Hazy pale ale: what it is and how to choose one

A hazy pale ale is a pale ale that pours cloudy instead of clear, with a softer, juicier, less bitter taste than the traditional style. If you want to see what is on the shelf, start with the pale ale section at CBC Liquors on Littleton Rd in Westford, then use the notes below to pick one you will enjoy.

What makes a pale ale hazy?

Haze is a visible cloudiness in the glass. It comes from the way the beer is made rather than from anything added for looks. Brewers use grains such as oats or wheat that leave proteins in the beer, they add hops late in the process or after fermentation, and they often skip heavy filtering. Those hop oils and proteins stay suspended, which is why the beer looks like a glass of juice.

A traditional pale ale is brewed to be bright and clear, with a firmer bitter edge. A hazy pale ale keeps the pale ale name and the moderate strength, but leans toward aroma and a smooth, rounded feel on the tongue.

You will also see the style called New England pale ale or juicy pale ale. They all point at the same idea: soft body, lots of hop aroma, and not much sharp bitterness.

How does a hazy pale ale taste?

Expect fruit first. Hop varieties used in this style tend to smell and taste of citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit and sometimes pine or herbs. The bitterness is present but low, so the beer finishes soft rather than dry and snappy.

The texture is the other giveaway. Oats and wheat give a fuller, slightly creamy mouthfeel, so even a beer of modest strength feels round. If you usually find pale ales scratchy or too bitter, a hazy version is often an easier place to start.

If you prefer something crisp and clean, a classic clear pale ale or a lager will suit you better. Both are worth knowing, and the shelf at CBC Liquors has room for each.

What is the difference between a hazy pale ale and a hazy IPA?

The two sit next to each other, and the line between them is about strength and hop intensity. An IPA is brewed with more hops and usually more alcohol, so it tastes bolder and is often heavier in the glass. A pale ale uses less of both, which makes it lighter and easier to drink over a longer afternoon or a meal.

If you like the juicy character but want something gentler, a hazy pale ale is the right pick. If you want the full, loud version of that flavor, look at the IPA section and its New England IPA shelf.

Neither is better. They are two settings on the same dial, and a bottle shop that carries both lets you move up or down as you learn what you like.

What should you check on the can before you buy?

Freshness matters more with hazy beers than with almost any other style. The hop aroma that makes them appealing fades over weeks, and the juicy character flattens and can turn dull or papery with age. Look for a packaged-on or best-by date on the can and favor the most recent one.

Check how the beer has been kept. Hazy beers do best cold, so a can that has been sitting warm is a worse bet than one from a cooler. At home, put them in the fridge as soon as you get back.

Also read the style line. Names like pale ale, New England pale ale, juicy pale ale or hazy pale ale are all useful hints. If the can does not say, ask at the counter and we will tell you what we know about it.

Which pale ales can you pick up at CBC Liquors?

The Westford shop carries a range of pale ales, and the lineup changes as new beers arrive. Among the pale ales we carry are Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, a reference point for the clear, bright style; Tuckerman Pale Ale; Goodfire Watt Pale Ale; and Rising Tide Maine Island Trail Ale. You will also find Small Change A Little Rain and, in the fall, Cambridge Great Pumpkin Ale.

Not every pale ale pours hazy. Some are bright and clear, some cloudy, and some in between. Ask at the counter if you want the hazy ones pointed out, or pick up one clear and one cloudy beer and taste them side by side.

If you want to browse by maker, the brand pages for Night Shift, Other Half, Toppling Goliath, Foam and Finback show what we carry from each.

How should you serve and store a hazy pale ale?

Serve it cold but not ice-cold, around the temperature of a good fridge. Too cold and the aroma closes up; a few minutes out of the fridge lets the fruit come forward.

Pour it into a glass instead of drinking from the can. A wide-mouthed glass such as a tulip or a pint glass lets you smell the hops, and much of the pleasure of this style is in the nose. Pour most of the beer and decide whether to swirl the last bit to lift the settled haze.

Store cans upright in the fridge and drink them within a few weeks of buying. Unlike a barleywine or a strong stout, a hazy pale ale does not get better with age.

What food goes with a hazy pale ale?

The soft bitterness and fruit character make this style easy to match. Grilled chicken, fish tacos, burgers, pizza and anything with a bit of spice sit well beside it. The beer is light enough not to overpower the food and aromatic enough to stand up to bold seasoning.

Salty snacks work too, from pretzels to fries. Sharp fruit-forward hops can feel brighter against something fatty or salty, which is why pale ales are so common at cookouts.

For a gathering, pair a hazy pale ale with a lager from the lager section so guests who prefer something crisp have a choice. The party planner is there if you are working out how much to stock for a group.

How do you get a hazy pale ale from CBC Liquors in Westford?

You can walk in at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford. The shop is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Pickup uses the same hours as the shop. Delivery runs Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. If you are outside Westford, the delivery pages for Chelmsford, Acton and Littleton show how it works for those towns.

For more of the beer range, the beer in Westford page covers what we carry, and the 6 pack guide is a good next read.