Dale's Pale Ale

The Rocky Mountain Pale Ale, revisited

By JASON + TODD ALSTRÖM

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Though canned beer has been around for decades in the US, the thought of canning beer in the craft beer world has always been a bit of a joke. However, in 2002, a small craft brewer in Lyons, Colo., became the first microbrewery to can its own beer. Hand-canning at only two at a time, Oskar Blues Brewery launched Dale's Pale Ale. Though the team at Oskar Blues started canning as a bit of a joke, the beer wasn't a joke—dancing between a Pale Ale and an India Pale Ale at 6.5-percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and 65 International Bittering Units (IBU).

Today, Oskar Blues cans are extremely popular. They hand-can five at a time, adding three more bold brews to their "Canned Beer Apocalypse"—Old Chub (Scottish Ale), Gordon (Imperial Red IPA) and Ten Fidy (Imperial Stout)—and they're still laughing.

Modern beer cans use a water-based lining to protect the beer from exposure to aluminum and subsequent leeching that creates that metallic twang found in canned beer of yore. Cans also deliver some of the freshest beer possible, as there's no risk of exposure to light (producing skunked or light-struck beer) or to oxygen (rendering the beer oxidized—i.e., stale—).

As for revisiting Dale's, we reviewed the beer back in the early days of Oskar Blues canning. The process and quality has vastly improved since. We thought it was fair to take another sip.

The Taste

Pours out of the can and into a "nonic" pint glass a rich amber color with orange hues, topped with a creamy white head (of various bubble sizes) that retains well and clings to the glass. Sniff it: You get fruity aromas, suggestions of sweetness, orange blossom, pine-grapefruit, herbs throughout and a bit of breadiness. Sip it and allow it to roll on the palate. You get a medium body that's firm and even on the palate—with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel at first, eventually turning somewhat coarse with a leafy, scrubby feel once the hops kick in. Malty sweet. Oranges. Herbal. Smacking of lemon rinds. A bit puckering with a dry snap and grapefruit; some astringency, too. A touch soapy—happens to hoppy beers sometimes, and it's OK, not gross. More breadiness with some grain and mineral chalkiness in the finish, plus a lingering herbal hop note that sticks around for a bit.

Final Thoughts

Aggressively hoppy and deliciously fresh, Dale's Pale Ale is, without a doubt, one of the quintessential American hoppy Pale Ales of our time. And while you can usually find it on draft, we recommend always going for the can and pouring it into a proper pint glass for maximum enjoyment. And remember kids: Drinking a canned beer a day keeps the beer snobs away.

FOR MORE INFO: OSKARBLUES.COM

FOR MORE BEER EDUCATION: BEERADVOCATE.COM

RESPECT BEER.