Fresh Hop Pale Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

isaiahcutright

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

P: Pours a light amber with a brilliant white 2 finger head.

S: lots of floral hops grassy overall delightful.

Taste: smooth a nice bitterness bite a touch of sweetness.

Mouthfeel: A nice overall smoothness to this fresh hopped pale ale.

Overall: another solid brew from the Great Divide folks just a great drinking beer if only we could have this fresh all year.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 01:04:26 | More by isaiahcutright

biggmike

Mississippi

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

Poured an attractive copper color with a generous white head that dissipated slowly leaving a thin layer of head across the top. The aroma is of grassy hops and smells outstanding. The taste is of citrus hops and is medium-bodied. This is a very good beer and very drinkable. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: growler

01-10-2012 00:49:06 | More by biggmike

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

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

A-Pours a slightly hazy, translucent orange with a thick, rocky, off-white head that slowly dissipates and leaves a thin layer of head that lasts the entire time. The head left some very nice lacing essentially the entire length of the glass.

S-Hoppy, citrus notes include orange, grapefruit, and lemon zest. Very strong nose for a pale ale, probably the best I've ever had for the style.

T-Hoppy, agressive flavor that is slightly spicy and herbal. Citrus hop flavor consisting of grapefruit and oranges with a nice graham cracker malt backbone. Great flavor, with the strongest hop presence of any pale ale I've had.

M-Thick for the style with just the right amount of carbonation

D-Through the roof. I could drink this all day. It is delicious and its abv. make it a session beer for sure.

Overall, this is the best pale ale I've personally ever had. My bottle date was October 3, 2011 so my only wish is that I could have drank this a couple of months ago so it would have been more fresh. I still believe SNPA sets the standard for the style but if this was sold in six pack form and readily available, which I imagine would be nearly impossible because of the fresh hops used, this would be one of my go to beers. Another great beer from Great Divide.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 20:21:24 | More by thegodfather2701

mfavoino

Washington

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

Poured into a pint glass out of a 22oz bottle that was bottled on 9/28/2010.

Appearance is a hazy copper with significant lacing. I expected a dominating hop nose, but instead found myself noticing the earthy tones and a bit of citrus hops. Tasted sweet, citrusy, and more malty than I thought this would be as a fresh hop beer. Little carbonation on this beer. I wonder if drinking it while it was fresher would have given more of a hop impression. Regardless, it is an extremely enjoyable pale ale and something I'd buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 05:01:33 | More by mfavoino

jculler82

Pennsylvania

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

Bottled 10/03/11, sampled 12/24/11

Clear orange tinted gold with a nice frothy off white head that settles to a foam cap. Heavy lacing.

Hop forward nose that is balanced well by the malt. Citrus, mainly oranges, and some tropical fruit punch notes. Sweet caramel candy, bread crust.

Flavor is hop forward at first, mirroring the nose of oranges and fruit. Candy maltiness comes into the middle. Firm balancing bitterness in the finish. Nice full mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 21:02:55 | More by jculler82

syrupjoe

Minnesota

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

Pours a semi-hazy golden amber color with eggshell white head.

Nose is green, vegetal, dank, and slightly tropical fruity. Slight alcohol notes with mild maltiness.

Taste is sweet, light, and fresh tasting. Slightly perfumey, grassy, and definitely piney.

Moderate to low carbonation. Smooth on the uptake - this brew doesn't knock your socks off with bitterness, but showcases some pretty aromatic hops.

Crisp finish with a floral and citrus aftertaste. Overall a very easy drinking fresh hop brew that still satisfies a hop head's desire to be immersed in dank. Will drink again!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 20:09:48 | More by syrupjoe

kojevergas

California

2.9/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served on draught into a Great Divide stemgoblet at the Great Divide tap room yesterday. Cost was $4.00. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger head of nice cream, fair thickness, and average retention. Colour is a textbook copper.

Sm: Hoppy, with very light toasted malt. A mild strength aroma.

T: Pleasantly hoppy without too much bitterness. Well balanced and built, but not bold or inspired. Simple but pleasant. Not too bitter, though the finish needs work. Malt-heavy for the style.

Mf: Smooth until the coarse finish (on account of the bittering hops), and wet throughout. Fairly complementary of the flavour in a general sense.

Dr: Quite drinkable, but largely unremarkable for the style. I wouldn't have it again. It's okay.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2011 19:29:09 | More by kojevergas

rmcnealy

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served chilled in a traditional pint glass.

