Caldera Pale Ale - Caldera Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer review from BA Mag Oct 2007.

The more craft beers that come in cans, the more the stigma that surrounds canned beer will fade away--plus, there is no debate about sunlight and bottle color. That dead horse has been beaten way too much.

Thin tiny-bubbled lace forms from a moderate pour, retention is fine and the lace stays around for most of the session. Brilliant golden color shimmers in the light. Flowery citric hop aroma screams Cascade hops, bit of biscuity malt with a mild caramel sweetness in the nose. Light to medium body with just as much smoothness and crispness, both with ample amounts for the semislick mouthfeel. Minty and earthy yet mainly citric-flavored hop draws in a lot of flavor with a solid bitterness. Very clean palate with bread notes, almost grassy graininess in the middle. Hop bitterness digs in deep but does not go too far to throw anything out of balance. Cascade hops are all over the finish with an earthy citric flavor. Ends with a touch of dry maltiness.

A benchmark ale for PNW Pale Ales, if not American Pale Ales altogether, and that benchmark is not of modest stature. It shows great balance without the Cascade smack taking over, clean and very drinkable. The last of the sample was paired with a plain goat cheese and Pink Lady apples--very nice.

Serving type: can

07-07-2010 00:27:14 | More by BeerAdvocate

mcaulifww

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

05-20-2013 13:15:43 | More by mcaulifww

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A delightfully surprising beer that I tried at a local bar having never heard of Caldera before. I was given no glass to pour the beer in (This wasn't a classy establishment), so rating is based off drinking straight from the can.

Wondeful fresh hop citrus smell. Juicy, wet hops all over the nose. Grapefruit, mango, orange. The 3 Cs of NW hops brewed well here. Biscuity malts do a wonderful job of standing up to the hop presence. Mid body with nice drinkability. A perfect session style pale for someone who enjoys a hoppy, yet balanced beer while out drinking all night with friends.

A very underated pale ale here that is certainly one of the best i have had.

Serving type: can

05-19-2013 22:12:34 | More by Bosoxfan20

leftoverburrito

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

05-08-2013 02:42:14 | More by leftoverburrito

aakerman

New York

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

05-07-2013 17:18:48 | More by aakerman

snohojimbo

Washington

4/5  rDev +3.9%

04-13-2013 02:35:34 | More by snohojimbo

NCbeerpirate

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

04-02-2013 00:26:32 | More by NCbeerpirate

slay

Delaware

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-24-2013 23:34:47 | More by slay

teamwiggum

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

02-26-2013 05:47:19 | More by teamwiggum

skriv

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-23-2013 22:40:55 | More by skriv

chugamugofsud

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

02-20-2013 22:06:15 | More by chugamugofsud

buckyp

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

02-09-2013 23:43:29 | More by buckyp

Sheils

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-08-2013 18:40:45 | More by Sheils

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.81/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A finger and half of head on a cloudy, medium straw colored body.
The aroma is a nice grapefruit and lemon.
The taste has a lightness to it. Lemon bitterness with a decent malt backbone.
The texture is crisp with moderate carbonation.
An enjoyable APA.

Serving type: can

02-07-2013 04:06:18 | More by Fatehunter

TheBigBoy

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

02-02-2013 04:42:38 | More by TheBigBoy

grittybrews

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

02-01-2013 06:36:53 | More by grittybrews

Clydesdale

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A: Pours a mostly clear, pale orange color. The off-white head is medium-sized, with a moderately dense texture. Retention is solid, as is lacing.

S: Some pale sugar cookie malt aromas. Hops are vibrant, with big grapefruit/orange notes and some resinous tartness. A bit of tropical fruit and some herbal/grassy hop character also lurks in the background.

T: A bit of caramel malt flavor up front. Mostly pale malt flavor up front. Hop bitterness is moderate. Hop flavors are primarily citric, tropical, and herbal, but there's an unusual vinous note along with the more expected characteristics. Some pine in the aftertaste.

M: Medium-light body. Carbonation is light as well. I'd prefer a heftier mouthfeel. The hops add a moderate dryness to the finish.

D: This might just be my personal preferences getting in the way, but the weird resiny/vinous hop notes in this one don't vibe particularly well with the rest of the beer. I don't dislike it, but it is distracting. The mouthfeel is also a bit more wilting than I'd like from a western pale ale.

Serving type: can

01-26-2013 00:24:31 | More by Clydesdale

deweese

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

01-25-2013 03:51:33 | More by deweese

vashooter

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from a can , great looking can, poured into a pint glass and it made a nice two fingers of head. When head subsided nice lace on glass sides when taking first taste. Beautiful honey gold color, sparkling clear and clean in pint. Not a heavily carbonated beer which is what I would expect from a nice craft beer. Bready smell mixed in with Cascades hops I believe or Northern brewer, possibly Simcoes. Pine notes are subdued but evident as well as some slight citrus notes. Taste was amazing, what it lacks in nose it makes up for in taste. A very well balanced ale. When the ale is cold it was slightly biting on the sides of the tongue, which is to be expected from the carbonation and cold perception. As the ale warmed it became more complex, less biting, Yeasty notes, still a bit of bitterness but not unpleasant at all. Warming to the mouth but not overly alcoholic or astringent. Light caramel infused with a careful balance of hops. Light on the tongue but leaves your mouth wanting another one. Great example of a well done American Pale in my honest opinion. I have bought it twice now and will recommend it to friends as well as keep in my stable.

Serving type: can

01-11-2013 05:48:43 | More by vashooter

freduardo

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

01-01-2013 06:59:05 | More by freduardo

QuamLaetus

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +3.9%

12-31-2012 22:11:30 | More by QuamLaetus

cgarwood

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

12-24-2012 15:22:13 | More by cgarwood

cincybranr

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

12-17-2012 20:22:09 | More by cincybranr

rprinz22

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

12-09-2012 00:48:53 | More by rprinz22

sdaly3

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

12-05-2012 15:49:44 | More by sdaly3