A pub ale is a traditional, easy-drinking ale commonly served in British pubs. At least, that’s the textbook definition of a pub ale.
But what a pub ale is can’t be boiled down to a single definition, because a pub ale is more or less whatever you want it to be.
The “pub ale” isn’t an official beer style, but that doesn’t stop breweries across the UK, and to a growing extent the US, from selling pub ales.
So, what exactly is a pub ale?
What Does “Pub Ale” Mean?
A “pub ale” is an ale that fits well into the traditional pub experience. Instead of following a specific style, a pub ale fits more of a vibe.
The best way to think of a pub ale is:
- Moderate in strength and ABV
- Approachable, easy to drink
- A nice balance between hop and malt
- Easy to drink more than one
- Great in a pub setting
- Easy to have many in one sitting
Basically, it’s a beer that you can have back to back to back (to back) at a pub.
Origins of Pub Ale
England has a rich history of pub drinking, and the pub ale traces its roots to this tradition. A long while back, beer was a daily staple in life; after all, water quality could be suspect, but beer was always safe to drink!
Beer, back in old English days, was brewed for local tastes. This meant small variations in how the same type of ale was brewed. However, all of these were just pub ales.
The traditional “pub ale” came with a modest ABV so people could drink more (read: buy more beer and spend more money). But the pub ale needed flavor to get people to drink it. The result is a well-balanced brew fit for pubs.
Key Characteristics of a Pub Ale
If you tried 100 different pub ales, you’d probably notice some similarities with each variation:
- Low to moderate alcohol content: Typically between 3% and 4.5% ABV
- Balanced flavor profile: Neither hop-heavy nor overly malty
- Smooth mouthfeel: Easy on the palate with minimal harshness
- Sessionable design: Intended for multiple pints in one sitting
- Subtle carbonation: Often less fizzy than modern bottled or canned beers
Common Types of Pub Ales
If wrapping your head around the loose concept of a pub ale is confusing, wait until we look at some of these classic pub ale variations!
Bitter
A classic pub ale with a balanced mix of malt and hops. Despite the name, this beer usually isn’t bitter.
Best Bitter
A higher ABV and more flavorful version of the Bitter, often coming with more malts. Still not particularly bitter.
Mild Ale
Low in bitterness (are you noticing a trend?), low in alcohol, and very mild in pretty much every imaginable way.
British Pale Ale
Not to be confused with an American pale ale, the British pale ale has a low hop profile, so it’s not very bitter.
Ordinary Ale
Who doesn’t look forward to an ordinary beer at the end of the day? One of the lowest-strength pub ales, the ordinary ale is designed to be incredibly drinkable and not very bitter.
Pub Ale vs IPA
You probably saw that I mentioned pale ale, and you might know that IPAs have a history connected with the British. Well, IPAs really couldn’t be more opposite from pub ales. Where pub ales are crushable and not bitter, IPAs are boozier, stronger, and much more bitter.
This isn’t to say IPAs can be on a pub menu, which technically makes it a pub ale…right?
How Pub Ale Is Traditionally Served
Pub ales are usually served as cask-conditioned beer, sometimes referred to as “real ale”. This means the beer finishes fermenting in the cask and is served without added carbonation. This type of carbonation gives a softer mouth feel, sort of like how nitro beers change the mouthfeel of the brew.
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