Caldera Pale Ale - Caldera Brewing Company

syrupjoe

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into pint glass.

Pours a slightly hazy deep gold color with off-white head.

Nose gives off notes of mango and grassiness with honey maltiness.

Taste is mellow and spicy with notes of date and dried plums. Grassy and green hop presence with smooth bitterness.

Moderate carbonation with a dry finish and lingering bitterness.

Overall a nice pale ale that has a well-rounded (albeit bitter) flavor profile. Not as full-bodied as others, but good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 21:55:49 | More by syrupjoe

BrewerB

California

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked this can up at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa this past weekend. Was really impressed with Caldera's IPA and wanted to sample some more of their offerings. Plus I'm a sucker for canned craft beer.

Pouring into a New Glarus pint glass. Golden-orange hued with scant haze. Thin off-white foam formed atop the glass, slowly receded down. Lacing left behind and foam sticking around.

Classic citrusy hop aroma springs ahead in the nose with a biscuity and slight caramel malt playing supporting roles.

Upfront citrus hops with a bready malt in the middle. An herbal/minty hop quality helps round out the hop profile lending complexity without muddling the balanced flavor. Medium to medium-high level of bitterness that maintains its posture into the dry finish.

Medium-light in body with a moderate carbonation. Smooth.

Overall another solid offering from Caldera. The nose and initial flavors are classic American Pale Ale citrusy hops. Bready and biscuity malts form a foundation and maintain balance while herbal and minty hops lend interesting additional complexity.

Serving type: can

11-15-2011 02:08:31 | More by BrewerB

vande

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: a nice, thick looking golden/copper color with a finger and a half of thick looking clean white head a float..

S: refreshing, sweet, fruity hop notes...aromas of citrus with a bit of floralness mixed in...very pleasant...

T: tough to compare as I had Zombie Dust tonight too.. This is ab it flatter than I'd like, kind of a weird dry, bitter back to the end that takes away from the possibility of enjoying any good hop presence... a fairly basic pale...

M: medium to lighter bodied beer that has a nice feel for the mouth... kind a hugs the palate on the way down. nice.

0: nothing crazy. not the worst, and not the best I've had. but at least worth the try. probably wouldn't buy a 6 or 12 pack...

Serving type: can

11-05-2011 05:29:30 | More by vande

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz can poured into a pint

Pours a hazy golden color with a fluffy white head. Some nice staying power and spider web lacing. The aroma is musty and earthy with layers of pine and orange. On the palate, this guy is a little more pine and citrus forward while the earthy, musty hops come through in the middle. The finish is earthy bitter with a touch of pine resin. Light medium body with good carbonation. This is a nice pale ale that deserves a spot in any rotation. Borderline sessionable.

Serving type: can

11-04-2011 15:56:31 | More by ColForbinBC

harrymel

Washington

2.98/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Canned: unk

A: pours honey with near excellent clarity and a finger of off-white foam which falls rather quickly to a solid sheet of the same with strong spotty lacing.
S: Some herbal hops, some citric hops, honey, sweet malts, smells a little faded. Nothing special.
T: Strong bitterness with some vitamin flavors, a hint of lemon, some sweet malts with a hint of oxidation.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carb and dry finish.
O: Not a bad beer, tastes a little faded, but is quaffible.

Serving type: can

10-10-2011 11:56:19 | More by harrymel

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz can into a Duvel tulip. No date, but I know it's at least a few months old as I got it in an in-person trade at DLD and forgot about it in my fridge until today. Oops.

A: A fairly fast pour results in two fingers of lusciously creamy off-white head perched atop a hazy orange body. Solid, rocky retention and lots of frothy lace. Quite nice indeed.

S: The hops have certainly faded, but still lend a nice bit of spice on top of the pure caramel malt. Simple, straightforward, balanced, and pleasant.

T: Follows the nose, but with a bit of extra hop bitterness on the finish; lightly resinous. Very tasty, classic pale ale.

M: Medium body, lots of carbonation. A little bit too frothy, but not bad at all.

O: This is an eminently solid APA as it is, and I'm sure it would have been even better fresh (I've bumped it a half point to make up for my own foolishness in letting it sit for so long). I'd love to take a sixer on a camping trip. Craft cans FTW!

