Gale Force India Style Pale Ale - Scuttlebutt Brewing Company

Clydesdale

District of Columbia

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a fairly deep, hazy amber-burnt orange color. The head has a similar orange-amber coloration, and is a solid two fingers initially, with a somewhat foamy and rocky texture. Retention is solid but not spectacular, and some patchy splotches of lace stick to the glass.

S: Some moderate caramel malt aromas. Fairly assertive citric (orange and grapefruit) hop notes, along with an unusual floral/herbal hoppiness that I can't quite put a finger on.

T: A bit of light caramel sweetness up front, with some toasted notes also present. Hop bitterness is fairly strong up front. Some citric/tropical flavors (grapefruit and pineapple) are joined by a firm bite of floral and lightly earthy hop character.

M: Alcohol is on the low end of the IPA spectrum, but this is still medium bodied. Carbonation is a shade lighter than medium. A lasting, borderline bracing dryness into the finish.

D: A solid, somewhat differently-flavored IPA from Scuttlebutt. Floral and earthy hop notes seem to grow stronger as the beer warms, though there is a consistent underlying citrus tone. If you're looking for an IPA with above average bitterness, this is a worthy choice.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 23:53:14 | More by Clydesdale

cjgator3

Florida

3.53/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle

A- Poured into an imperial pint glass. Pours a nice amber color with an off-white colored head. That head has pretty good retention and lacing qualities.

S- The aroma is pretty disappointing for an IPA. It is actually pretty disappointing for a beer, period. Not much to note here at all, you really have to try your hardest to catch the faint aromas of malt and hops. I'm wondering if this is an old bottle or what. No bottle dating to be found.

T- The taste is MUCH better and more flavorful than the aroma. Toasted malts up front with some lingering hops in the finish. Not bad.

M- The mouthfeel is between light and medium bodied with a lower level of carbonation than expected.

D- Overall, not a horrible IPA, but not a great one either. The lack of a solid aroma really ruins this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 04:31:35 | More by cjgator3

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.45/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a snifter.
Hazy amber color with a fairly small head. A tiny bit of lace.
Sweet malt aroma. Hops, mostly earthy/peppery, but some citrus also.
Piney, herbal hops taste. Some grapefruit. Faint malt background.
Rather bland.
Lots of better American IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 20:45:27 | More by lordofthewiens

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle - $3.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Ever so slightly hazed, amber-hued body with a sudsy, spumy, off-white head.

Smell: Scents of wet citrus fruits, pine, and an herbaceous grassiness overneath a modest toasty, caramelized maltiness.

Taste: Malty tastes of caramel sauce and toasted grainy loaf bread. Herbal, earthy, spicy hops with a flavor of dehydrated lemon peels and pine. Moderate bitterness. Little scoop of brown sugar. Takes on a more peppery tone on the back half. Dry, bitter, with a hint of toasted pine needles on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-light carbonation.

Drinkability: Sufficient and satisfactory. The restrained amount of alcohol and relatively light body aids in its overall drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 19:05:46 | More by ChainGangGuy

imagese

California

3.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Bomber purchased while in Vegas. No date on bottle

A- light hazy golden with a half finger head that faded fast and left very small lacing. There are a few flakes in the glass, so I assume this is an old bottle.

S- sweet bready malt with a faint citrus spice. Smells like a really good lager

T- big burst of malt sweetness with a nondescript bitterness at the end. A faint rind bitterness hangs out.

M- actually really nice. Good body with perfect carbonation

D- low abv and no hop kick, so yeah, it's drinkable, but not if you're really looking for that IPA kick

This beer has all the components to be a good beer, but just falls short. I'm assuming it's an old bottle. If it isn't, not really sure who this beer would appeal to. At the price and being made in the PNW, there's a ton of better options.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2011 02:37:48 | More by imagese

CHILLINDYLAN

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear copper with tangerine edges. Thick dense creamy offwhite head. some decent lacing.

Pine resin and grapefruit. Toasty sweet caramel and bread. Some bready ale yeast. I'd like a bit more hop punch here.

Pine, resin, spicy and peppery. Toasty caramel, bready. Piney resinous bitterness. Somewhat more balances than most IPAs around here.

Somewhat rich and sticky. Slightly drying. medium body. low carbonation. not flat, but a bit low.

Tasty balanced IPA with a nice piney bitterness. A great local value IPA when youre not looking for a hop overdose.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 19:41:01 | More by CHILLINDYLAN

Rguardian989

New Jersey

1.9/5  rDev -47.4%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 1

I'm going to preface this review with "i pray to god this is an infected bottle"

22 oz bomber into sammy a glass.

appearance and smell - good ambery clear color with a good head...wait wait whats that smell. oh god. it smells like throw up? im not really sure what happened hear but this beer smells like one of my EMS calls from college.

