One of the largest components of Tahoe’s nightlife is the mix of countless breweries, bars and restaurants that offer unique drinks difficult to find outside the basin. In our Drink of the Week segment, we’ll showcase one type of beer, wine, cocktail — you name it — to try during your stay in the region.

One of the staples on the West Coast in the microbrewery movement of the 1990s, most notably from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., the pale ale has moved in and out of tap rotations with consistency.

This week’s drink, Cold Water’s Preachers Pale Ale, puts me in the passenger seat of the DeLorean and takes me back to a time when pale ales were all the rage.

Pale ales, which are British in origin, trade in those dodgy characteristics for some California Love West Coast hop. The result is a golden beauty that even Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia can get behind — which is to say whether male or female, you should be able to find something here that tickles the fancy.

The Preachers Pale Ale’s proper season feels like summer (yes, I realize it’s winter and Tahoe just got hit with enough snow to make Scarface jealous). Clocking in at 5 percent ABV, this beer can be enjoyed throughout the entire day without weighing you down or drying you out, as some pale ales can do. It’s a perfect match for when the weather is warm and the activity is high.

The flavors here are quite balanced. You get some citrus hints at the top, but the descent down the mountain isn’t tracked out and littered with overly hoppy notes. The finish is clean with a slightly mild bitterness reminiscent of Scrooge after the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Whether you’ve been chuffed of cheesed off in the past by pale ales, this one is definitely worth a spin. My guess is after the first round, you’ll realize this week’s drink isn’t a load of codswallop.

Reader’s note: I got a bit cheeky with the British terms there. Cheers!

Cold Water Brewery & Grill is located at 2544 Lake Tahoe Blvd. (U.S. 50) in South Lake Tahoe. For information visit them online at http://www.tahoecoldwaterbrewery.com.