Seipps Extra Pale Ale 6Pk

Seipp's Extra Pale Ale 6-Pack is a pre-prohibition-style pilsner brewed at 4.5% ABV, sold as a six-pack, and modeled on recipes from Chicago's historic Conrad Seipp Brewing Company. It earned an 88 ("Very Good") rating on BeerAdvocate and holds a 3.7 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 2,700 ratings, reflecting strong enthusiasm for its faithful revival of a lost American beer tradition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.5%  |  Origin: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA  |  Pre-Prohibition Pilsner Style  |  Brewer: Pilot Project Brewing (Milwaukee Facility)

Production & Heritage

The Conrad Seipp Brewing Company was once one of Chicago's largest breweries before Prohibition forced its closure in 1933. Decades later, descendants and brewers collaborated to resurrect the brand by researching historical marketing materials and period-accurate pilsner recipes. The current expression is brewed at Pilot Project Brewing's Milwaukee facility using North American malted barley, flaked corn, heritage Cluster hops for bittering authenticity, and Saaz hops as the showcase aroma variety. The result targets an original gravity of 12, 35 IBUs of bitterness, and a pale 3.7 SRM color — specifications that align with what American pilsners looked and tasted like before Prohibition reshaped the industry.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted white bread leads, followed by a gentle sweetness reminiscent of sweet bread dough. Subtle grassy and floral notes from the Saaz hops emerge underneath, lending a classic continental hop character.

Taste: The entry is clean and malt-forward, with bready grain and a slight cornmeal sweetness. At mid-palate, spicy and lightly bitter hops assert themselves, building toward a balanced peak where the 35 IBUs check the malt's sweetness without overwhelming it. The flaked corn contributes a smooth, rounded texture rather than overt sweetness.

Finish: Crisp and moderately bitter, with grassy hop notes and a dry grain quality that lingers briefly. The medium-light body and lively carbonation keep the close refreshing and encourage another sip.

How to Drink Seipp's Extra Pale Ale

Pour into a pilsner glass or flute at 38–42°F to showcase the pale gold color and encourage hop aroma. This beer drinks best fresh and cold, making it an ideal straight-from-the-fridge pour. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try a Shandy with fresh lemonade, where the bready malt and hop bitterness balance the citrus; a Michelada, where the crisp body stands up to lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire; or a Radler with grapefruit soda, which plays off the Saaz hop spice.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather grilling sessions
• Sharing with craft beer fans curious about American brewing history
• Pairing alongside a charcuterie spread at a casual dinner party
• Stocking a mixed-beer cooler for guests who prefer lighter, sessionable styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Seipp's Extra Pale Ale taste like? It tastes like bready, lightly sweet malt balanced by spicy, grassy hop bitterness, finishing crisp and dry with lively carbonation. The flaked corn in the recipe gives it a smooth, rounded mouthfeel that distinguishes it from sharper modern pilsners.

How does Seipp's Extra Pale Ale compare to modern craft pilsners? Most contemporary American craft pilsners lean on German or Czech techniques and noble hops alone, while Seipp's deliberately uses heritage Cluster hops and flaked corn to recreate a distinctly American pre-prohibition flavor profile. The result is slightly rounder in body and more biscuit-forward than a typical modern craft pilsner, with a hop bitterness that reads spicy rather than floral.

Is Seipp's Extra Pale Ale good for easy drinking? At 4.5% ABV with a clean, balanced profile and medium-light body, it is very sessionable and approachable for drinkers who want flavor without heaviness. The moderate 35 IBU bitterness keeps it from being bland while staying well within crowd-pleasing territory.

Where is Seipp's Extra Pale Ale made? It is currently brewed at Pilot Project Brewing's Milwaukee, Wisconsin facility. The brand traces its heritage to the original Conrad Seipp Brewing Company, which operated in Chicago until Prohibition shut it down in 1933.

What foods pair well with Seipp's Extra Pale Ale? Grilled bratwurst or hot dogs complement the bready malt and hop spice. A classic cheeseburger mirrors the American heritage of the recipe. Soft pretzels with mustard echo the grain character. Mild white cheddar or Colby cheese offers a creamy contrast to the carbonation. Corn-on-the-cob is a natural match, given the flaked corn in the malt bill.

What sizes does Seipp's Extra Pale Ale come in? It is commonly available as a six-pack, which is the standard retail format for this beer.

Is Seipp's Extra Pale Ale worth the price? Seipp's positions as a craft-tier offering with a genuine historical pedigree, which sets it apart from mass-market lagers and gives it stronger narrative value than many beers at a similar price point. Its BeerAdvocate score of 88 supports its standing as a well-regarded example of the pre-prohibition style.

Why Seipp's Extra Pale Ale?

What separates Seipp's from the crowded American pilsner field is the documented research behind it — the brewers studied original Seipp marketing materials and period brewing practices to approximate a recipe that vanished when Prohibition ended an era of American brewing. The use of heritage Cluster hops is a deliberate choice that most modern brewers skip, and it gives the beer a character you simply cannot replicate with contemporary hop varieties alone. An 88 on BeerAdvocate confirms this is more than a novelty; it delivers genuine quality in the glass. For anyone interested in what American beer tasted like before the 20th century reshaped the industry, this six-pack is one of the most credible recreations available.