Cheers!

Serving type: can

09-22-2011 21:30:48 | More by woosterbill

ReelBigwigFish

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into pint glass from can

A: Glowing orange/amber color with white head that has subsided to a frothy ring. Nice deep color for a pale ale.

S: Light aromas of citrus and floral hops with bready and caramel malts. I'm also getting aromas of something similar to yogurt, sort of that lactic sour smell.

T: Biscuity malt, almost lightly nutty, with floral and grapefruit flavored hops mixing in well. The hops are present but never push the malt flavor out. Bitter-sweet aftertaste.

M/O: Crisp, refreshing, highly drinkable. It's hoppy enough to more than please for a PA and light enough to keep it easy on the palate. Light-medium body with good carbonation. Without a doubt one of the best pale ales I've had.

Serving type: can

09-08-2011 17:10:43 | More by ReelBigwigFish

cbarrett4

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from can (love it!) into Deschutes Becker style pint glass.

Pours true pale ale hue, straw core, light head fading to pretty decent clinging lace.

Smells of hops, though of a more subtle style, some malts, and a hint of the yeast. Kind of fresh and inviting.

Tastes of pale ale malts, some good hops, nicely green yet subtle.

Texture is spot on, great balance, superb finish. This beer really starts shining once you swallow the sip.

Overall a good Pale Ale, and one that deserves a mention among Mirror Pond, Full Sail, and Lompoc. I can't really think of any pale ale that is really much better.

Serving type: can

09-07-2011 19:43:31 | More by cbarrett4

chodinheaven

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Orange-yellow in color with perfect clarity and a big foamy white head on top. Excellent retention and lacing. Estery and fruity on the nose, soft citrus mainly. Oranges or tangerines. Light citrus and pine hops as well.

Well balanced in the taste. Citrus and pine hops dominate the taste buds, but balance themselves out nicely to create a drinkable and hoppy pale ale. The bitterness comes on at first like its going to be overdone, but then backs down just at the right moment to make for a very nice sipping experience. Tangerines definitely make their way into the taste as well, not tangy at all, just sweet and estery. Easy to drink and heavy enough for the hopheads, yet soft enough for every one else. Long dry finish, hoppy til the bitter end, leaving a nicely pleasant bitter aftertaste. Decent beer, no complaints here for trying it.

Serving type: can

08-20-2011 04:29:59 | More by chodinheaven

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Standard lighter yellow pale ale here, good foamy head. Nice soft floral hop arrangement, if you like caldera, you'll be all good here.

Plenty of taste in a pale, relative hefty amount of hops for style, light, ever so light toasting of the malt allows the hops to shine without making them exist in a ridiculous amount. Bitterness is sturdy, minty and metallic, but not a distraction or covering up the more delicate aspect of the beer, would say it leans to the grapefruit side of hop taste, cascade, chinook seem to be all over this one.

Serving type: can

08-17-2011 00:02:49 | More by Beerandraiderfan

MrVonzipper

California

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy apricot color with a solid frothy eggshell colored head with great retention and lacing. Visible carb at the edges.

Nice floral and grapefruit hop notes on the nose.

Good clean flavors. Nice mild hop notes up front with the same characteristics as the nose balanced well with the middle-backended caramel maltiness. Hops create a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Mouth is crisp with a bit of a zip and high carb.

Overall it's a good pale ale. A perfect beer to have in a can like it is, being a perfect beer to have while camping, golfing, fishing etc.

Serving type: can

08-16-2011 23:51:41 | More by MrVonzipper

witster18

Tennessee

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Good pale ale.

Out of a can is a novelty. Made this and a few others a great choice for craft beer golfing fare.

Tastes great. Lots of grapefruit and pine notes, but it's the stoutish chocolate backbone that makes this a real winner. Far more earthy than some other, more popular pale's out of bottles nonetheless. Very tasty. Will definately revisit.

Drawbacks... not many... a little sour in the finish when the choco and malt dissapates.... could also be the can talking here... but regardless this is one dam^ fine pale ale.

a little pricey around here at 10.99/six doesn't help either... sure it's less near the source....

will take it for another round soon.

