Gale Force India Style Pale Ale - Scuttlebutt Brewing Company

RedDiamond

Oregon

4.55/5  rDev +26%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

At 5.3% ABV, Gale Force is a bit low for an IPA and doesn't live up to its name in terms of alcoholic potency. But it's a full-on, all-out, great IPA. It is classic pale amber with sea foam head and aggressive lace and exhibits massive floral qualities. Each sip is like a walk through a garden. The aroma also suggests pineapple and simple syrup.

Exceptional for its forced relaxation. Trespasses on perfection.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2009 04:53:28 | More by RedDiamond

waldowin

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a clear light gold, straw-colored at the edges. A massive white head forms immediately, several times the size of the poured beer, and stays for ages. Lacing is thick, sticky, and clumpy, this isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Smells of grapefruit, and a hint of pine. Enticing.

Tastes of golden raisins, grapefruit, and oak. Fairly smooth, with just a hint of hops bite at the end.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth as silk. Just enough carbonation to keep it from feeling syrupy, this is wonderful stuff.

And wow!
Just realized it was only 5.25%! That's a *lot* of flavor something this low in ABV, and it's definitely sessionable. I'd have a pitcher this at a restaurant with dinner without hesitation!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2006 08:34:11 | More by waldowin

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice American IPA from just across the border. Nice amber-red copper with a quick dissipating head. A thin layer is left and it leaves a film on the glass here and there.

Rich malt smell with a very zesty dose of hops. Ctrius and caramel notes.

Bread and caramel flavours and a grassy zestiness due to the hops. Well balanced, but you can really pick up the hops.

Good, tongue numbing carbonation and a surprisingly low ABV (for an AIPA) make this very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2007 05:51:59 | More by BDTyre

beertaster13

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a gorgeous amberish/red with sunshine streaks of orange, the off white, semit-tan head is fabulous, froth will coat the glass with each sip. The smell is of summers eve, light citrus and pine and that nice fresh nose. Hints of dark molasses really add character to the nose. The taste is what an IPA should be, all the components blend into one memorable session. The hops while strong and on the forefront give a nice start to the citrus and dark roasted caramel that lies beneath. Grapefruit and papaya pucker the lips while a nice sugary sweet cinnamon compliments the bitterness. Very good. Very drinkable, Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2004 05:21:55 | More by beertaster13

henrysunset

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Great head, cloudy dark amber beer. Scent was hoppy and Iightly sweet. It smelled very good and enticing.

Taste was hoppy but plain and very nice. I would consider this a very clean-tasting IPA. Yes it is highly hopped, but this clean flavor makes it very drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2004 00:33:06 | More by henrysunset

SheepNutz

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz. bomber poured into a tulip-style glass. It pours a slightly hazy dark orange color with two fingers of head. There is a fair amount of lacing left on the glass. The smell has lots of hops in it, but also has a good malt profile as well. Just balanced a little on the hop side. The taste starts a little malty, but the hops come forward quickly. A crisp hop bite, very refreshing. The mouthfeel is just a little light and oily. The drinkability is fairly good as well. A good solid IPA. Thanks to RoyalT for this refreshing brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2004 01:17:08 | More by SheepNutz

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Scuttlebutt's Gale Force IPA pours a clear deep-amber/copper body beneath a massive head of off-white froth. The head retention is excellent, and it leaves dense sheets of lace as it goes. Superb.

The nose is mainly English in nature, displaying a good bit of sweetish caramel malt and leafy, grassy, herbal and floral hops along with a light bit of lemony and piney character to boot. That's a good thing, because at just 5.25% abv with so much caramel malt to it, it wouldn't have fit into the current American IPA style guidelines. On the other hand, what do Americans really care about style? We just do what we want. It's an arrogant (careless?) attitude, but it frees us up to create.

In the mouth it's decidedly medium bodied with a dextrinous edge (again, a little full for the "American" style). A fine-bubbled moderate carbonation leaves it smooth and supple across the palate, and even a bit creamy in the finish.

The flavor follows the nose "to a T", and it's bready and lightly toasty with a subtle touch of butter and just enough sweetness to balance its roughly 56 I.B.U's. Some yeasty fruitiness makes its way through (apple, pear, apricot), and the hops are nestled in nicely between thin layers of malt. It's initially about the malt, but the leafy, grassy, spicy, and slightly piney hops rise steadily just before the middle, and then crescendo in the lingering, drying finish. It's a nice balance, that teetering between sweet malt and bitter hops, and it may just propel you to keep reaching for your glass again and again until it's gone empty. You have to complete the circle... sweet... bitter... sweet... bitter...

Overall, I find it to be a pretty decent American-brewed English-style IPA. It's certainly full of flavor, but it's not overdone, and it's not too bitter or hoppy. Well enjoyed at cellar temperature!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 22:50:07 | More by NeroFiddled

RoyalT

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – Solid and clear orange in color with a wonderful, shaving cream head that showed awesome retention.

