This UpFlow Pale Ale Review is long overdue after I was first introduced to the beer and range way back in 2020 when the non-alcoholic beer scene was just starting to gain its traction.
The UpFlow Pale Ale is a malty Pale Ale that scores an 8.5/10 & tastes almost identical to a traditional Pale Ale perfect for Pale Ale drinkers. It has a warm full-bodied profile with flavours of caramel & cookie-based malts with rounded earthy notes, a hint of fruitiness and round and lingering bitterness to finish.
Key Takeaways
| ABV: | <0.5% |
| Style | Pale Ale |
| Calories: | 21 calories / 100ml |
| Colour: | Dark Marmalade |
| Main Notes: | Cookie + Caramel Malt. |
| Cost: | $21 – $25 |
| Rating: | 8.5 / 10 |
UpFlow Pale Ale Taste
The UpFlow Classic Pale Ale brings major similarities to traditional full-bodied Pale Ales. I don’t know why I am continually surprised, but each time I come back to it I’m surprised how good it is – especially the depth of the body.
Each glass has an enjoyable malty profile that gave me delicious notes of caramel and cookie. When poured into a glass it also had a brilliant marmalade coloured orange (I’ll drop a photo below) with a silky foamy head and slow bubbles.
On flavour and taste and profile, each glass is going to bring you a deep, complex and layered flavour profile. I’ve been drinking this a while and would best describe it as:
- Malty (think caramel, biscuit and cookie-like malts);
- Earthy with a warm and rounded profile;
- A really well-weighted body that builds in flavour and weight as you drink;
- Rounded and lingering bitterness to finish.
For me, it feels like the profile of the UpFlow Pale Ale borrows from traditional styles of Oktoberfest, Lager and Pale Ale bringing them together in an amazing non-alcoholic option that balances flavour, body and mouthfeel.
|
What I Like |
Things to Consider |
| Depth and complexity of flavour and mouthfeel. | I’ve always found the UpFlow range are light on the level of carbonation. |
| The great distribution and availability through retailers online, large and independent retailers. | If you are into big bright fruity IPA’s this might be one to skip and instead go for the UpFlow New World IPA. |
Sound like a beer for you? The full guide is below!
Who Is The Upflow Pale Ale For?
The UpFlow Pale Ale is for drinkers who enjoy a malty and full-bodied beer like a Lager, Pilsner or rounder Pale Ale as well as beer drinkers looking to try non-alcoholic beer for the first time. The malty profile & the combination of Munich Malt & Hallertau and Saaz hops provide satisfying flavour & weight.
I’ve previously written about the UpFlow Ultra Pale Lager and talked about how much I enjoy it and use it on the back of training days or exercise. More recently I’ve been substituting out the Ultra Pale Lager and have been adding in the Pale Ale given I’ve been loving the malty flavours more recently.
I’m a big fan of the UpFlow range and the Pale Ale is no different, this one lands an 8.5 / 10 for me and I absolutely recommend giving this beer a go if you’re looking to get into non-alcoholic beer and even more so if you’re looking for a beer tasting beer that can help with those post-exercise rehydration activities.
Upflow Brewing Stockists.
The UpFlow Pale Ale is available through a wide range of retailers such as Amazon, Brunswick Aces, Craft Zero and Dan Murphy’s along with a wide range of independent bottle shops. When purchasing the UpFlow beer range, a 6-pack will cost you between $21 – $25.
Check out the links to the retailers below, where you can find a 6 pack to try and treat your taste buds to a full-bodied, great-tasting malty Pale Ale party.
UpFlow Pale Ale Nutrition
The UpFlow Pale Ale lands at only 21 calories and 1.4 grams of sugar per 100ml making it a great option for anybody looking to keep sugar and calories down when drinking a non-alcoholic beer.
But it gets better, not only does it have low sugar and calories, it is also bolstered with Potassium, Sodim and Magnesium to aid rehydration and recovery.
Sound interesting? The full nutrition information of the UpFlow Classic Pale Ale is set out below.
|
Avg Quantity |
Avg Quantity |
|
| Energy | 309 kJ 74 Cal |
87 kJ |
| Protein |
< 1 g |
< 1 g |
| Fat, total |
< 1 g |
< 1 g |
| — saturated |
< 1 g |
< 1 g |
| Carbohydrate |
16 g |
4.5 g |
| — sugars |
5 g |
1.4 g |
| Sodium |
25 mg |
7 mg |
When to Drink Upflow Pale Ale
I really enjoy grabbing a pack of the UpFlow Pale Ale, jumping on the bike and strolling over to a local park to unwind and catch up with friends. The Pale Ale is a beer I was introduced to by my girlfriend way back in 2020 in exactly that setting.
It also does amazingly out of the ‘park date’ scene and with a barbeque but I recently got lazy with dinner threw together some nachos (jalapenos and all) and grabbed a Pale Ale and let me tell you, it was epic.
If there is ever an excuse to make nachos you’ve just been given one. Give it a go!
You’ll also know I’m super big about drinking this out of a glass when you can, and if you’ve been following my content for a while, I’ve been big on sharing the love for the Spiegelau Craft Tasting Kit I’ve been using since early 2021.
It has held up amazingly and helps amplify the flavour, profile and depth of non-alc beers that often in a can, may not bring you the full depth and flavours they can provide. If you’re interested in levelling up your beer drinking game, check out the kit I bought and will likely cost you between $45 – $55 over on Amazon AU (or if you’re in America, the Amazon US link can be found here).
The Wrap Up: Final Thoughts
The UpFlow Pale Ale may be one of the very first entrants into the non-alcoholic beer scene but it definitely isn’t one to dismiss as being part of the ‘old way’. The depth, complexity, flavour profile and amazing mouthfeel make this one everybody should try at least once.
For me, the mouthfeel and malty profile really make this stand out in a category full of (amazing) IPAs and lets you break up the IPA vibe with a more malt focused beer that is versatile, flavourful and above all tastes great.
If you’re keen on a beer that seemingly does it all – I’ve been drinking it for a year now, bought it each and every time and can’t speak highly enough of it. Try it out and save yourself some cash in the process with the links below:
- Amazon AU
- Brunswick Aces (TIPPLE12 at checkout gets you 12% off)
- Craft Zero (TZERO at checkout gets you 10% off)
If you do drink it I’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop me a line on jonathan@tipplezero.com.
Alternatively, try out the other Pale Ale options from Big Drop and Mornington Brewing Co for something different!
