Casta Bruna (Pale Ale)
Especialidades Cerveceras S.A. de C.V.

Casta Bruna (Pale Ale)Casta Bruna (Pale Ale)
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From:
Especialidades Cerveceras S.A. de C.V.
 
Mexico
Style:
English Pale Ale
ABV:
5.35%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.52 | pDev: 10.8%
Reviews:
35
Ratings:
36
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 08, 2021
Added:
May 27, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by kindestcut:
Photo of kindestcut
Reviewed by kindestcut from North Carolina

3.61/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
OK, I don't believe it's a good thing to say "this is not bad for a Mexican beer" or add points because you were expecting a dark Corona. I also think Casta Bruna suffers because of the label "pale ale." In the U.S., this means something very, very specific. In Mexico, there may be another definition that eventually leads to a Mexican pale ale style eventually, but with only Casta leading the way it may never happen. At any rate, this is unlike any pale ale I've ever had and I guess it should be judged accordingly.

Having said that, I will start with my conclusion.

This is a good beer. It is a good-looking beer from the bottle to the pour. And it is good-tasting from the first sip to completion. There is nothing about this beer that would not make me want to have another sometime. As a pale ale, it's mediocre. As a session beer it's excellent. I would rate it somewhere between.

The Casta Bruna pours a beautiful amber, dark and clear. The carbonation is fairly active and the off-white head rises quickly and dissipates after a couple of minutes. It really is a nice-looking beer.

The aroma is sweet, malty and faintly nutty. I can smell alcohol in the distance but very little hops. Again, not very pale ale-ish.

The flavor is where the real surprise lies. This pale ale is dominated by its malty character. There's a nice, bitter finish but the hops are dominated by the sweetness. To be perfectly honest, it really isn't balanced for the style. The mouthfeel and drinkability is excellent, though.

A very good beer that would fare even better in the ratings if it had been called a brown ale. However, I give it good marks for its flavor, which isn't bad for a Mexican beer ;-)
Jun 16, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.47 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 08, 2021
Photo of wl0307
Reviewed by wl0307 from England

3.15/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The bottle is at 5.5%abv., BB 5 NOV 2006. Served cool in a large bulb-shaped burgundy wine-glass.

A: lightly-infused black-tea like bright brown-ish hue with a foamy off-white beer head, slowly settling to a very thin, rimmed foamy cap; moderate carbonation.
S: very sweet note of prunes+dried dates+dried banana, and a dark-candyish, almost caramely, maltiness upfront; using a good swirl, an intensive fruit-estery and flowery note comes through, along with a tart-sweet fruity hint of yeast drink (like Yakult), which is also imparted to other beers by this brewery. Though the nose is not bad, the sweetness is a bit too much to my liking...
T: an exotic fruity flavour prevails upfront, consisting of the same fruity elements identified on the nose; a bitter-sweet amber malty flavour follows closely, and mixes well with the slightly sour-sweet prune-ish fruits to result in a light, fruity+malty finish. A bit like an English premium bitter without bitterness and hops...(?!)
M&D: the mouthfeel throughout is quite smooth and the body roughly on balance, though it does feel a bit watery when the flavour fades out. Yet, when is a beer termed as an English Pale Ale? This one is not made of only pale malts obviously, and the hop entrance is quite weak even by the English standard. Not saying that it's a bad beer, but clearly it doesn't fall in the category of pale ale, or in any type of English ale for that matter, as the bitterness is next to non-existence. Overall, it's an easy-drinking ale in need of a self-identity, and some depth and bitterness to really stand out.
Apr 10, 2006
Photo of tesguino
Reviewed by tesguino from Mexico

3.08/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
intense color; smell fragant like a currant, notes of Malt and a little spicy; taste, soft, robust, and slightly bitter; try in a champagne glass in order to discover its characteristics or if prefers, in a pint glass; good for most of the mexican food; 85% recommended.
Oct 25, 2005
Photo of Zorro
Reviewed by Zorro from California

2.8/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a clear dark copper colored ale with a tan head that quickly dissipated.

Smell is light and on the malty side. Faint fruity scent like a British pale ale here. Faint herbal hops. Not a fragrant beer here.

