Otter Creek Pale Ale - Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

tdm168

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - orangish amber with a thin lacing of white head that fades quickly

S -very malty and bready with some faint citrus notes

T - huge bready malt with some apple-like sweetness; very faint citrusy notes from the hops

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a malt bomb. It's one-dimensional and ultimately boring. It's drinkable and unoffensive, but I wouldn't have this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 22:11:18 | More by tdm168

MikeWard

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Got this as a part of an otter creek sampler. The case was marked best by end September, so I guess this was the final offering, since it's apparently retired.

Poured a hazy deep gold color, with a nice head, good lacing.

Nose was hops and a bit of sweetness.

Taste was hoppy, mouth was nothing special, neither thin nor full.

Overall an ok pale ale, but likely not missed.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 13:45:07 | More by MikeWard

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, lot # stamped on, date on case though.

slightly hazy dark golden color with orangish hue. thin white frothy head. a mild hoppy aroma.

taste is fairly balanced. mild caramel malt and flowerly hops. thin to medium body, higher carbonation. about average for the style.

overall a decent beer, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 02:32:17 | More by jmdrpi

Brenden

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The color is a deep polished bronze, dark gold but with lots of orange hued throughout. There's lots of clarity and, interestingly, it gets a bit more golden as it sits. The head is soft, white, and just under one finger tall. Retention isn't bad but unimpressive, and a thick foam is left behind. What surprises me is the lacing left behind by that foam, forming in thick rings one after the other as the beer drops, all the way down. Swirling head activity and reformation occurs each time I sip.
The nose consists of mostly floral but also lightly resinous pine hops aromas countered by those of a mix of dry, pale malts and a touch of sweetness. There's a bit of earthy, leafy rawness to it as well, and it's nice.
The flavor is that of a well-hopped but still well-balanced APA. Raw, pine and floral hops with an earthy undertone blend fluidly with the dry biscuit and lightly sweet malt undercurrent. As it warms, a touch of cereal grains seems to pull through, and it's the only thing keeping this one from a higher score.
Smoothness is rich and creamy in the feel of this beer, and it rides off of a strong initial crispness. The feel is great, though it seems to be masking the light body. A bit more depth of body and the mouthfeel achieves greatness.
This is a very nice APA, and one to pick up if you're looking for a lighter beer and a hop fix in one.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 17:05:01 | More by Brenden

koolex11

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Definitely interesting and worth a try!

I really like the mouthfeel. It is on the thick side, almost velvety.

Good strong hops flavor, not the tastiest hops, but well-hopped.

I thought it lacked some malt flavor (the balance was a bit off) but a good finish, even and clean.

Reminds me of an English ale in many ways, only with a good strong citrus accent.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 21:08:08 | More by koolex11

hosehead83

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Hazy, copper/gold in color,with a moderate head of off-white foam.
Aroma-Faint citrus and hop note
Taste-Biscuit, some mineral hop flavor giving it a rather "English" feel. Clean finish.
Overall, pretty decent, if average APA. Would be a nice match for some spicy nachos.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 14:35:35 | More by hosehead83

LongIslander

New York

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Serving type: bottle

A- light copper color with tight carbonation bubbles. A nice amount of foamy head with a nice lace.

Smell- More mild than expected. mild hop aroma, and citrus.

Taste- A nice, more than subtle, taste of hops. Not over-powering.

Mouthfeel- Good carbonation. Nice hoppy, bitter aftertaste.

Drinkability- Easy to drink. Being not too full-bodied, it goes down well.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 23:00:42 | More by LongIslander

mikeg67

New Jersey

2.83/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle. Pours dark golden with a long lasting, white head and lively carbonation. Aroma is of biscuit malt and piney hops. Medium, smooth body. Light piney, grassy hops on the palate balanced by biscuit malt. Short, dry finish. Quite a boring brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 15:08:51 | More by mikeg67

Wamesit

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a bright brass color with a thick, well-carbonated, white head that gives was to moderate overall lacing.

S - Citric hops and then honey malts are the dominant traits of a very clean aroma.

T - Cascade hops! This ale was dry-hopped very well. Not overpowering and not headed towards some IPA limbo. This APA remains true to its breed with some sweet malts making their way towards the back and creating a functional balance within this crisp little package.

M - Light side of medium. Carbonation is good but doesn't stick around very long.

D - This is a great APA. Highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 05:10:12 | More by Wamesit

schoolboy

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm on the fence on this one. There isn't much wrong with it, but it doesn't excite either.With so many other better beers ...

It looks fine, a little flat but nice color and clarity. Not much nose. The taste is a bit dark - bitter. Not at all tangy, fruity, hoppy, etc.