Poured a translucent, totally filtered light golden amber that produced a very froathy head which fleeted to a tremendously nice consistent lacey layer. Smells are of slight hop, freshness, slight undiscernable citrus and minimal malt. The smells are not very robust. The taste follow suits with a tad of hoppy bitter awesomeness. It has hints of earthiness to it. The tastes fade quickly leaving a dry bitter bite. A decent beer but it was lacking something. The bottle notes 'Grassy' and 'Citrusy' characteristics with 'Grassy' being triumphant. It did lack a bit of hoppiness that I look for in a good PA. A bit pricey at $6.99 I feel. It's worth noting that the bottling date is in early Sept. A few reviews I briefly overviewed mentioned October or later. Hoppy beers are better the fresher they are, in my limited opinion. Nonetheless, I'm glad I tried it.

Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 01:57:21 | More by rmcnealy

gabedivision

New York

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass from a 22 ounce bottle.

Pours a crystal clear deep orange/copper color with a thin laced head full of tight bubbles and a frothy foam. Citrus hops on the nose, fruity, piny tones, big sweet refreshing scents pouring from the hops. Sugary sweet citrus hops explode in the mouth, hop from front to finish, bitter lemony finish. Light bodied, high carbonation, clean, easy to drink. This is a mega hopped fruit filled easy to drink pale ale. Will come back to this beer again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 04:09:18 | More by gabedivision

mdaschaf

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to bentwookie for this one! Bottled 9/30/11

A: Pours a clear copper color with a two finger white foamy head on top. Pretty good retention and sticky lacing left behind on the glass.

S: A little bit of citrus and some pine. There is a heavier caramel component than I was expecting. Some lemon in the front.

T: Maltier than I was expecting and hoping, possibly due to age. Lots of caramel with a little bit of lemon and a hint of pine.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Drinks pretty smooth, slightly dry finish.

O: Not bad, would have loved to try it a bit fresher. Will look for it next time it comes out though.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 01:55:07 | More by mdaschaf

superspak

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle with green foil over the cap, bottled on 9/30/2011. Pours slightly hazy golden amber color with a nice 2 finger dense off white head with incredible retention that reduces to a thick lacing cap that lasts. Good amount of lacing clings to the glass, with plenty of carbonation streaming up from the bottom. Aromas of huge fresh orange zest, lemon, pine, grass, light caramel, breadiness, and light spiciness. Very nice aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of big orange, lemon, pine, grass, biscuit, and spiciness. Good amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, grass, pine, biscuit, and spiciness on the finish for a while. No alcohol noticed at all except for a slight warming after the finish. Great balance of bitterness and sweetness. Medium carbonation and body with a slightly creamy and very smooth mouthfeel. Overall this is definitely an excellent fresh hopped pale ale. Very drinkable with nice flavor balance.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 04:31:20 | More by superspak

ngeunit1

California

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

A - Pours a clear copper-orange color with a half-finger of frothy white head atop. The head fades down fairly quickly leaving behind some lacing.

S - Aroma is full of fresh citrus hops and some grassy hops in the background. There is quite a bit of light fruitiness with some sweet caramel malts in the background as well.

T - Starts off with some citrus hops with some orange and pineapple flavor with a bit of bitterness and caramel malt in the background. Through the middle, some more fresh hops come through with some grassy/earthy flavors and some more bitterness. The finish is a mix of grassy and citrus hops with some bitterness and light sweet malt.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels very smooth with a nice sweet and slightly dry finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice malt and hop balance from start to end with a nice hop profile as well. Very sessionable for 6.1% abv.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 03:40:05 | More by ngeunit1

bitterbeerguy

Minnesota

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

This brew poured from a 22 oz bottle looks orange-yellow in the light. The color is very nice. Carbonation was minor at first, but remained at the same level for the whole time it took me to drink the brew. White bubbles.

Smell was a little disappointing. I think my bottle is about 8 weeks old though, so my guess is that the smell was great a couple months back. Smell is of light citrus notes and grapefruit- slight sour odor.

Taste is a little harsh. The predominate flavor is malt, with the slightest lemon aftertaste. I would say the hop level has simply declined with time. With that said, when I warm it for a moment in my mouth, I find that it releases more of the hoppy flavor that I am used to in a pale ale.

