale.

Hop Butcher For the World Cold Pizza (90)

“Citra- and Vic Secret–hopped cold India pale ale.”

Templin Family Brewing 210 IPA (90)

“West Coast India pale ale.”

Indeed Brewing Co Day Tripper Pale Ale (91)

“Aroma: Dank, citrus, floral, pungent; Taste: Hop bitterness, resinous, citrusy, green-hop flavor, a touch of malt sweetness.”

Commonhouse Aleworks Park Circle Pale Ale (91)

“Pale ale brewed with Citra, Amarillo, Centennial.”

Dutchess Ales GB Pale Ale (91)

A uniquely balanced and bright pale ale that owes a bit to Dutchess Ales’ West Cost and U.K. roots. Fermented by Duchess Ales’ house hybrid Kölsch yeast.

Rosenstadt Brewery LLC German-Hop Pale Ale (91)

German-grown Amarillo and Mandarina Bavaria hops create an unusual flavor profile with notes of tangerine and orange.

Burial Beer Co The Shadow of Our Final Days Triple India Pale Ale (91)

“Made with oats and barley. Triple dry-hopped with Riwaka, Galaxy, Citra, Eldorado, Amarillo Cryo.”

The Big Friendly Amarillo Fresh Hop (91)

“A huge punch of tropical flavors trails into a subtle piney finish.”

Brewskey Pub & Taproom Cumulus (91)

“Oat cream pale ale with Citra and Galaxy (lactose).”

Arizona Wilderness Brewing This Beer Saves Water (91)

“Brewed with drought-resistant hops and ... Arizona-grown barley that helps offset millions of gallons of water from the Verde River every year.”

Hop Butcher For the World Airglow (91)

Strata-hopped hazy pale ale.

Hop Butcher For the World How Giant is Giant? (91)

“Motueka, Simcoe, and Citra-hopped triple India Pale Ale.”

Tröegs Independent Brewing Perpetual IPA (91)

“Artisanal meets mechanical in a state of IPA we call Perpetual. Cycling through our HopBack vessel and dry-hopping method, this imperial pale ale emerges rife with sticky citrus rind, pine balm, and tropical fruit.”

Goose Island Beer Company Goose IPA (91)

“Our India Pale Ale recalls a time when ales shipped from England to India were highly hopped to preserve their distinct taste during the long journey. The result is a hops lover’s dream with a fruity aroma, set off by a dry malt middle, and long hops finish.”

Melvin Brewing Hubert MPA (91)

“A welcomed handshake to your taste buds. Light, crisp, fresh, and a little bitty bitter. Lets just say he won’t be that jerk that leaves you at the bar at 2 a.m. He’s low in alcohol. What a nice guy, that Hubert.”

Wallenpaupack Brewing Company English Pale Mild Ale (91)

"This English Style Session Ale is very light in body and alcohol content but packed with toffee flavor from English malts."

Cigar City Golden Ale (91)

“Built for the warmer months, our Golden Ale is brewed with American Willamette hops and pale wheat malt to create a low-alcohol American golden ale that balances bread-like malt flavors with herbaceous hops and a vibrant carbonation.”

No Label Brewing Co Don Jalapeno (92)

Pale Ale infused with Smoked & Fresh Jalapenos

Hop Butcher For the World Roost (92)

“Centennial-hopped extra pale ale.”

Moksa Brewing Co Yakima Trinity (92)

“Celebrating the Yakima trinity of Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic.”

Green Cheek Beer Company SoMa Aroma (92)

The aroma and flavor are ridiculous, with hits of kiwi, honeydew, cotton candy, grape, and Meyer-lemon oil.

Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill Calculator Crazy (92)

Citra and Riwaka hops offer candy-like tropical fruit aromatics and flavors amid restrained but present bitterness and a full-bodied impression on the palate.

De Ranke XX Bitter (92)

“Very bitter but still balanced. Distinct hop taste.”

Stone Brewing Company Ruination Double IPA 2.0 (92)

“For the second incarnation of our India pale ale, we employed dry hopping and hop bursting to squeeze every last drop of piney, citrusy, tropical essence from the hops...”

BarrieHaus Beer Co. Ice Works Cold IPA (92)

“Citra, Mosaic, and Cashmere hops. Made with our Haus lager yeast and fermented at traditional ale temps.”

Burial Beer Co A Most Melancholy Visual Double India Pale Ale (93)

“Mashed with Epiphany triticale and oats. Double dry-hopped with Motueka, Mosaic, Enigma, and finished with Simcoe Cryo.”

Eddyline Brewery Epic Day Double India Pale Ale (93)

“A complex malt bill with a platform that allows the pungent hops blend with notes of grapefruit, tropical fruit, pine, and resin to truly shine. This is sure to satisfy the thirst of the most aggressive hopheads while maintaining remarkable drinkability.”

Schlafly Beer/The Saint Louis Brewery, LLC Pale Ale (93)

"This English-inspired classic helped spark the country’s craft beer revolution. The copper-colored, mildly spiced session ale offers a hint of fruitiness a refined balance of hops and malt, giving drinkers a taste of our genuine approach to brewing great beer."

Hidden Hand Oaked Val d'Or (93)

100% Oak Fermented Belgian-Style Pale Ale aged an additional 12 months in Oak and bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces Bruxellensis. 2023 Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer "Best of Show" Winner

Half Acre Beer Co Tome (93)

“With Citra, Mosaic, Idaho 7, Centennial. London III yeast.”

Cellarmaker Brewing Company Lil’ Terp (93)

“Citra, Enigma, Nectaron all rolled into one ganja-redolent beer.”