Smell – Man, this is piney. Not the hint or note of pine that you find in most IPAs. This is big and deep. I’m sure there are other smells in there, but damned if I can find them.

Taste – The bitter pine takes this thing over for sure. I can pick up a tinge of the malt base, but otherwise this is the pine hop monster.

Mouthfeel – Incredibly smooth and seriously bitter and dry. This medium-bodied ale will have you begging for more.

Drinkability – You have to love hops and love “the royal dryness” to appreciate this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2004 04:09:44 | More by RoyalT

jraycee

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy light orange witha a medium head that fades to a small layer.
Smell is bright sweet and fruity. Not apple juice but apple blossoms maybe. Nice yet scary due to anticipation.
Nice tiny sweet raisin flavor right up front then the hops attack the sides of you tongue bitter and dry with just a small stroke of toasty malt down the middle to hold oi together.
Mouuthfeel is what I expect from the style. Resinous dry and a little sticky.
Very drinkable for me. I could session this easy, but I'd probably have to move or go on vacation...too bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2008 02:23:44 | More by jraycee

mzwolinski

California

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The first pour of this yielded about 1 cl of beer, and 49 cl of billowy head. This was gonna take awhile.

Once things settled, the beer had a fairly rich, slightly hazed copper appearance with a very large, lacy head.

Somewhat sharp, lemony hop aroma which developed more of a juicy grapefruit character as the beer warmed.

Malt flavor starts sugary, then develops some biscuity notes as the hops assert themselves. Hops are crisp, quite acidic and have a piney edge. A bit metallic at the finish, but quite yummy overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2005 03:38:19 | More by mzwolinski

GClarkage

California

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

10/10/05- Purchased at Bottleworks in Seattle, WA.

Presentation- 12oz undated bottle, poured into my Snake River Brewery pint glass.

Appearance- Cloudy darker golden pour. 1/2 inch creamy white head and above average lace for an IPA.

Smell- Super fruity and a nice powdered sugar scent.

Taste- More hops than anything. Nice grapefruit and lemony flavor with a light sugary touch. A touch of malt, but not much. Hops are semi-bitter.

Mouthfeel- Nice carbonation level. Seems kinda watery at times because of the lighter malt quality.

Drinkability- If it just had a bit more malt this would be an upper echelon IPA. Nice hop characteristics, but needs some more backbone. Still pretty good the way it is.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2005 04:48:12 | More by GClarkage

pwoods

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Sirchugsalot for this extra.

22oz. brown bomber poured into an IPA flute. No dating.

A: Pours a glowing sunset orange with a bit of hazing. Maybe 1 finger of head forms but hangs on and produces some decent lacing.

S: Big citrus juices and some hop resin. A bit of a piny bite as well. Some sweet malts in the back that have a doughy smell.

T/M: Pleasant citrus notes that get hidden a bit by a very strong piny pepper spice and resin mixture. Very tasty but would like to see a little more balance in the hops. Malts kick in with a bit of sweetness to add a little balance. Hop bitterness is nice and lasts throughout. Bit of a dry finish.

D: Tasty and at just over 5%, it'd be nicely sessionable. Glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2008 04:07:20 | More by pwoods

Globetrotter

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Comes in a tall brown 625ml bomber with a plain red and white label. No content or freshness information. Obtained at Bottleworks in Seattle and opened on 6/20/04 - Happy Father's Day to me!

Pours a slightly cloudy copper under a one finger light beige sticky head that settles slowly and leaves some nice lacing on the glass. There's a good full floral hoppy nose. The mouth is medium of carbonation and body. The opening features some sweet malt, with just a touch of caramel, before the crisp hoppiness takes over. The impression is very floral, but there is something else in there, too: a touch of espresso and a hint of pine. The aftertaste is dry, with a good bitter tingle and long-lasting floral impressions. A good effort.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2004 03:12:55 | More by Globetrotter

jkdrummer

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice reddish golden hue. Nice creamy head that lasts. Aroma is very fruity and wonderful. Taste is well balanced - sweet with right amount bitterness - the hoppiness shines through. Wonderful session ale and worth picking up when in the mood for an above average IPA. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2008 00:22:20 | More by jkdrummer

zacharius

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a golden color with an everlasting white head that leaves lace all over the glass. Aroma is that of piney hops with citrus notes. Favor is more piney hops with a carmealy malty background. Balanced towards the bitter end. Medium in body and refreshingly drinkable. It's a pretty low alcohol for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2005 22:50:49 | More by zacharius

jasonjlewis

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.5 huge head with a nice orange color. Great retention.