Taste is malty and too sweet for the style. Faint herbal flavors and fruitiness. Blah tasting beer.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Sub par drinkability. Underwhelming beer here that I can't recommend.
Oct 07, 2005
Photo of nekronos
Reviewed by nekronos from Mexico

4.45/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Nice colour, nice flavor, nice smell, characteristic of this brewery, and it is an Ale, for sure. NOt really my type, but I recognize its craftness. One curious subject is that is the only beer of this brewery they sell in packages of four. Or at least it seems so.
Sep 21, 2005
Photo of DogFood11
Reviewed by DogFood11 from California

3.4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
I clicked on Casta tonight just to add some notes to my review and to my dismay I hadn't reviewed it yet. Wierd..just one of those i've enjoyed but hadn't bothered to take notes on..oh well...I really like the color, a deep amber that is fairly clear. solid head but a bit lacking in retention. The smell of candied dark fruits is dominant. I enjoyed the lemon citrus that cut through the middle of every drink. Mostly a sweet/candied plum type taste that was very easy to drink. Just a light spritz of carbonation to finish. I thought if finished a bit to wet without much to make a lasting impression. Not one I pick up weekly or even monthly but it has its place when i'm feeling like a sweeter pale.
Sep 10, 2005
Photo of Albinoh
Reviewed by Albinoh from Mexico

3.41/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Amber like color, not a very good head retention. Average smell you can feel the caramel malt aroma and some sweetness, maybe some grain but it doesnt come out easily. The taste is also average, maybe some chocolate and caramel, sweet. You can feel what this beer is trying to achive in flavor and aroma however its doesnt acomplish everything. However its a pleasant beer, very easy to drink, with a good taste... however i prefer its brother Casta Morena by far.
Aug 07, 2005
Photo of merlin48
Reviewed by merlin48 from Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle like the one pictured, purchased as a single from the Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg, Va. Pours a clear, iced tea colored body with a small beige head that quickly vanishes. Sparse spotty lacing fails to impress. Aroma reveals caramel and chocolate notes, but no hops. Mouthfeel is light and insubstantial, with moderate carbonation. Taste has some roasted caramel and almond nuttiness. Some floral hops add some bitterness, and I get a note of chocolate on the finish.
Not bad, but not one of Casta's better offerings. Nicely drinkable, but a bit thin in the mouth, and lacking any significant hops profile.
Jun 27, 2005
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

3.62/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle purchased as a single at Villa Spirits Shoppe, Storrs, CT.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" off-white head over the amber brew. Head quickly settles down to a thin layer of bubbles over the liquid, with average lacing. Aroma is nicely of malts, and is evident upon opening the bottle. Taste is especially of grain husks, minimal hops presence here, which I miss even for an English Pale. Mouthfeel is a bit daunting with the prevalence of grain sweetness, and drinkability suffers same. Still, a pleasant brew, and one I wouldn't mind revisiting.
Jun 19, 2005
Photo of Pepeton
Reviewed by Pepeton from Mexico

3.78/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This one comes from the first and only microbrewery in my city, so maybe I'm a bit biased here.

Pours a nice brown golden brew, with a matching head and little, if any, lacing.

Smell is malty, with hints of ripe fruits.

Taste is again malty, and little hops.

Mouthfeel is crisp with a dry aftertaste.

I buy this beer on a regular basis, as well as it's siblings.
Jun 12, 2005
Photo of OStrungT
Reviewed by OStrungT from California

3.98/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This beer pours a golden yellow. The head is almost white, but with a faint brown tint to it. The head fades slowly leaving very few laces. It smells sweet with hints of honey. The hops are not to noticable in the nose. It has a subtly malt aroma. It tastes slightly biscuit like with very little hop presence for the style. It has a sweet taste and the honey is quite apparant. This beer is very smooth and light bodied. It leaves a sweet honeylike aftertaste on the palate. It would probably be a good session beer because it is low in alcohol, and the flavor is very mild. This is a pretty good beer. If you ever see it, it is worth a try. It is a little underhopped for the style, but since I am not the biggest hop fan, that actually made it a little better. I would probably buy this one again.
May 06, 2005
Photo of LuckySevens82
Reviewed by LuckySevens82 from Florida

3.97/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle.