Serving type: can

08-14-2011 17:51:37 | More by witster18

jeff1973

California

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz can poured into a pint glass.

A - Clear copper/orange with eggshell head that left a little lacing.

S - Slightly nutty, floral hops, a little malt sweetness.

T - A nutty/slightly sweet richness that fades into citrus/floral bitterness.

M - Medium/Light, silky.

D - High, the silky mouthfeel is not only adds to the taste, but also makes this go down real easy.

Very nice, everyday drinking beer. Could give Mirror Pond a run for my "fridge beer"

Serving type: can

08-13-2011 03:13:34 | More by jeff1973

Duff27

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Aggressive pour yields a three inch off white head. Beer itself is a somewhat cloudy dull light orange. Awesome head retention with above average lacing.

S- Bright citrus notes...think lemons, oranges.

T- Follows the nose. With a noticeable, but not overpowering, dose of hops on the back end. Well balanced. Alcoholic orange juice, mmmph.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is lacking a bit it seems.

D/O- One of the better pale ales I've had in awhile. Drinkability is the tits...and in cans no less! First Caldera offering is a winner in my book.

Serving type: can

08-09-2011 03:05:09 | More by Duff27

Phelps

Arizona

3.15/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a small snifter.

Slightly hazed and the color of sunshine, with a honking cream-colored head of froth that drops slowly, leaving film in big walls on the glass.

Snappy nose. Grass, lemon … lemongrass! Also get biscuits, honey, a tiny bit of cracker malt and hints of earth.

The flavor improves on the nose’s maltiness with biscuits and a pale cracker finish. The bitterness is a bit too light — I get some lemon peel and maybe some German spice as well, but I could use more hops. The finish is cleanly malty, and I get a flash of uncooked malt at the swallow – almost like a handful of dry pilsner malt.

Medium-light body with very light massaging carb and soft fizziness. Clean, light and drinkable — great for a hot day.

Caldera’s pale ale would be great on the golf course. It’s flavorful yet sessionable. More hops would help bump this one up to the next level.

Serving type: can

07-25-2011 23:04:39 | More by Phelps

mgbickel

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Purchased in Virginia Beach. Poured from a 12oz can into a perfect pint glass.

Pale orange/yellow in color, the pour cause a sweet 2 fingers of pearly white head to form. The bubbles stuck around for a while before slowly dissipating, leaving behind tons of lace.

The nose is grainy up front...lots of grass mixed with hops. Corn and caramel malts are in the background.

While the caramel malts play a background role in the nose, they take front and center in the taste. Sweet and almost chewy, the candy corn middle fades slightly while the bitterness of the hops finish things off.

The mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium, moderate carbonation and a little slick.

This is a pretty odd beer...has hops that are not in the flavor...the taste has the flavors of a (weak) barleywine, but the body is not there...but overall, this is still a tasty offering.

Serving type: can

07-13-2011 22:34:50 | More by mgbickel

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: hazy pale orange. very fluffy white head. reasonable retention with better lacing.

S: earthy, mellow hoppiness. bitterness dominates the aroma with a slight fruitiness. as it warms up, actually a nice sweet malt comes into play as well.

T: slick, slightly metallic, hop bitterness. slightly doughy. more biscuit, dry finish.

M: tingly carbonation on a medium body.

D: sort of shocking that i have an APA from the west coast that isn't a hop bomb. not sure how i feel about that.

Serving type: can

06-27-2011 02:50:59 | More by Jimmys

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Can to Sam Adams PP glass.

A: Pours straw-colored with shades of orange and some chill haze. Carbonation looks good, and the head/lacing are on par for an APA.

S: Pleasantly surprised by the quantity of hops, for a Pale Ale I get lots of grassy, earthy hops, some citrus, a crisp sweetness and some malt backbone.

T: More balanced than the nose, the malt subdues the hops somewhat but the crisp bitterness is really the thing that hits first. There is some pine in there, and maybe some ginger. Still hop forward in a nice way.

MF: Crisp and prickly with carbonation, refreshing and light and wet.

O: Pretty good, a nice summer beer that should be sought out to try.

Serving type: can

06-13-2011 00:52:54 | More by Scotchboy

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

3.15/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from can into pint glass

A- Nice pale golden, almost straw liquid with very large off white head... Didn't know this was can conditioned- yeast swirl floats about, my bad...