Not too bad for a pale ale, but needs to be consumed closer to the date produced. I will likely try again next fall.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 00:54:51 | More by bitterbeerguy

tylerprince

Colorado

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

A: Pretty typical pale ale. Copper/orange color with a one-finger head. Excellent lacing as you drink.

S: My first smell convinced me this was a summer, lawn party beer. Too bad it's practically winter. Citrusy, grassy, and pretty damn good.

T: Tastes somewhat like a green beer, with some great citrusy and fruity/piny undertones. Quite hoppy and bitter, but balanced with a fair amount of sweetness throughout.

M: Quite smooth, with a medium amount of carbonation. Finishes clean.

O: Certainly airs on the side of an IPA. Great Divide ships the hops for this beer overnight from the West Coast, so with this level of attention to the hops it's not surprising that they dominate the beer. Overall a great pale ale (from a devoted DIPA drinker). Would buy again, bomber or six pack.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 22:54:23 | More by tylerprince

JizackFH

New York

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

Got a growler of this filled at the Whole Foods Bowery Beer Room in NYC.

A - This beer pours a nice clear copper color. It has a 2-figner slightly off-white head resting on top. The head has good retention, and it leaves a nice sheet of lace behind on the glass.

S - The nose has a nice bit of caramel malt and a nice fresh hop aroma. There is also a nice fruity aroma to it, as well as some citrus.

T - The taste starts off with a nice malty sweetness. There is a nice fresh hop flavor that gives off a good amount of bitterness. There are some nice tropical fruit flavors and some citrus zest. The finish leaves behind some lingering sweetness, fruit flavor, and hop bitterness.

M - This has a medium body and good carbonation. It goes down easy and has a nice smooth feel too it. There is a bit of sweetness and medium amount of hop bitterness. There is a bit of citrus zest as well.

O - This has good drinkability. It is a nice refreshing, easy going pale ale, and it really hits the spot. I think this is a really nice beer on a warm summer day, but it works all around as well. The hop flavor is perfect in this for it being a pale ale. Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I would buy it again. I recommend trying it out.

Serving type: growler

11-30-2011 13:32:53 | More by JizackFH

lazjuarez

Florida

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle (650ml) into a tumbler. Bottle dated: Oct 17 2011

A: Pours a dark golden color with a burnt orange hue. About 1 1/2 fingers worth of an off white foamy head which dissipates rather slowly, but leaves great sticky lacing behind. Carbonation is coming off the bottom of the glass, very nice looking APA.

S: As soon as I opened it, my nose was overwhelmed with big citrus notes, lemon zest, and Lemongrass. Almost like fresh cut grass. Small piney resin and medium to light maltiness in the background as well

T: Taste follows the bouquet, middle of the tongue is where the hops make a presence, but then the malts come in and balance everything, making for a very quaffable beer.

M: Mouthfeel is medium; Carbonation is refreshing and well balanced. The piney resin along with the biscuity malts, give for a great medium bodied, but non-aggressive APA.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 06:39:49 | More by lazjuarez

fugitive

Greece

3.8/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle 650ml. Color unclear hazy orange with smal not lasting white head. Aroma malt ,extremely hoppy giving it notes of citrus and pine, grass. Taste sweet, bitter, citrus, long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. Refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 23:42:05 | More by fugitive

dannydetox

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am a fan of the fresh hop/wet hop experimentation brewers are experimenting with these days. There is a purity I detect with this approach, and while these beers sometimes lack the complexity of the more traditional hopping technique, I like the fact we get choices. The Fresh Hop Pale Ale has an orange-copper color when poured, and retains a friendly skim of head throughout my glass. Aromas are full of sweet pink grapefruit with some floral notes hiding in the back. I detect a bit of molasses sweetness on this one, too. Highly quaffable and refreshing with the expected bitterness. Does not totally dry the mouth, but I wouldn't want a pale ale to do that. Seems a bit maltier than the Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere but only just.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2011 04:19:48 | More by dannydetox

allforbetterbeer

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled opened just shy of 2 months after it was brewed. I would prefer a fresher bottle, but not being a hard-core hophead I probably wouldn't notice a huge difference anyway.

Pours a beautiful flamed-orange clear body under a fantastic three fingers of highly tenacious off-white head that laces with outstanding crustiness and falls to a substantial soft, thick layer on the surface of the beer. This looks fantastic.

The aroma is on the greener/piney side of the hop spectrum than the citrus side. I smell fresh mellow ginger root, evergreen needles, sweet grass.