Taste and Mouth - Ok nothing harmful can live in beer right? Lets hope so cuz i forced down some of this beer for the sake of a review. The pukey taste isnt as strong as it is in the smell but its still in play here. I let it warm up a bit more of the malt body comes through with some of the hops but i still cant get past that offensive smell. The mouthfeel is good but i cant stand to keep it in my mouth very long.

Drinkability - given everything i just said there is no way i'm going to be able to feel comfortable giving this a good score here. Maybe i'll re review at some point to see if this is jsut a bad bottle or what.

Notes - it looks good before u put ur nose up to it and the mouthfeel is right for an ipa but something god awful happened to the flavor in this bottle and i really have no idea what it could be.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 19:57:37 | More by Rguardian989

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours amber with a finely beaded head that settles to a ring and leaves some decent lacing. Smells somewhat grainy followed by an earthy bitterness. The taste is similar, and although pleasant, a little strange. The graininess is a bit distracting, but the strong earthy, pithy, bitterness is nicely done and balances the grain to an extent. I'd like to see the mash cleaned up and the beer would improve. Nice to see in the Atlanta market.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 04:09:56 | More by Georgiabeer

glid02

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle via trade with barleywinefiend - thanks!

Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a half-finger white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of grainy pale malts with moderate amounts of grassy and floral hops. Hints of herbal hops waft in and out as well.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Moderately dry pale malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by leafy hop flavors. Midway through the sip the flavors turn more toward grassy and earthy hops that carry through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with solid carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall this was an easy-drinking beer but everything about it was understated - which while sometimes is a good thing was not the case here. Not worth seeking out but not worth avoiding either.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 22:27:14 | More by glid02

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

uwmgdman

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This ale pours a clear golden-copper with a thin white head. The aroma is moderately hoppy--pine and a bit of citrus with a bit of sweet/biscuity malt. The flavor is moderately hoppy--mainly pine with some caramel, biscuity malts. There is a high hop bitterness that dries the swallow and lingers well after the swallow. The body and carbonation are medium. Overall a straightforward IPA with a very solid hop bitterness, in fact you've got enjoy a very bitter beer to enjoy this IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 22:59:48 | More by uwmgdman

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 1/24/2010. Bottle thanks to riversideAK. Pours a clear orange with a small white head. Aroma of caramel malt and light citrus hops. Flavor of pale malts, caramel malts, toasted malts, light fruits and a touch of citrus. On the lighter side of hoppy but quite drinkable and enjoyable. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 17:46:03 | More by LilBeerDoctor

oberon

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a imperial pint glass a dull burnt orange witha nice defined white crown atop,it settles slowly into a creamy mass leaving one solid ring of lace behind.Very light aromas for a west coast ipa I gotta say,faint pine and some wet grain,grainy flavors with a sharp pine note,its dry and kinda bland really.Not a top notch ipa in my mind, it lacks any complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 21:42:49 | More by oberon

Seanibus

California

3.93/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A mild and pleasant IPA.

Pours a golden amber with a fluffy, meringue-like head. The aroma is sharp and fairly hoppy, though it is difficult to get a fix on what kind of hops. The flavor is mostly hoppy - sharp and citrusy, with a lot of pine, particularly on the bitterness side. The malt is mild and largely in the background, a little bready, but really in the background. The hops predominate, but this is no hop bomb - I would call it a hop-forward session beer with a West Coast sensibility.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 21:50:03 | More by Seanibus

beer2day

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pure gold pour with very little head. Thin wisps of lace all around the glass.

Nose is grassy hops and earthy malt. Tart citrus chimes in too.

Fairly smooth and creamy hit. Wee bit of hop burn in the finish. Lots of malt body. Dry pine.

Not a bad beer, but not a great ipa.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 01:47:01 | More by beer2day

snaotheus

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a curvy pint glass

Pours an oaky amber color, not cloudy, not very carbonated, very little head. Looks a little flat. Smell is malty, can't really detect much in the way of hops. A little floral that might be hop related, very sweet smelling. Not IPA smelling, though.

Hops do actually come out in the taste, but it's mild and malty. Hops come out as grapefruit rind. Surprisingly sweet, though, and a little bit boring (although not bad -- just not exciting).

Mouthfeel is only average -- lack of carbonation flattens it out. Drinkable, could easily go through a six pack, but wouldn't ever go looking for it. Probably will only buy it again if it's on sale or the only craft beer at a happy hour or something.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 02:25:31 | More by snaotheus

Bfarr

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -10%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Muddy amber with a thin tan head with little retention or lacing. Sweet caramel aroma with some grapefruit. Deceptively hoppy balance with good caramel sweetness interplaying with hops and perhaps a touch of roasted malt. Moderate carbonation with a good body.