4.0 Smell is of mainly citrusy hops that are slightly perfumy and floral.

4.0 caramel malt backbone provides a slight balance for a nice citrusy hop bitterness. It seems that hops were added at various parts of the brewing process as I taste a hint of dry hopping.

4.0 crisp and clean and refreshing with a nice lingering dry bitterness.

4.0 This beer is a straightforward and nice ipa. I could easily make a session of it and will look for it again.

Thanks to whoever gave it to me for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2008 07:47:21 | More by jasonjlewis

CampusCrew

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: more on the golden apprearnce with
a little red glow, not much.

smell: decent hop aroma, piney

taste: balanced ipa, nice pine flavors

mouthfeel: light-medium bodied

drinkability: a good IPA with a decent backbone, amazing price for what it is

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 18:14:23 | More by CampusCrew

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up in Ponderay, Idaho, from a 22 oz. brown bottle. Pours out a clear intense copper hue, with a tall tight foamy light beige head that slowly settles to a thick cap.

Sweet sugary caramel malt and sweet dates at first on the aroma, backed by floral hops and orange peel.

The first few sips are almost cloyingly sweet, bready and caramel malt, but soon balance out with leafy, piney, citrus pith hops, which crank things up a few notches on the finish. Spicy pine and grapefruit pith assertively linger on in the aftertaste, adding a bit of heat (well beyond what the 5.25% would be capable of its own accord).

Mouthfeel is medium-light, texture is somewhat thin and slippery, with moderate carbonation.

Typical West Coast IPA that hits all the right spots, and offers a bit more balance than many.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 06:46:27 | More by IronDjinn

jreitman

California

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Copper in color with a white head. Nice floral and light citus aroma. Nicely hopped with Cascade flavors leading the pack. Nice sweet undertones that helped take the bite off the bitterness. Overall a very well crafted beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2002 21:03:27 | More by jreitman

John

New York

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle conditioned bomber. The label on this one is different from the one pictured here. Black, tan and blue with brewery name in all caps along the top, animated drawing of a mermaid over top of an S with grain and hop flowers.

Appearance: Pours a hazy copper gold. Rocky head that's got some staying power. Bits of yeasty unfilitered goodness settle out. Nice.

Smell: Pine needles, wholesome grain lends a slight sweetness.

Taste: Big bitterness punch. Very piney in nature. Very little citrus. Mouth puckering bitterness is sustained throughout. Some multi-grain sweetness counters momentarily. Lingering finish full of hop flavor, aroma and bitterness. Clean taste. Well done.

Mouthfeel: Medium. Slight slickness on the tongue. Bottle conditioning and apparent unfiltered process give some substance.

Drinkability: One bomber down and I could drink a few more. Relatively low % abv increases drinkability.

Solid brew. Thanks to the wife for bringing this back for me from her Seattle/Vancouver trip this summer.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2005 23:47:14 | More by John

Bookseeb

Washington

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is a cloudy orange brown with a thin but steady head. Smell is hoppy, citrus with a slight pine to it. Taste of hop, grapefruit and slightly bready. Mouthfeel has a good medium body with good carbonation. A good drinker with some character to it, a good one to try again.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2008 01:37:01 | More by Bookseeb

chickencoop

California

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

In the simplest terms, if you keep packing this in your suitcase when you travel to the northwest, then I guess the beer is pretty good. I know there are other well known, cult classics from the North, but this is one of my favorites.
This pours a deep amber, big frothy head. Malty notes on the smell. The most important, the taste, I like the malty taste with the citrusy hops. Very easy to drink, simple but tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2009 06:42:33 | More by chickencoop

industrialswill

Washington

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When I can get this for $6.60 / sixer, it becomes too good a deal to pass up.
It's got a dark, murky amber color. Lots of suds cling to the glassware.
Smell hints of citrus and malt.
Taste is a burst of citrus hops with some malt balance. The hoppyness leaves the bite that IPA drinkers enjoy. Very drinkable and well worth the price I got it for today.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 21:46:17 | More by industrialswill

beerceller99

Louisiana

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bottle sampled on 8-1-04.
Pours a massive head which lingered the entire glass and left a beautiful lace. Has a honey orange hue. A decent smell of grapefruit and flowers .
The taste is fairly mild, with a hoppy grapefruit flavor predominating. An ever so subtle caramel sweetness kicks in at the back of my mouth. Finishes with a pleasantly mild hop after taste.
This is a smooth , subtle, easy drinking IPA.
Nice

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2004 22:21:33 | More by beerceller99

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is an IPA that wants to warm up. the cold makes it seem thin and all about the hops. Once it hits its stride the backbeat kicks in and like a good rock song it has you tapping your toes to the hops and malt combo. There is fragrant sense to the hops that cary through to the finish. A very nice IPA that needs some TLC.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2006 03:00:47 | More by canucklehead