Melvin Hubert MPA
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Tasting Notes
This American Pale Ale leads with citrus and light tropical fruit on the nose, backed by a mild piney hop character that signals Pacific Northwest-influenced hopping. The flavor follows through with moderate bitterness, a touch of bready malt underneath, and a clean, dry finish that keeps the hops in focus without overwhelming the palate. Body sits in the middle register — not watery, not heavy — which lets the hop aromatics do the talking. It's a solid, unfussy expression of the style.
About the Brewery
Melvin Brewing is based in Alpine, Wyoming, with roots going back to a Thai restaurant and brewpub that became a cult regional hit. They built a reputation on aggressively hopped beers, particularly IPAs, and gained national attention after winning awards at the Great American Beer Festival. Their lineup skews hop-forward across most formats, and they've expanded distribution well beyond Wyoming while keeping a scrappy, irreverent brand identity.
Food Pairings
Fish tacos work well here because the citrus hop character mirrors the brightness of lime and fresh salsa without competing with delicate white fish. A grilled chicken sandwich with sharp cheddar gives the malt backbone something to latch onto while the bitterness cuts through the fat. Spicy Thai noodles are a natural match given the brewery's origins — moderate bitterness cools the heat without stripping the dish's aromatics. A Caesar salad with anchovy dressing plays off the beer's dry finish and handles the savory, umami weight cleanly.
Style Guide
American Pale Ale sits between a session beer and an IPA in terms of hop intensity and body, typically landing in the 4.5–6% ABV range with a focus on American hop varieties like Cascade, Centennial, or Citra. The style emerged in the 1980s as American craft brewers riffed on English pale ale traditions, swapping earthy English hops for the brighter citrus and pine notes of domestic varieties. Compared to an IPA, the bitterness is more restrained and the malt presence is proportionally stronger, making it more balanced overall. It's one of the foundational styles of the American craft beer movement.