Fresh Hop Pale Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

WesWes

New York

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The beer pours a dark gold color with a towering white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a rich and complex malt scent that is comprised of pale, carapils, and bisquit malts. It has a nice bisquity aroma that balances well with the hops. The hop aroma is very nice. It has a grassy hop scent that is bitter and rich, but not over the top. The taste is great. It has a well balanced attack of malt and hops. It has a light crystal and bisquit malt flavor along with a bitter, citrus hop finish. This beer is incredibly smooth and easy drinking. It has tremendous mouthfeel. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a near perfect beer. I like everything about it. Just another great beer from Great Divide.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2006 02:03:30 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

At the time of my review the #3 APA on beeradvocate, served on tap at a local beer bar. Here we go! Beer is light amber and clear with a nice head that leaves some lacing on the glass. Carbonation appears low.

Aroma is pretty hop forward overall, nice.

Beer is piny in the mid palate, midly sweet on the onset but that is not distracting from the moderate bitterness at the back. Its well put together with good palate connectivity. The finish is nice. Overall its a medium bodied APA with a wet finish. The hop resin stays in your mouth for a minute but there's no after taste. Its a nice hot day beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2010 00:42:19 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a clear orange color with a decent-sized white head. The aroma is full of papaya, orange and orange, with some biscuit malt. The tropical fruit hop aroma is very fresh and dominates the smell. Very nice. The flavor also features a lot of tropical fruit. I get some nice pineapple and papaya notes, with a low amount of bitterness. The biscuit malt is also present, but it takes a back seat to the fresh hops. The alcohol is very well hidden. Medium, soft mouthfeel and low to medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 01:54:04 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Amber color with a long lasting one-finger head. Leaves nice lacing.

S - Hops hops and more hops.

T - Grassy and hoppy with a hint of citrus. Also, a little malt flavor.

M - Crisp and dry. Medium-bodied.

S - A very good APA. The fresh hops make it quite good.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2006 02:38:24 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear golden yellow in color with some amber highlights. It poured with a finger high frothy beige head that quickly faded away but left lacy patterns of bubbles on the surface. A light amount of carbonation is visible.
S: There are aromas of grassy and pine resin hops in the nose.
T: The overall taste has a moderate to high amount of bitterness from the hops, although the underlying malts provide some balance; it's very similar to the smell with some additional flavors of citrus.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer is very drinkable because the bitterness is not overpowering in any way.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 01:48:39 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is a brilliantly clear, bright, full copper color; it is well carbonated and forms a frothy, pale tan colored head. The aroma is enticingly hoppy with a resinous aroma of grapefruit, apricots, tangerine and a bit of pine and grassy notes. The aroma is quite nice with a serious sticky hop presence. The beer is fairly dry, but the malt in combination with the hops gives this beer a sticky sweet citrus character without being overly sweet or full on the palate. The flavor has solid notes of resinous pine as well as an equal amount of citrus and fruit; like grapefruit, apricot and peach.

The beer finishes with a solid bitterness, which does not particularly linger too long. The finish is quite smooth, it really just begs for taking another sip. The overall hoppiness and carbonation of this brew gives it a peppery bite as the beer sits in my mouth. This beer is really quite nice, perhaps the most flavorful Pale Ale I have ever had. The fresh, vibrant hop character is really nice and this beer is still fairly smooth without that intense grassy character I have had in other fresh hop beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2005 04:54:15 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The color is deep amber with an orange tint. It has a thick off-white head, which fades but not too quickly and leaves decent lace.

S: Strong hop aroma with a heavy dose of citrus along with it. You can also smell the alcohol a bit.

T: As indicated in the name of the beer, a very intense and decently bitter hops flavor hits you right away and remains dominant throughout. There is some malt and citrus that follow to help balance it out, but as sweetness fades, the hops return to stay in a bitter after-taste.

M: Very crisp, medium body with medium carbonation and the more you drink it, the smoother it gets.

D: As stated above, the beer seems smoother as you drink more of it. If you combine that with the fact that it’s not very filling, the beer is pretty drinkable as long as you’re down with the hop taste. I’m not sure how many I could drink at a time; since I only have the one 22 oz. bottle, but I’m sure I could put away a decent amount. Overall this is a good beer, but not for beginners. I find it a bit stronger than other beers that I’ve had of this style.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2006 05:46:15 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a honey-hued bronze with loads of effervescence & 3+ fingers pillowy pearl-colored head. Superior head retention & lacing

S: Grapefruitty & metallic hops, plus some breadyness as this warms up.

