Fresh Hop Pale Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

csiewert

Oregon

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

Batch brewed Oct. 21 2011...

A - clear copper color with a thick off white head that retains very well and laces beautifully

S - amazing fresh grassy and earthy hops with a touch of biscuity malt

T - starts with breast malt and slight caramel, finishes with earthy and spicy hops that finish clean... slight bitter bite at the end

M - nice and clean... Nothing too harsh or cloying, but could use just a touch more body

O - another great example of a fresh hopped ale by great divide... Always a pleasure to drink

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2011 00:45:41 | More by csiewert

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a tumbler at The Tribes.

The Accidental Highway to Hell Tour continues! This stop pours a clear straw-amber topped by a finger of white foam. The nose comprises pine, lemon zest, light caramel, light biscuit, and grass. The taste brings in more of the same, but with more biscuit and some light celery (or some form of cellulose, anyway) in the back. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation, a smooth feel, and a kinda dry finish. Overall, a solid, if not wholly distinctive, fresh hop brew. Good times.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2011 03:53:09 | More by TMoney2591

dbmernin83

California

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

Pours a light amber, lasting head and pretty good lacing.
Piney herbal hops in the nose.
Crisp pine, minty and refreshing. A light bitterness. This is a clean and bright beer showcasing the flavors hops bring to a beer without big bitterness.
Great carbonation, medium bodied.
A great beer. I could drink this all day during the fall. Gotta love fresh hop season!

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2011 01:10:10 | More by dbmernin83

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

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

on tap at pope in philly

Pours a hazed golden color with bright yellow hues. Thick white head rests on top, slowly dissolving into some retained film and layers of ringed lacing all over the glass.

Piny, spicy hop oils in the nose with splashes of grapefruit and citrus. Lighter toasted malt notes with continuing bitterness.

Super hoppy and bitter up front with oily and resiny hops. Pine and grapefruit notes with some softer orange sweetness and pith. Lighter malt backbone with some toasted notes and faint sweetness. Finishes with another kick of juicy hop resin, very little alcohol presence.

Medium body, well carbonated, sticky and oily on the tongue. I'm a huge fan of wet hopped beers, and Great Divide's is one of my favorites. Excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2011 14:56:08 | More by xnicknj

elNopalero

Texas

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

I don’t want to say you can’t go wrong with wet hopped beers—because that’s certainly not the case—but when they’re good, they’re good. I try ‘em every chance I get.

Poured with a hearty finger of billowy foam sitting atop a gloriously golden-amber straw colored beer. There’s a splendid hoppy aroma that’s at once delicate yet pronounced. Some pine. Wonderful, wonderful flavor. Light, sweet, piney finish. Resiny, but just a touch. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2011 00:17:07 | More by elNopalero

osusullins

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice golden color with a light white head. Nice lacing.

The aroma is very much citrus hop. Grapefruit with subtle pine resin.

Taste is very nice. Grapefruit is the dominant flavor with lots of malty balance. Hops are very nicely represented. You could tell me this is an IPA and I wouldn't argue. Very crisp and light. Perfect carbonation. The hops linger long after you finish. Just lovely.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2011 00:33:18 | More by osusullins

AgentMunky

California

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a pint glass at the J. Clyde in Birmingham. From notes. Reviewed 24 October 2011. The menu has 'October 18' in parenthesis after the name of the beer...presumably the tap date?

A: A stark white finger of head. Clear golden amber. Good lacing.

S: Beautiful! Piney notes, perhaps from Cascade hops. Strong and superlative. Some grapefruit notes.

T: Mmmm, fan-freaking-tastic. The perfect pale ale? Refreshing, hoppy, and full-bodied without being oppressive. Light and pleasant. The aftertaste is hoppy and lightly dry.

M: Carbonated. Light and smooth.

O: Delicious. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended. I will definitely have again...maybe tonight.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 20:34:48 | More by AgentMunky

Hojaminbag

Colorado

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

Fresh Hop has a perfectly clear orange body and an off-white head that is creamy and manages good retention and lacing.

The aroma is hop-centric for sure, with a variety of citrus scents and a bit of fresh cut grass.