It's the missing link! This really seems like it wants to be a black IPA (or whatever the hell we're supposed to call it) but didn't quite go all the way. Interesting...

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2010 19:19:23 | More by Bfarr

SeattleBeerBlog

Washington

3.28/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A-Amber with a good head and nice lacing, looks like it was dry hopped but not overly hazy. Very nice

S- Citrusy and pretty peppery, which is odd, never smelled pepper before pretty cool since I know it is in some hops. Finally I am learning the beer ways.

T- Tasted great at first but the warmer the pint got the more off flavors I discovered. Grass, Carmel, Citrus and pepper. A little cardboard too :(

M- Mouthfeel is good with a lot of carbonation and zero cloying.

D- Overall I wanted to like this beer but it seems to be a little to mellow and unmatched. Might be a better english IPA then American with the pepper.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2010 00:14:29 | More by SeattleBeerBlog

DoctorDog

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12 oz twist off bottle into a Sam Adams Boston Lager Pint Glass. Bottle now has a pic of a mermaid holding a mug imposed over top of a large "S"

A- Pours a hazy gold/copper, with ~1 finger of white head, which fades rapidly into a smattering of bubbles.

S- Very malt forward, with a bready/caramel sweetness. Floral hops are feint and nearly indistinguishable.

T- A surprising amount of floral/herbal hop bitterness, with a solid caramel malt backbone.

M- Slightly low carbonation. Medium feel.

D- Decent. Unspectacular, pleasant, easy drinker.

Future outlook: Brought this one back from Seattle...decent enough, though far from worthy of seeking out for an IPA...

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 03:50:08 | More by DoctorDog

vacax

California

2.6/5  rDev -28%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours bright cold, good clarity, medium sized head with decent lacing. Smalls sharply floral with dish soap and toast. The taste is overly fruity, dish soapy and astringent, light bitterness and some cookielike malts on the finish. On the lighter side of the body despite restrained carbonation. I would finish this pint if I happened to order it in their brewpub or something, but not something I would recommend or purchase in bottles.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2010 22:24:36 | More by vacax

unHipHopHead

Washington

3.73/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a cloudy dark copper color with almost no head. The cloudy colored brew is appealing but the lack of head was dissapointing.

S: Smells like faint earthy hops and some caramelly malt.

T: Tastes pretty good, an initial quick hit of hops is balanced by some toasted malt flavor. Finishes with a nice lingering mildly bitter hop.

M: Very light carbonation and some good hop resin. Pretty refreshing mouthfeel overall.

D: I'd say this is quite drinkable, especially with the light carbonation and lower ABV of 5.25%

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 20:56:15 | More by unHipHopHead

womencantsail

California

2.23/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Thanks to Jacob for sharing this one.

A: The pour is a nice amber/copper color with a mild off-white head and some spots of lacing.

S: The nose is buttery with some hints of bready malt. The problem is, I don't notice any hops and this is supposed to be an IPA.

T: Just as I feared from the nose, this beer tastes like buttered toast with a touch of bitterness. No citrus or floral or earthy of pine flavors to speak of.

M: The mouthfeel is fairly average. A light-medium bodied beer with a restrained amount of carbonation.

D: This was just not very good. I suppose the one thing it does have going for it is a bit of bitterness on the palate, but that's where the good news ends.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2010 05:59:04 | More by womencantsail

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

Many thanks to Terry (beertunes) for the opportunity to try this one.

The beer pours a fairly light copper color with lots of pillowing head retention and OK lacing. The nose is attactive, with some light pine, sweet malt and citrus. This smells as if it will not be an intensely flavored IPA. To no great suprise, the flavor profile is not hugely impressive. This IPA is definitely on the malty side, but I'm just not all that happy with how balanced it is (in other words, it really isn't). This beer is pretty malty and sweet, but then I get some hoppy bitterness, but with a a sweet, malty middle, and then with a fairly dry and bitter finish. I just can't say I'm hugely impressed. Mouthfeel is fairly light, with decent carbonation and flavor. Drinkability is OK, but the beer is so uninteresting and boring, it's pretty hard to say much about this beer's drinkability.

This beer is far from wretched, but these days, there are so many good beers out there, unless this was really, really cheap, I can't imagine why I would want it. Mehhh....

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 22:21:09 | More by johnmichaelsen

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Copper-bronze with a thin white head, thin ring of retention but it leaves a little lace.

S: A decent hop nose, citrus, rind & a little pine. Hints of toffee.

T: Tangerine, nectarine, grass & a touch of pine. Biscuity malt with a hint of toffee. Modest bitterness. A little weak for an IPA, but a great Pale Ale.

M: Light to moderate body has a slight acidity.

D: A good drinker.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2010 01:23:23 | More by Derek

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