First off, brew loving people, yes… that is (a small portion of) THE Hall of Beers. The Hall that started it All. In 4 different residences in several states on both coasts, I have brought the Hall with me and mounted it proudly. It has been up in my current residence for nearly 2 years and has grown to some 300+ bottles… not a single repeat, beer readers.

NOW… on to business. Pale Ales originated in England in, oh, 1987, let’s say. Or maybe it was 2 or 3 centuries back. At any rate, they are brewed at or near room temperature with top-fermenting yeast and they are… great. The distinguishing character of a Pale Ale (especially an India Pale Ale, not that this is one) is HOPS. Lots of bitter, hoppy, refreshing bite. And Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale is just about the best widely available American pale ale you can get.

Served nice and cold, it has a pleasant sip with a handshake from barley, and a firm but not rude slap on the rump as the hops bid you good day. Wow… what a stilted description. But accurate. Dry and crisp, hoppy and lovely, try a pale ale from the good folks at Sierra Nevada (not to mention… all of their beers… we’ll get to that someday) and if you don’t like it, then you don’t like pale ales. And I don’t much like you. Much. But I’ll still take your money and any foodstuffs you care to offer.

 Rock on, beer friends. Oh, and here’s a picture of a bear I took at the zoo. His name is Ashby Bear.