The Final Pour Ep. 4: Pale Splitter – American Pale Ale
Welcome back to The Final Pour, where I’m tasting through the last beers from Triton Brewing Co. Today’s pour is Pale Splitter – American Pale Ale, a beer that reminded me why APAs remain such a staple in the craft beer world.
First Impressions
From the moment I cracked open the can, a blast of hop aroma hit me, instantly raising my hopes for this tasting. The beer poured a bright, vibrant yellow, almost like liquid sunlight swirling in the glass. As it settled, it deepened into a beautiful golden hue, topped with a thick white head full of bubbles of all sizes. It held up impressively, creating that classic APA look I’ve come to expect.
One thing that stood out was its opacity. Like the past few Triton beers I’ve reviewed, this one wasn’t clear – more like an unfiltered pale ale. After my experience with the Hometown Hero Golden Ale, which I suspected might have been affected by storage issues, I couldn’t help but wonder if this beer would hold up.
On the Nose
Bringing my nose to the glass, I immediately picked up on lemony citrus, which gave me a bit of déjà vu from the Golden Ale. But here, the citrus was intentional, backed by pine and floral hop notes that rounded out the aroma beautifully. There was also a faint hint of malt sweetness, just enough to remind me this was still a balanced APA. With five different hops in this beer – Cascade, Columbus, Galena, Magnum, and a Citra dry-hop – I was impressed by how harmonious the aroma felt.
Tasting Notes
On the palate, Pale Splitter tasted exactly how it smelled. Bright citrus led the way, followed by pine and floral notes that lingered pleasantly. The bitterness was present but never overwhelming, making it easy-drinking while still delivering that classic hop punch.
The body was light to medium, leaning closer to medium, giving it enough weight to carry the flavors without ever feeling heavy. Each sip finished with a lingering hop presence that left me ready for the next.
Final Thoughts
I went into this tasting a little nervous, wondering if time and storage would have dulled this beer’s character. But Pale Splitter surprised me. It brought everything I want from an APA: brightness, balance, and refreshing drinkability. While I’d recommend this to any of my IPA-loving friends looking for something sessionable, I personally prefer my Pale Ales with a bit more malt backbone to balance out the hops.
Still, Pale Splitter reminded me why this style has become a cornerstone of American craft brewing – approachable yet full of character, just like Triton Brewing itself.
Have you tried Pale Splitter?
Drop your tasting notes or Triton memories in the comments below. I’d love to hear what you think.
