Full Frontal Pale Ale - Piece Brewery & Pizzeria

MCain04

Illinois

3.89/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Growler fill from the brewery poured into a Tulip glass.

A: Deep amber/ruby opaque color. Pure white head of 2 finger head, not very dense though. Good retention and lacing.

Smell: Floral, piney, some tropical fruits, mango/pineapple/orange/lemon zest.

Taste: Doesn't quite live up to the aroma. A little malty. Not very bitter or dry.

Mouthfeel: Clean and crisp with moderate carbonation, a tad sticky on the finish, not very dry or wet but easy to drink.

Overall: Solid APA from a local brewery. I'd have this again, although they had a better offering (Camel Toe) at the brewery that wasn't available in growlers. I'm satisfied polishing off this growler with my pizza - above average brew. Don't seek it out but give it a try if you're there.

Serving type: growler

02-25-2013 02:31:28 | More by MCain04

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

03-07-2013 22:42:51 | More by leprechaunandfatman

jgarvis

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1%

03-02-2013 02:18:49 | More by jgarvis

CaptainNomihodai

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

02-25-2013 05:49:30 | More by CaptainNomihodai

birdsellam

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

02-11-2013 18:09:05 | More by birdsellam

Etan

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On tap at Piece, served in a pint glass.

A: Clear brass with a small white head.

S: Nice fresh citrus aroma. Cream, orange peel, grapefruit, a bit of mango.

T: Light pithy bitterness, clementine, papaya, light cracker malt. Very citrusy with a nice clean malt base.

M. Light-bodied, creamy feel.

O. I was pleasantly surprised. A really nice, citrusy APA with a good feel to it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2013 06:27:08 | More by Etan

dna1964dna

3/5  rDev -24.2%

01-06-2013 19:25:24 | More by dna1964dna

BrewLip6

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1%

01-06-2013 18:10:38 | More by BrewLip6

SciFritz

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

01-02-2013 18:09:30 | More by SciFritz

oso

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

11-23-2012 00:24:00 | More by oso

harrylee773

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

11-12-2012 01:19:16 | More by harrylee773

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at the brewpub

Review from notes. Slightly hazy peach-amber pour with a small foamy white head; moderate retention and lacing. Nice aroma, citrus and pine hops slightly edge out the caramel malt sweetness. This is reflected in the taste: citrus hops, fresh grass, wort, caramel malts. It's a pretty typical APA, and that's not a bad thing. Light-medium body, easily drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2012 19:59:06 | More by Rifugium

BHep

4/5  rDev +1%

07-23-2012 18:50:51 | More by BHep

Billakowski

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%

02-20-2012 05:55:23 | More by Billakowski

smurfbeer

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +1%

12-27-2011 00:46:25 | More by smurfbeer

ChiPool

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Chicago boasts a handful of noteworthy APAs. You can add FF to the list! Gives you what an APA should offer: a nice, balanced, drinkable brew. My only complaint would be that FF is a tad sweet, but it doesn't overwhelm the palate.

Overall, a nice, smooth APA. Nicely balanced between sweet maltiness & citrusy hops. Would love this to be available in cans!

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2011 16:26:02 | More by ChiPool

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

12-22-2011 15:48:56 | More by Holland

rwilde

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1%

12-18-2011 00:15:44 | More by rwilde

iadler

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler poured into tulip.

A- Pours a hazy dark amber with a two finger head that sticks around for a while that slowly dissipates leaving a thin cap and lines of lacing behind.

S- Caramel and toffee malt upfront, with pine, orange peel, grapefruit and floral hops.

T- A nice mixture of caramel and toffee sweetness mixed with citrus peel including orange, grapefruit and a hint of pineapple. Pine and grassy hops follow as well as some floral notes.

M- Medium carbonation and body. A nice crisp mouthfeel that finishes a bit bitter and dry.

O- Had no problem having a couple glasses of this. Very easy to drink and pretty flavorful. Nothing too crazy or complex, but it's nice to have a simple APA once in a while.

Serving type: growler

12-05-2011 05:45:04 | More by iadler

brandoman63

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

11-29-2011 23:33:34 | More by brandoman63

NeutroMan

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hazy orangeish-amber color with a solid 2 finger thick white head that left rings of sticky lace.

Citrus blast in the nose, along with piney, resiny hops. For such an intense aroma, the taste is somewhat mild, though certainly still rather robust. Malty sweetness asserts itself and nicely complements the Cascade hops and orange zest. Medium-bodied with an appropriate level of carbonation.

Serving type: growler

10-07-2011 02:38:29 | More by NeutroMan

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- unfiltered is a understatement! Very cloudy dark copper with tons of whole leaf hop remnants. 1 finger off white head

S- caramel malts and citrus hops

T- dark caramel malts, orange peel, and nice pine hop bita at the finish.

.M- medium body, hop leafs are less than be desired.

O- its a good pale, but all the hop leaf remnants knock the appearance and mouth down.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2011 18:00:28 | More by kawilliams81

carssportsbeer

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was really impressed with this beer. I try every pale ale and IPA I can get my hands on (I've tried probably 50 different ones in the last 60 days). As of late, I thought Alpha King from Three Floyds was the best I've tried until I tried this. This beer is citrusy and sweet and nicely balanced, yet has quite a bit of hoppiness. Very drinkable.

I'm surprised a local brewery could put out a pale ale that competes with the world's best. It's certainly the best pale ale of the Chicago area brewers IMO. Great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2010 19:02:08 | More by carssportsbeer

jrallen34

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I had this on tap into a tasting glass at Piece. The beer is light gold with a nice lacing. The aroms is super nice, tons of fresh cut grassy hops. The taste is really nice as well, same as the aroma, grass and hops, super smooth and easy to drink. Nice feel, wow.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2010 18:33:22 | More by jrallen34

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on draft at Piece

A-nice hazy orangish color with a thick 2 fingers of white head leaving a nice lacing on the glass

S-light tropical fruit notes, grapefruit with some citrus

T-lighter flavors including a pale malt taste up front with a touch of sweet caramel. this is followed by a citrus hop flavor, which is also relatively faint.

M-smooth and lighter bodied with a nice level of carbonation (present but not overpowering).

D-the flavors are light and for a pale ale it isn't bad but i'd like more flavor and up next to something like alpha king it wouldn't hold its own

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2009 02:47:53 | More by cpetrone84