Pours a muted copper (almost brown) with a small tan head. Retention is just so-so, as is lacing.
Smell is toasted malts, caramel, a slight hop aroma, and a little spiciness.
Taste is fruity, caramel, hop bitterness, cinnamon, and sweet and toasted malts. There seems to be a little sourness here as well, which is kind of odd, but not entirely unpleasant.
Mouthfeel is good, good carbonation and all, not thick and pretty darn easy to drink.
Overall, a good session beer. I could definitely have more than one if need be.
Apr 24, 2005
Photo of blitheringidiot
Reviewed by blitheringidiot from Pennsylvania

2.51/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Pours a clear peach with a few scant carbonation beads rising to a khaki collar.

Delicate malty aroma with sugar afterscent.

First swigs: Twing of toasted cinnamon and carrot cake malt that creeps to the back corner of the tongue. Vegetal overall like creamed corn. Metallic grainy throughout. Unplesant bland apple aftertaste of bland apple.

Medium bodied and gently carbonated. A bit cloying.

Last swigs: Wood flavors with some wet cardboard. Watered down fest flavors.
Mar 23, 2005
Photo of bultrey
Reviewed by bultrey from New York

3.33/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear copper with small head and almost no lacing. Smell is sweeet, like honey, a bit of tobacco, and molasses. Perhaps some floral notes. Taste is seriously honeyed and sweet, with a bit of a crisp finish with floral notes like rosewater. There is also a mineral-like bite at the end that keeps this from being sickeningly sweet. Hops are almost nonexistent. Mouthfeel has lively carbonation, cutting through a slightly fuller body than one might expect for a pale ale. Drinkabilit is allright, could make a good session beer, but not my favorite pale ale ever.
Mar 12, 2005
Photo of gentlebubbles
Reviewed by gentlebubbles from Massachusetts

4.14/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear copper with utterly no head despite my best encouragements in the pour. (The beer may have been too cold.) Hint of white foam scudding over the surface.

Rich caramel nut, almost an almond roca, aroma.

Very malty, with lots of buttery caramel slathered over dark-roasted almonds. Light bitter resin with a hint of the tobacco jar and a metallic tang in the finish. The ghost of Old Peculiar hovers over the whole.

Brisk mouthfeel. Very nice.
Jan 28, 2005
Photo of beerceller99
Reviewed by beerceller99 from Louisiana

3.97/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle pours a clear copper color with a slight white head. Has a yeasty, grainy, honey sweet smell. Light to medium bodied with a decent amount of carbonation. Has a nice fruity malt flavor with a subtle hop bite to finish. Very smooth and easy drinking.
A good English style Pale Ale.
Jan 23, 2005
Photo of BrewMaster
Reviewed by BrewMaster from California

3.53/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours with a great head but only a slight aroma. The aroma is pretty dull and does not give away the flavor that awaits. The color is an amber golden brown.

The flavor is dominated by chocolate. Some peach and cinnamon flavors are disguised in it as well. This a good beer that other Mexican breweries should aspires to, but it isn't going to blow anyone away.
Jul 24, 2004
Photo of Brent
Reviewed by Brent from Kentucky

3/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
After Casta's Dorada golden ale, which I found to be very pleasantly fruity-hoppy, I expected this to be that beer's big brother. Third cousin, twice-removed, was more like it. While the beer was pleasant and smooth, it was overall undistinguished. Just not enough hops to make much of an impression, nor was it crisp enough to get by as a thirst-slaker.
May 03, 2004
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

3.69/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Amber tone with a sort of with a short lived white head, leaves behind some thin lacing in specks. Aroma: Toasted malts here with a honey sweetness about it, some herbal hops very balanced and nice. Taste: Caramel sweet with some alcohol just slipping through in the flavor, mild touch of hops this is a well made brew from Mexico. Solid, but a bit lackluster doesn't overly impress me but is very drinkable. Mouthfeel: Medium to light in body very smooth carbonation, a bit of a heavier mouthfeel. Drinkability: Nice clean sweet malt character well balanced easy drinking reserved pale ale.
Feb 02, 2004
Casta Bruna (Pale Ale) from Especialidades Cerveceras S.A. de C.V.
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 36 ratings