S- Very faint aroma... Almost a white grape juice smell with some biscuit. Smells crisp but otherwise a bit light

T/M- Very bready with nice crisp bitterness... Fairly light flavor, little fruityness hidden throughout. The hop flavor isn't where I would like it, but still a solid PA. Body and carbonation are pretty average for style...

O- Refreshing on a hot day. I tend to be love/hate on pale ales, but this one actually is fairly middle of the road for me. Would buy again to take where bottles can't go or something, but other bottles pale ales are available...

Serving type: can

06-04-2011 23:06:49 | More by TheGordianKnot

loren01

Oregon

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear golden color, not too much head or lacing down the glass
S: Grassy/piney type hop scent, nothing too fragrant though
T: Mild sweetness followed by a nice crisp grassy/herbal hop flavor
M: Light to medium bodied, carbonation is pretty good
O: This is a nice summer BBQ beer, I think i may like their amber better but this one is a decent pale.

Serving type: can

05-31-2011 00:21:52 | More by loren01

rootbeerman

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: pours clear, pale orange maybe some yellow. The head is about a finger and a half of off white head. The head did settle down to a thin layer and did leave a good amount of lacing.
S: malt is sweet, slightly grainy. Hops are a little piny, and a little bit grassy.
T: again with the sweet lightly grainy malt. Hops bring about, mostly pine, a little citrus, and even some grass to the palate.
M: carbonation is tingly and nice. Otherwise it smooth on the palate.
O: yet another impressive brew from a can, good balanced flavor.

Serving type: can

05-15-2011 07:12:13 | More by rootbeerman

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark golden yellow color with a frothy three finger off-white head that has excellent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap. The glass is left coated with large rings and chunks of soapy lacing.

Earthy aroma with floral, piny hops as well hints of grass and straw all balanced by a sweet citrus presence. Pale malt underneath.

Medium bodied with a crisp hop bite up front that is slightly dry and not overly bitter. Earthy and floral with hints of pine needle balanced by some sweet citrus, especially grapefruit and orange peel. Slightly creamy presence with hints of earthy grass and straw as well as a pale malt backbone that balances things out nicely. Fuller bodied and more complex than the average pale ale while remaining light and very quaffable.

Serving type: can

05-09-2011 05:36:45 | More by corby112

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz can into a DFH pint glass. No canning date is present.

A: This pours a nice, clean, pale orange color. This is nicely carbonated. Two finger white head that sticks around a while. Good lacing on the glass too.

S: I don't take much from the nose. Mild, if any, hops. I guess it is more malt from the nose? Some florals?

T: This is mild up front, a little bit of hop bite in the middle and a nice good crisp finish. I like this for a pale ale. More of an IPA taste and hop character. I was surprised!

M: This is somewhat watery, but there is some coating there. Doesn't stay too long though.

O: I like this overing from Caldera. The IPA is better conceived, but for a pale from the can....very well done. I'd have again. Comparable to Victory Headwaters which is a favorite in the pale ale catagory.

Serving type: can

05-07-2011 13:34:12 | More by inlimbo77

youradhere

Arkansas

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a can, pours straw gold with thick white head; aroma is pine and sugar, some citrus but mostly pine. Taste is fruity, citrus, tea, slight pine, toast grain. Mouthfeel is spot on, carbonation is medium, this brew is quite refreshing! Definitely something I wanna buy in quantity to go camping with this summer!

Serving type: can

04-09-2011 03:12:00 | More by youradhere

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to schmoopsbeer for sending this can out my way. Served in a tulip.

Pour yields a transparent golden-hued brew with a good off-white head with some large bubbles of foam. Good staying power and a bit of lacing as it goes down. The nose is light and grassy with some citrusy hops coming through on the back-end. A bit of tangerine, as best as I can describe. The flavor profile is a bit grainy at first, followed by some grassy hops, and then there is a touch of bitterness in the finish. However, there is some grain tannin there as well. Not terribly pleasant. Light body with moderate carbonation. Can't get past the graininess of this. Not all too drinkable.

Serving type: can

03-08-2011 20:37:34 | More by Thorpe429