El Conquistador

Mission Brewery

San Diego

El Conquistador is a sessionable pale ale dry-hopped with Centennial and experimental hops from the Yakima Valley. Mission recently released El Conquistador and Shipwrecked IPA in 32-oz cans.

ABV: 4.8

ABW: 3.84

COLOR: 5.5

BITTERNESS: 44

ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1044

AVAILABLE: AZ, CA, CO, FL, IN, KY, MD, NC, NV, OH, PA, VA

I had a problem. After I retrieved the big honkin’ can from the fridge, I realized that I did not have a beer glass big enough to contain a full quart. So I used a pitcher. It opens with an authoritative chunk of splitting metal. It’s a hazy copper beauty with a fluffy white head that I know will lace the sides. There’s faint lemon and orange zest on the nose, and with a thin mouthfeel and bitter finish, it’s not the kind of pale ale usually associated with San Diego, but will make for a fine beach companion.
- John Holl

Given the size of the can, I’m hoping very much that this slightly hazy, pale golden ale is what the English might call more-ish, so let’s see. The nose is fairly innocuous, with soft, perfumey florals and sweet melon notes and just a hint of lemon. The body is light, gently bitter with faintly spicy citrus peel and a bit watery, ending in a somewhat abrupt bitterness that refreshes but fails to leave me craving the remainder of the can. A pleasant enough partner for burgers or hot dogs.
- Stephen Beaumont

John Holl
John is the editor of All About Beer Magazine, the host of The Beer Briefing on iHeart Radio, and the author of three books, including The American Craft Beer Cookbook. Find him on Twitter @John_Holl.

Stephen Beaumont
Co-author of both The World Atlas of Beer and The Pocket Beer Guide (with Tim Webb), Stephen travels the world sampling beer, hosting dinners and tastings, and eating too much airport food.