Also known as APA, this style was probably developed around 1980 by the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, although the Anchor Brewing Company is usually considered to have made the first modern American ale, Anchor Liberty Ale, as a special in 1975.

American pale ales are generally around 5% alcohol with significant quantities of American hops, typically Cascade. Although American brewed beers tend to use a cleaner yeast and American two row malt, it is particularly the American hops that distinguish an APA from British or European pale ales. The style is close to the American India pale ale (IPA), and boundaries blur, although IPAs are generally stronger and more assertively hopped. The style is also close to amber ale, although the latter are darker and maltier due to use of crystal malts.