It’s been an age since I’ve posted notes on a few beers. And I have a few minutes.
I’ve had beers sent to me over the years from Oskar Blues in Longmont, CO for my comment. Many have been new styles with fruits and such, but their flagship has been Dale’s Pale Ale. When it was released in 2002, it was touted as one of the first craft beers to be packaged in cans. The appeal at that time was for outdoor types who wanted to bring beer on hikes, but had to take their empties back out with them. Better to carry lightweight cans for that purpose. Their motto: “Pack It In, Pack It Out.”
Since then, aluminum cans have become standard for craft beer, although rising prices and dimwitted tariff policies may cause that to be reconsidered.
Lately, they’ve refocused on their Dale’s Pale Ale by putting out “brand extensions:” a Hazy IPA, and Imperial IPA, and an Imperial Hazy. So let’s try them.
Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
Their flagship beer, first released in 1999, and first canned in 2002, just won a gold medal at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival in the English Ale category. I first tried this back in 2007 and noted:
Nose shows very citrusy hops, but not piney or grapefruitty as with other APAs. Light in color. But a great alpha-full nose overlaid on a golden malt profile.
Dale’s American IPA
This one is the latest addition to the lineup. It seems to have come in a roundabout: After the Double IPA and the Imperial Hazy IPA mentioned below, this is a basic American style Pale Ale. Their promotional release and the can does not bring up the actual West Coast hops, just noting a “clean profile of citrus, pine, and herbal freshness.” Perhaps they are still tweaking the hop recipe.
It shows a clear straw/gold color, tall fizzy foam head. Smell is big with those advertised tropical fruits, citrus and pine. But when it goes into my mouth, all those exotic Pacific hop notes are gone. Just a nice big note of hop bitterness. Harkens back to the original days of American pale ales.
Double Dale’s IPA
This new Imperial version boasts an extra malt bill, more of their American-only hops; El Dorado and Talus. The result is a 9.0% abv brew, though still with the 65 IBU of its little brother.
There’s a big citrus and tropical fruit nose just pouring from the can. Amber color with a bit of haze, and a sudsy head.
A lot of hop on the tongue, too, and strong alcohol. This can has sat in my cellar longer than an IPA should have, but its extra strength has saved its hop bouquet. Interesting hard candy finish threaded with the alcohol and a bitter aftertaste.
Hazy Imperial Juicy IPA
Yup, a big hazy pour, almost opaque and like orange juice and milk mixed. Smell is largely of tropical citrus and other fruit. Just a lot to like if you don’t miss the pine and resin of OB’s flagship Pale Ales. Sudsy head leaves some legs in the glass as it dwindles. Liking the flavor of more juicy fruit without much bitterness. Malt is there for support, I can see why it was tempered with oatmeal and wheat. Leaves a bit of a lactic aftertaste, but overall, a very nice big beer.