Still, it is better than I expected (I had low expectations) and if you are buying, I won't refuse one. But I won't seek it out either.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 00:38:08 | More by schoolboy

Gushue3

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance- light amber/gold with slight carbonation fizzles. generous foamy head that quickly goes away

Smell- Not much in the smell department. light hop notes, and almost sweet, nothing over the top

Taste- Subtle at first sip with a nice taste of hops that doesn't stay for too long. crisp.

Mouthfeel- crisp feeling with nice carbonation.

Drinkability- very easy to drink, between the nice, subtle hoppyness andcrisp finish, these are very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 01:42:11 | More by Gushue3

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours medium orange with a soapy off-white head. Some lacing and fair retention.

Some hop aromas and some toasted malt. Nothing over the top. I hits their typical style with hop leaf and herbal scents.

Some toasted malt, some sweetness, leading to firm bitterness from the hops. Flavors don't have the edges I wanted. Soft beer, with a bit too much clearing to boiled grain/dough elements. Bready.

A bit watery, but appropriate carbonation.

I liked this, but I think it would bore me fast. Not the best brew from these guys, but not horrible by any means. A little run of the mill, but was really great with food.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2011 02:01:55 | More by OtherShoe2

modernartblues

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

reviewed from notes

poured into a Sierra Nevada pint glass (might as well since the SNPA is the definitive example of the style)

A: not too much head, despite semi-aggressive pour, golden amber color, leaves little streaks of lacing (not much though)

S: nice grape fruit nose, matches right up to SNPA

T: once again quite similar to SNPA, nice burst of C hops backed up by a solid malt backbone

M: a touch lighter than SN Pale, a bit more watery

D: highly sessionable at 4.6% abv (almost Ding approved session beer), plenty of flavor to keep me interested

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 21:29:20 | More by modernartblues

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle. Pours a murky amber color with a thin head. Some lacing. Aromas of hops, citrus (namely orange) and some malts. Taste has some hops to it along with a cereal flavor. Malty aftertaste. This Pale Ale has a nice crisp, easy drinking quality to it. Decent amount of flavor and the low ABV makes it a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 18:00:14 | More by PicoPapa

jorg2619

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Xmas surprise!!

This beer is a light amber and clean looking. The smell is crisp hops light malt overall crisp and clean smelling. The taste is hop forward yet no over the top. I taste some mild maltiness but the beer still ends crisply and dry. Mouthfeel was good I would buy this pale ale again.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 23:12:19 | More by jorg2619

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into Ommegang flute

A - Pours a light yellow-gold amber color with a finger of white head. Lots of visible carbonation that is very attractive.

S - Grainy and a bit of grassy hop. Crisp and clean. Very tame.

T - Some hoppiness, with a solid grainy/bready malt flavor throughout. A bit plain, but well balanced.

M - Thin, almost watery body. Active carbonation. Some dryness in the finish

D - Very easy to drink. Low ABV and very mild flavors make it extremely easy to drink, if not a little boring.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 02:30:46 | More by greenmonstah

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This somewhat cloudy, golden orange colored brew produces a bubbly off white head of two fingers, on a hard pour. The thick head leaves a patterned lacing throughout the glass. Fresh hops abound in the aroma, with faint metallic notes, mild phenols, and chalkiness, tagging along. The taste begins with a well balanced union of hops and malts, which produces a front that is surprisingly creamy. The hops eventually win the battle, as expected, and push through to the end of the sip, where they evolve into a bitter and metallic aftertaste. This, however, quickly subsides, and the mouth is left somewhere between watery and semidry, without much else. The carbonation is light to medium and the body follows suit. It is actually quite refreshing and drinkable, likely in part due to its generous hopping.

Overall, what we liked most about this brew was that it is a smooth, well balanced, and easy drinking brew. While it certainly fulfills the necessary traits of its style, it is somewhat reserved in the flavoring, which ultimately acts to enhance the experience of this beer as a whole.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 23:17:49 | More by TheBrewo

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle

Appearance - The beer pours a hazy amber/orange colour with a large soapy off-white head. I can't make out much carbonation and there is a fair amount of lacing. The head lasted for a few minutes before it started to dissipate.

Smell - hops, grapefruit, caramel, a grassiness

Taste & Mouth - There isn't a whole lot of carbonation and the beer has a slightly watery feel. I can really taste the citrus notes; lots of grapefruit and tangerine mixed with pale malts and light hops. There is also a woody pine flavour that comes in near the end. The beer finishes with a slightly bitter hop aftertaste.