MadeWest Brewing Company Pale (93)

“Flagship pale ale featuring Mosaic, Simcoe, and Ekuanot.”

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Vujà Dé: Landlord (93)

“Landlord uses American ingredients to pay homage to Timothy Taylor’s Landlord as the quintessential English pale ale.”

Firestone Walker Brewing Co Foggy on the Details (93)

“Double dry hopped oat pale ale.”

Rockwell Beer Company Byrd Up! (93)

Rye pale ale lightly dry hopped with Simcoe and Michigan Cascade.

American Solera Handsome Brothers (93)

Double-dry-hopped session pale ale with Citra Cryo and Sabro Cryo.

Wise Man Brewing Chosen Vehicle Mosaic (93)

Aromas of bright tropical fruit and grass lead to stone fruit and citrus on the palate of this crushable pale.

Fort George Brewery City of Dreams (93)

A Mosaic-heavy, drinkable, hazy pale ale from the City of Dreams (Astoria, Oregon).

Brasserie de la Senne Taras Boulba (93)

“Noble hop session beer. It develops fragrances of Noble hops in dry hopping, which give it herbal, floral, and light citrus notes.”

Templin Family Brewing SQUIRREL Juicy India Pale Ale (94)

“The first hazy/juicy IPA recipe to come out of Templin.”

Burial Beer Co Prophet Maker Pale Ale (94)

“A modern pale ale with Citra, Nelson Sauvin, and Simcoe hops.”

Alma Mader Brewing Original Mind (94)

“Original Mind is brewed and dry-hopped with a blend of Citra and Mosaic. Fresh out-of-the-bag hop aroma and flavor.”

St. Elmo Brewing Company Smalls (94)

“A radical hazy pale ale.”

Cerebral Brewing Muscle Memory (94)

House APA with Citra, Idaho 7, and Motueka. Bursting with grapefruit, orange marmalade, and peach.

Broad Leaf Local Beer Chromatic Shatter (94)

“Everyday-drinking hazy pale ale with Talus, Mosaic, and Citra.”

Tampa Bay Brewing Co Cloudy Donkey (95)

“Double dry-hopped pale ale brewed with London Fog yeast, Citra, Equanot, Motueka hops, and dry-hopped with Sabro hops.”

BKS Artisan Ales Greenway Fields (95)

“Pale ale brewed with Simcoe and Cascade. Dry-hopped with Cascade, Cascade CGX, Citra, Strata, Zeus.”

Peculier Ales Sun is Shining (95)

“Candied oranges and a touch of pine dominate this homage to the all-Citra pale ales.”

pFriem Family Brewers Extra Pale (95)

“Scents of melon and pineapple, and the juicy essence of strawberry and gooseberry.”

Black Lung Brewing Company Haunted Hurst (95)

“Hazy with thiolized yeast and Strata, Calypso, and Citra hops.”

BKS Artisan Ales Tumbling Tumbleweed (95)

“Dry-hopped with Mosaic, Amarillo, Comet hops.”

Burial Beer Co A Postulation on Precarious Thought and Transient Delusion Double India Pale Ale (96)

“Mashed with loads of oats and whirlpooled with Citra Incognito and Simcoe Cryo. Double dry hopped with Citra, Nectaron, Strata, and a dab of Citra Cryo.”

Reuben's Brews Reuben's Crushable (96)

“An approachable, bright, hazy pale ale that lives up to its name.”

Breakside Brewery Strata Strata Strata (96)

A pale ale featuring our selected lots of 2020 Strata.

Maplewood Brewing Company Charlatan (96)

American pale ale generously hopped with Citra, Centennial, and Simcoe hops for fresh citrus flavors with mild, earthy pine notes.

Templin Family Brewing Ferda Double India Pale Ale (97)

“West Coast double India pale ale.”

Wild West Smooth Criminal (97)

“Features the traditional all-star Cascade plus a few other modern hops.”

Night Shift Brewing, Inc Whirlpool (97)

Explosively juicy. Refreshingly light. Big notes of grapefruit and clementine. Generously dry hopped with Mosaic and Ella.

Bend Brewing Co Killer Stashe: Amarillo (97)

Killer ’Stashe began as a revival of the classic American pale ale and has evolved into a modern NW pale showcasing a single hop variety.

Hop Butcher for the World Kielbasa King (97)

"Mosaic- and Nelson Sauvin–hopped double India pale ale."

Outer Range Brewing Co Tilted Pale Ale (98)

Hops: Citra, Strata, Riwaka. Tasting notes: melon, kumquat, grapefruit.

Solemn Oath Brewery Punk Rock For Rich Kids (98)

“A gentle mosh pit that politely pushes together the floral peach and stone fruit of Azacca hops with the spicy Belgian phenolics of our house Trappist-style yeast.”

King Harbor Brewing Co Crew Provisions (98)

“With Mosaic, El Dorado, Amarillo hops. Pale-ale ABV, hopped like our IPAs.”

Cellarmaker Brewing Company Christopher Riwakan (98)

Made with 100 percent New Zealand Riwaka hops, this pale ale has all the tropical notes to give you a smash hit.

Hop Butcher Run to Daylight (100)

"Citra-, Simcoe-, Strata-, and Galaxy-hopped triple India pale ale brewed with honey."

Perennial Artisan Ales Maman 2018 (100)

2018 Maman was aged for 12 to 14 months in Rittenhouse Rye barrels before blending and packaging. It’s our purest expression of beer in oak and presents a luxurious combination of cocoa, caramel, vanilla, and ma-ple wrapped up with a big boozy bow.