The flavor follows the nose with the addition of some simple (but tasty) malts. Having picked fresh hops, I can taste how this is indeed a "fresh hop" ale. The green, rosiny, grassy "leafy" flavor is apparent and very tasty. There is impressive depth of flavor and a long lasting hoppy aftertaste that includes the best of bitter and sweet.

The mouthfeel is is full but not heavy or alcoholic. The carbonation is sufficiently low for my tastes.

Conclusion: For all those who love hops and wish to deepen their appreciation and understanding of their flavor spectrum, fresh hop ales add another category for exploration. This beer is a great example, and one that I would happily drink again and again.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 23:33:55 | More by allforbetterbeer

Gobzilla

California

3.65/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: poured an orangish brown in color with yellow highlights and a very thin head that barely left any lacing sticking to the glass.

S: some nice citrusy hoppy notes came through on the first whiff alongside a little malty sweetness, and a bit of orange tangerine notes.

T: the orange tangerine qualities were more apparent on the palate with a very mild hop bit, a good amount of malty sweetness and piney accents.

M: the brew was medium in body with a low amount of carbonation which had piney, citrusy, mild hoppy, sweet, and very mild bitter finish.

D: the brew was really easy drinking and thought it was a solid pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 22:50:21 | More by Gobzilla

Phelps

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed in a tulip, Fresh Hop is brewed with Northwestern whole cone hops shipped to Denver overnight.

Tangerine, with a soft chill haze. The head is feathery, thin and white, only about a quarter inch tall but very sticky. A thick ring sticks around for a long while and leaves webs of lace.

Bright, piney, grassy nose. Orange peel, some crackers and honey emerge upon deeper investigation. Very resinous.

In the flavor, the hops take on a solvent, almost soapy quality with fairly high bitterness for the flavor they deliver. A subtle, crackery note lends soft sweetness. Smooth and resinous, with a crisp finish.

Light and massaging carb. Silky fizziness. Medium-light body. Just a hint of hot alcohol fumes.

Great Divide’s Fresh Hop is resinous, but there might not be enough base malt flavor to back it up. It’s a well-hopped pale ale, but without much sweetness, the hops become too powerful for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 21:19:23 | More by Phelps

DavidST

Texas

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

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a tulip glass, bottled on date of Sep 30, 2011. This pours a golden color with a nice off white held which leaves a nice lacing. The smells are of hops, citrus, pine, grassy with a little caramel malts. The feels are medium with a nice mouth coating hop bitterness. The taste is great a mouthful of bitter hops the same taste as the smells, great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 02:50:04 | More by DavidST

Bugsey

District of Columbia

3/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A nice pale ale, but a little over the top on the hop bitterness. Compared to a Sierra Nevada or Dale's Pale Ale, this one has more of bitter bite. Now that's a personal preference, but I prefer something more balanced and less jarring. So I'll stick with Sierra and Dale's for this beer style.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 15:28:57 | More by Bugsey

merc7186

New York

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

I had this beer on tap at Smokin Joes in Pittsburgh.

The beer poured great with a nice mildly hazy golden straw color, a nice foamy white head and great lacing on the glass. The beer smells great with a light malt, citrus hoppiness, and corn blended together nicely. The taste is outstanding with a solid mildly bitter orange citrus hoppiness and a subtle malty finish, somewhat bready and yeasty. The mouthfeel is great as the beer is well carbonated, medium bodied, and leaves you somewhat dry but doesn't burn you out. Overall, Fresh Hop...need I say more.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2011 01:40:21 | More by merc7186

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter.

4.5 A: Clear light/medium orange color. Two fingers of white, dense frothy head. Retention is good and plenty of lacing is left behind.

4.0 S: Dank grassy and citrusy hops, with emphasis on orange and mango. Clean overall with a balancing neutral maltiness and a touch of crystal malt.

3.5 T: Good, but the hops don't pop as much as I had hoped. Grassy, earthy, and orange citrus with a touch of pine. Malts play a larger part in the taste. Moderate sweetness with an equal breadines and some crystal malt to a lesser extent. Moderate bitterness.

3.5 M: Medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Moderately creamy, but I could go for some more. Smooth.

3.5 D: I used the word "moderate" a lot in this review and it's only fair to call this beer "moderate" overall. Nothing really stands out, but it is still a solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 01:21:35 | More by DavoleBomb