T: Grapefruitty & lemony hops, slight honey notes & bit of cakeyness up front. As this warms, I get bready notes, caramel & then more grapefruitty hops. Finishes with a bit of boozey warmth, grapefruitty + lemony hops, & dry bready notes

MF: Medium-bodied with lively carbonation, & very good balance

Drinks easy, not as impressed as the last 2 vintages, but nothing to sneeze at, one to look forward to every harvest!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2007 04:56:56 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.33/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bomber, good to see another GD beer in the Southland,

A: Pours a clear copper with a mild white head, which leaves some surprisingly good lacing.

S: Earthy pine with some lemon, raw and rustic.

T: Bitter grapefruit with a lot of lemon. Hint of ethanol on the back end with a lot of cedar oil. Nice, if not particularly expressive.

M: Soft mouthfeel on medium-bodied beer. Nice long hoppy aftertaste which is always a joy.

D: Not a standout in the wet hop beers by any means. While not a bad beer, when I can get the world class Hop Trip and High Tide or even Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale for a dollar or more less, I'm always going to go there in the future.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2010 04:20:40 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes, consumed Dec. 23rd. 22 oz. bottle.

Pours with a huge four finger head and sticky lace at the edges. It's a deep orange color, with plenty of visible carbonation and ok head retention. Slightly funky yeast aroma, malt sweetness, and a vague grassy quality. Not the fresh hop character I was hoping for. Sweet malty butterscotch taste, mildly bitter with some earthy, aspirin-like hops in the aftertaste. Creamy texture from mild carbonation, and sort of filling. One bomber is drinkable, but it's slightly too heavy for a session. Overall it reminded me more of SNPA than a wet-hopped ale, probably won't revisit unless it was fresh on tap...

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2008 01:07:48 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: pours a slightly hazy orange color with a thick two finger head that lasts nicely.Decent lacing paints the glass.

Smell: copious amounts of grapefruit citrus, ripe fruits, and pine bitterness.

Taste: caramel, pears, apples, green grapes, grapefruits, and pine bitterness. This is a wonderfully well balanced pale ale that is bold in the flavor profile. It's nice to have a fresh hop ale that isn't DIPA.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp throughout. Aftertaste is pleasantly full flavored citrus, ripe fruits, and bitterness.

Drinkability: this is an exceptional pale ale that can be quaffed all day long without developing boredom or laying flat on the floor. Absolutely great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2007 18:25:29 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours slightly hazed orange/amber with a fairly thick head that descends to a lasting cover.

The smell is grassy, piney, citrusy.

The taste is of slight sweetness soon overtaken by oily, fresh hops. Fresh-cut grass, pine and orange citrus run the show. Sweet malt lies underneath to keep it all together and balanced. The fresh leafy, piney, citrusy hops seem just ripened. Medium bodied. Pushes the hop limits of an APA - could be confused for an IPA.

Fresh, tasty, crisp and very smooth. If you like hoppy pale ales - this one's for you!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2006 18:54:11 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A bottle purchased from Liquid Solutions.

A: The ale is a clear copper-orange color with a thin 1/2 finger's head that does not lace.

S: The ale has a soft hop aroma, subtle but potent in a way that differs from a DIPA. The hop presence is big without being citrusy and strong.

T: The taste is hoppily intense, with a very concentrated, dirty earthy flavor that has grapefruit and citrus characteristics. The fresh hops pack quite a wallop while still managing to remain subtle and soft compared to most ales that use hop pellets.

M: The fresh hops are delicious, starting softly and finishing with a very bitter flourish.

D: The abv is moderate and a fresh hop flavors are quite good, making me look forward to next autumn's harvest.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2006 02:55:56 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Keith for sharing a bomber. Apparently this just landed in PA - in late January. Go figure. The hops in here seem a little weak for a fresh hop beer, but that's relative. There's still a rich, perfume of juicy citrus hops with an earthy, almost dirty undertone, like the hops maybe should have been washed. Either way, this was a pretty tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2009 18:23:20 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Copper amber body with a fine bubbled off white cream head leaves wide bands of lacing evenly down my Duvel chalice as the head floats above the rim. Aroma: Great pine cone and citrus hop aromatics also packs some floral tones mixed with a sugary slightly fruit malt base that pair well with the grassiness of the hop additions. Taste: Hop bitterness very welcoming grapefruit and grassy hop flavors are streaking across the palate semi sweet bready notes help balance finishes with a touch of caramelized citrus peels that reminds me of well done Orange chicken from a chinese restaurant. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied slight oily texture from the lucious loads of wet hops used may be the best pale ale I've tasted yet. Drinkability: 22oz. is effortless loads of flavor very refreshing brew, Great Divide has found a friend in the hop.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2005 14:25:04 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear amber with an off white head. Nose is reaching out to me even as I pour. Just getting it anywhere in the vicinity of my nose is giving me something. Upon close review, it is - surprise - very strong with the hops and that expected pine-like fragrance. Flavor is a strong, bitter hop influenced ride. A hopheads liquid paradise. Feel is thick from the high amount of hops and it holds a decent carbonation. Even though it is so pungent with the hops, it is still extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 13:19:00 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.3/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured with a frosting-like head that never uite went away. Fairly clear and brown. Nose is hoppy but comes across as very evergreen and wet sod. Flavor is full of citrus and pine but leaning more to the grapefruit and lemons than Christmas. Malts are very subdued and overpowered by the hops. Medium mouthfeel with an oily texture from the hops that lingers surprisingly briefly.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2008 01:49:14 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Slightly hazy with an orange-amber color. Steady head that remains throughout the tasting. Lace is left as a ring after each sip.

