Pale ales, the style that killed porter in Britain, became the hallmark of the American microbrewery scene. Bright and bracing with a chewy malt structure, these ales gave most American drinkers their first real hoppy sensation.

Today the APA comes in all shapes and sizes from the crisp, light, bitter extra pale ales to the ever-creeping dividing line between an APA and an IPA. Each of them shares a focus on the comfortable hop experience. They supply enough bitterness to wake you up, but with enough malt and body to keep the palate from tiring before the next sip. APAs pack more hop bite than British pale ales.

From here on out is the chance to really let those “C” hops shine. The pale ales, the IPAs, DIPAs, and barleywines push brassy American hops more than any other style.