I have been a major beer drinker since May 2010 when I graduated from law school. While I have also enjoyed the fine wine selection available at Costco and the Davis Food Co-Op, it's really the ability to buy singles of all the fine craft beer that has subsidized my homebrew consumption best.
Today I am doing something I have done before but this time I'm writing about it - the 12 oz single-style beer flight. No one is stewarding for me, so this test isn't blind, but I am drinking a few beers today (maybe more tomorrow) all from the American Pale Ale style, and I will write about them as I would if I were judging them in a BJCP competition. Here goes:
1. New Belgium Mighty Arrow Pale Ale
Aroma
Minty, clean, noble-type and perfumey cascade aroma. No esters. No DMS. Clean malt aroma - no caramel or bread-like aromas. 8/12
Appearance
Crystal crear. Light golden color. Good head retention. 3/3
Flavor
Clean, hop-forward. Good, smooth bitterness. Hop profile is clean and noble-like. Minty, smooth, neutral-tasting. Not very citrusy or fruity. Not spicy. Nearly no malt presence. Pilsner malt? Unique for an American pale ale in that there is not a citrus-hop dominance. No esters or phenols. No alcohol. No off flavors. 13/20
Mouthfeel
Smooth, velvety, medium body. Low-moderate carbonation. 4/5
Overall Impression
A nice, clean, sessionable beer, but it lacks the hop presence that I expect from the style. I would also like a little more malt flavor, and the pilsnery taste seems style-inapproriate. 7/10
35/50
2. Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale
Aroma
Nothing. Almost no aroma. Clean, extremely slight malt and hop aroma, slight sour aroma. 5/12
Appearance
Beautiful pale amber color, crystal clarity. Moderate head retention. 3/3
Flavor
Overly neutral. Slight cascade hop character coupled with very slight caramel sweetness. Not toasty or sweet. Bitterness is good. Some cascade in the finish. This bottle may not be particularly fresh. 10/20
Mouthfeel
Moderate carbonation, light-medium body. 4/5
Overall
Not my cup of tea. This beer lacked flavor overall. Just a not great beer. I believe the bottle wasn't as fresh as it ought to be, but I also don't think this beer is dry-hopped, which it properly should be. 5/10
27/50
3. Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale Ale
Aroma
Unmistakeable cascade hop aroma - perfume, grapefruit, and grainy malt blend to smell like a pale ale ought to. 10/12
Appearance
Deep gold to pale amber, very slight haze. Low head retention. 2/3
Flavor
Firm bitterness almost balanced by grainy malt. No caramel. Hop flavor throughout (especially in finish), but the dominant flavor is the bitterness of the hops, leading to a very dry finish, despite the soft sweetness mid-palate that suggests some residual sugars. 16/20
Mouthfeel
Moderate carbonation contributes to dry finish. Medium-bodied. Smooth, but not incredibly sessionable. 4/5
Overall Impression
Excellent beer, but somewhat unpolished. I would prefer if it were clearer and perhaps had a pinch of Munich-type or caramel-type sweetness. It's a bit one-note with the cascade-type hop flavor and bitterness. Still, a fine craft beer, and what I expect a pale ale to taste like, plus some. 8/10
40/50
Day 2
4. Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Aroma
Sorta weak on this one. I am already pretty sure this is not the freshest bottle of Mirror Pond I've ever had. Bready caramely malt and cascade hops. Appealing and it seems fairly drinkable - what I mean is that it smells neutral, but there is detectable hops and malt and some very soft fruity esters - if I closed my eyes, I would guess it was a pale ale.8/12
Appearance
Minimal head with good retention. Very slight haze that doesn't dissipate as the beer warms up. Nice pale amber color. 2/3
Taste
Gentle cascade hop mix of perfume, grapefruit (white, not pink), and pine. Soft bready malt sweetness. Firm but gentle bitterness. Not harsh. Incredibly smooth. Easy. Very restrained fruity esters that become more apparent as it warms. Excellent - and much better at 50F than fresh out of the fridge. 17/20
Mouthfeel
Medium body. Low-moderate carbonation for the style (which I like). Creamy. Very smooth. 5/5
Overall
This is really what a pale ale strives to be. The restrained but noticeable yeast esters really push this one from "good" to "great" for me. I would prefer more dry hops and a bit more clarity, but an excellent beer all-around. 9/10.
41/50
5. Caldera Pale Ale (in a can!)
Aroma
Intense cascade aroma. Citrus, perfume, and a hint of pine. Outrageously good. 11/12
Appearance
Brilliantly clear. Small head that does not persist long. Beautiful pale amber color. 2/3
Flavor
Smooth, but firm bitterness. Crisp pine and perfume. Grapefruit and candy-like maltiness. Excellent. Cascade-powered pale ale to and through. Minerally finish. 18/20
Mouthfeel
Medium body. Moderate carbonation. Not creamy. Very smooth. 4/5
Overall
A classic American pale ale. Cascade hops x^1000000. Cascade at its best - and backed by a fine smooth malt backing. So so good. This is a perfect example of what pale ale ought to be. 9/10
44/50
6. Widmer Bros. Drifter Pale Ale
Aroma
Decidedly "new school" hop aroma - fruit salad. Melon, rock candy, and caramel malt. Sweet-smelling, and very inviting. 10/12
Appearance
Honey-colored medium amber and crystal clear. Poor head retention. 2/3
Flavor
Soft bitterness, sweet malt, fruity hops, and that's about it. But the hop profile is complex and very fruity. There is an ester-like quality, but I am almost certain that is just the hops - really serious stuff. 17/20
Mouthfeel
Decidedly medium-bodied, moderate carbonation. Slightly creamy and very smooth. 4/5
Overall
A very unique pale ale in that it is slightly darker and has an entirely different hop bill than the cascade-heavy standard for the style. Very nice, but it could be improved with a pinch more bitterness and more dry hopping. 8/10
41/50
7. Stone Pale Ale
Aroma
Very mild. Citrusy hops and caramel malt. Some oxidation. 6/12
Appearance
Medium amber color. No head, slight haze. 2/3
Flavor
This beer has no hop flavor and it tastes old and really not fresh. Not unexpected for a bottle of such overpriced and unremarkable beer. 9/20
Mouthfeel
Medium body. Moderate carbonation. Not creamy. 3/5.
Overall Impression
The beer has seen better days. The age really shows and it is a problem. There was no hop flavor and basically the beer tastes of very little other than sweetness. 5/10
25/50
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