Excellent fresh malt flavor with an aromatic flowery hop background. Attractive.

Strong peppery hop flavor. The only demerit comes from the thin body. The carbonation is okay. Spicy aftertaste that lasts a long time.

This is one of GD's best beers.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2012 16:42:31 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice small off-white creamy head, lots of nice sticky lacing follows. The nose is very hoppy, some malts, good dose of citrus, and some pineyness, also some caramel. The taste is pretty hoppy for a Pale Ale, tones of malts, some citrus/pines, and caramel. The finish is slightly dry and bitter. Medium body. Very drinkable, this is an extradinary pale ale, very tasty and hoppy, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2007 23:20:10 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz brown bomber with a bottled on date.

Clear and beery appearance of amber color and bubbles, lacing on the glass is extraordinary. Smells of fresh mint, wild herbs and soft pine with some bread crust in the back. Creamy medium body. With no warning the taste buds get smacked with a heavy hammer of hop character. Yeah, this is a very hoppy beer. As for the bitterness, yes ... The bitterness is there but the flavor clearly dominates. Lots of spice, orange rind, tobacco, hemp, pine, mint and leafiness from the hop flavor. Hint of lightly toasted malt and alcohol middle to end. Finishes hoppy as well, a little raw but very flavorful.

I'm certain to get my hop fix here. Exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2010 00:44:01 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ouncer, notches on the label let me know this was bottled during the second week of Oct, '07 (nice to get this info) Pours typical almond amber, nice looking medium tan head, that sticks aroud for a bit then leaves tons os thick sheeting and lace on the glass.

Nose of a burlap sack of hops, with a hint of bready malt to boot.

Plenty of gritty, citric hops here, as a dedicated hop head, this one does it for me and lives up to its name. Nice! Grapefruits surrounds the taste buds and continues to the long finish. Sweet malt present but just enough for a pass at balance, ha....hops carry the freight here. Nice offering from G.D.B.C. Go get some and enjoy

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2008 14:25:56 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 11/17/10 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey in DC.

a - Pours a dark amber color with one inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of fresh citrus hops, pine hops, and fruity malts.

t - Tastes of pine hops, citrus hops, fruity malts, and tropical fruit. Lots of bitterness up front in the taste.

m - Light to medium body and low carbonation, very easy to drink.

d - A very drinkable, enjoyable APA. At 6.1% I felt I could drink a few of them, and I enjoyed the pine and citrus hops in the smell. Would order again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2010 21:37:37 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Julio's, Marlboro, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" off-white head over the clear dark amber brew. Head lasts nicely, with plentiful sticky lace. Pungeant fruity pine hops aroma over a deeply sweet malt character. Flavor mimics the nose, both grain and hops strong but complementary to each other. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both good, but overall this one's a bit too intense for me to be a session drinker. Definitely and enjoyable brew though.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2006 11:59:01 | More by ppoitras

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a 22oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a nice clear copper with a medium sized lather of off-white foam that stuck around and left some rather fantastic lacing. Aroma seems subdued at first but as it warms, some great tones of grassy, lemony fresh hops and a somewhat spicy smelling earthy maltiness come through.

The taste is just as advertised. An abundance of fresh, piney hop character with a nice dollop of lemon and grapefruit for good measure with bitterness that lasts the whole way through. A subtle undercurrent of sweet caramel maltiness seems to somehow glide under all that hop explosiveness. The mouthfeel is medium and crisp and feels oh so right.

Great Divide comes through again with this years batch of Fresh Hop. Bold hop character and a medium ABV make this easy drinking for not only Hop Heads but also lovers of fresh tasting APAs in general.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2007 02:38:43 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow. Pours a clear orange/brown, medium sized white head, lots of sticky lace and great retention. Smell is citrus hops, caramel, floral hops, more hops, some more caramel, excellent, and superbly balanced. Taste is caramel up front, followed by an extreme citrus and floral hop hit, lots of hoppage in the finish, clean bitterness thats just right. Great floral/citrus aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied with low carbonation. Amazing, best pale ale I've ever had, hands down. Malt and hops are perfectly balanced, a superb sipper, would love to stock up on this. Thanks DrJay!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2006 05:05:50 | More by Viggo