Drink - A decent beer that is highly drinkable/sessionable. It won't knock your socks off - but it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 19:02:00 | More by spinrsx

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Golden orange in color. Slightly hazy to look at.
When poured into a glass the beer produced an average foam head. Good carbo's. A nice citrusy aroma, maybe oranges. There's malt in there but the hops crowd it out a bit I think.
The tatse is very good with the cascade hops. A nice citrusy tatse with the malts having a bit of a bready tatse.
The mouth feel is towards the watery side. A dry finish. The dryness is overpowering I think.
I like this beer seems very good.
But then...
As I finished up my review I noticed that the nice hop flavor that was present at the begining was gone. In it's place was just a hop bitterness void of any of it's chacteristic citrusy flavor.
Did anyone else notice this?
Drink this beer fast before the flavor goes away.
Drink well my friends

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 19:38:28 | More by micromaniac129

jrallen34

Illinois

2.53/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle into a De Struise glass...A dark but clear straw with copper and orange notes. Off white head rises and falls quickly, light lacing...A light aroma of grass and chalk and caramel. Interesting has my hopes up...Sadly my hopes fall flat with a very disappointing taste. Almost no flavor at all, light chalk, a little skunk, the grass is gone. I was hoping it was similar to daisy cutter, this isn't even close. A light sour finish is out of left field.

A pale ale to skip.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 21:23:27 | More by jrallen34

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Fair pale ale, nothing too remarkable about it but pretty quaffable and well rounded.

Presentation: 12 oz bottle. Busy and perfunctory label with an image of the Creek and brewery symbols over light yellow cream with blue bands where the name of the brew is highlighted. Needing badly a design overhaul.. Neck label offers a small narrative with main intent and ingredients. Shows an illegible bottling date. Poured into a tulip glass.

A - Deep gold to pale amber pour with a very faint haze. Fair head, medium retention, and some touches of lacing.

S - Lightly hoppy, touch of citrus and pine.

T - Soft hoppiness, citrus, grapefruit, touch of resin with a light sense of malt in the undercurrent.

M - Medium to light body with medium carbonation and a light bite in the finish.

D - A tad too light and soft overall but it is rather quaffable and a fair brew.

Notes: Lacks much of a character to make it outstanding but it is another selection that serves well to have around and offer a nice quality entry point to microbrews for guests that are still under the BMC control.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 15:10:32 | More by Daniellobo

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours just a slighly hazey copper color with good carbonation but missing some froth and foam from the pour and afterwards.

Simple melba toast and bread crust with an appealing, crisp citrus hop spell.

You get the balance of toasted malts with the citric hops from start too finish. But closer to the finish the hops have some wet cut grass notes added to the citrus flavors. The finish is a little musty, but still nice and hopp and malty.

This is a pretty easy to drink pale ale with a simple palate.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 01:29:16 | More by scruffwhor

bgildea

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Nice light amber color ale. Little to no head that faded quickly.

S: Nice blend of a sweet and citrusy aroma. The smell of honey comes across first followed by the smell of the citrus hops.

T: The taste did not match the smell step for step. There is a very strong hops presence, as expected, but the sweetness never really comes through. I would have enjoyed the sweet notes that I smelled earlier. Otherwise, it's got a pretty strong hops flavor that most hop heads will love.

M: Decently thick beer for a pale ale, good amount of chew for the style. Very light carbonation.

D: It's a drinkable beer. I'd drink another. Not my preferred style, but definitely has its plusses.

Overall: Overall the beer was good. The smell had me really going, with its nice rich sweet and citrus aroma. Unfortunately, the flavor was much more hop oriented. Overall I was satisfied with the beer and would recommend it to hop heads and other pale ale drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2010 21:28:49 | More by bgildea

beerdrifter

Germany

3.2/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Clear yellow pour with big, quickly fading head and decent lacing. Lots of grainy malts in the nose with just a touch of citrus. Very grassy taste with just a hint of sweetness. The Cascade hops are very subdued. Nice crisp, dry finish. This is the second disappointing pale ale I've reviewed today and I'm starting to wonder if they're old, as I got them from the same store.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 20:04:45 | More by beerdrifter

Sam21

Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into pint glass.

Appearance - Pours a slightly hazy (dry-hopping) golden/light-amber color with an large off-white head. Great lacing.

Smell - Citrusy hop nose with some caramel-like sweetness. Also some slight graininess.

Taste - Hops come out on top over the malt in this one. Tight citrus bitterness, some subtle fruity esters, and some light sweetness. Slight bitterness in the finish. Flavors feel a little restrained.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with smooth carbonation and texture.

Drinkability - Overall, a very drinkable American pale ale. The malt is a little restrained and the hops dominate a little too much because of it. Still, this is a great and drinkable American pale ale, althought personally I'd like a little more of a malt presence to beef up the taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 01:15:41 | More by Sam21