I love fresh hop beers, and I was expecting big things from this one, but I was a little bit let down. This is a fine beer, but nothing special. One thing I expect from fresh hop beers are big, fresh, grassy flavors with a lower flavor of alpha acids/bitterness. Great Divide's Fresh Hop doesn't quite deliver on that. The grassy flavors are there, but they are not nearly as prominent as the biting citrus flavors. Lots of bitterness. The backbone is pale malt.

Bitter and oily, moderate amount of body and carbonation.

As I said, I like Fresh Hop, but I'm not thrilled by it, nor do I think it is a great representation of a fresh hop pale ale.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2011 19:11:34 | More by Hojaminbag

vandemonian

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at ChurchKey in DC. It had an amber colour with a decent head that maintained some lacing. The smell was lovely - mostly citrus and hops obviously - and was the highlight of drinking this. The taste was of citrus, mostly oranges, and was not particularly bitter. The aftertaste was smooth. This was a fairly simple but delicious brew.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2011 04:29:37 | More by vandemonian

StJamesGate

New York

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Beer Temple, Amsterdam.

Pours straight pale gold with a layer of film and cathedral lacing. Pine resin, sour citrus and fresh leaf nose. Simple pale malt bill - toasted caramel, some pear and maybe tangerine. Bright lemon and herb hops to end. Clean finish and burning bitter linger. Light to medium, crisp, some stickiness.

Simplistic, but the IBUs are there. Not as fresh-tasting a fresh hop ale as some of the SN Harvests, though. Looking at some of the other glowing reviews, I wonder if this has suffered through shipping and storage...

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 18:00:53 | More by StJamesGate

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

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

I had this on tap at Quick six Mt Rose Avenue -served in a tumbler

A beautiful semi hazed golden amber w/ thick creamy cap of ecru, the lace clings very well. The smell is sweet herbal hops with a slight lemony note, very faint grassy edge w/ generally fragrant somewhat floral in nature. The feel is excellent it is moderately bitter -perfect for the style, lots of resinous texture with medium carbonation and mild sweetness with a slightly creamy element.

The Fresh Hop pale has a nice light toasted malt flavor w/ herbal lemony tinges and mild slight floral quality from the hops. The flavor is subtle with citrus bitterness and the gentle caramel malt provides a great backdrop to the wet hop goodness. The finish is semidry and keeps you coming back - the drinkability is very high, one of the best fresh or wet-hop beers out there. I was glad I got a taste, but the keg blew so no repeats. The bottle I had was good, but trying this on tap was great. This sample was incredibly fresh and tasty!

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2010 18:02:51 | More by Slatetank

rfgetz

New Jersey

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

Pours a light orange color, clear, cap of soapy head, good retention and lacing. Scent contains a muted profile of piney hops, touch of grapefruit and biscuity malts. Taste slightly more aggressive then scent, leads with a mildly bitter bite from piney hops, faint kiss of grapefruit and a solidly sweet biscuity and nutty malt background. Lighter side of medium bodied, slightly undercarbonated. Decent Pale Ale that doesnt necessarily show what fresh hopping can do to a beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2010 18:00:33 | More by rfgetz

nickthegun12

Alabama

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

I tried this beer at the Auburn Ale House in Auburn Alabama

this beer looks pale...perfect color for a pale ale...with a nice foamy head...

the smell is of piney hops....with the slightest bit citrus notes....

Taste is hops and hops galore....not overly bitter...this beer is very true to style....

a tingly carbonated mouthfeel...

Perfect drinkability....very nice lacing as well

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2010 20:40:38 | More by nickthegun12

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

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

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

Had this on 2010-11-26 at Fatheads in Pittsburgh, PA.

A - Clear amber with a 1/2 finger off-white head and very good lacing.

S - Mild. Orange and hop floral.

T - Biscut, pineapple, red grapefruit, lemon zest, spice, pine. Aftertaste is mildly tropical and caramel sweet and very bitter. A little sourness creeps in after a bit.

M - Light- medium body and medium carbonation. Mildly oily. Not creamy.

D - Pretty decent, especially if you're looking for a bitter experience with a moderate ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2010 17:15:53 | More by Tucquan

maddogruss

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Got this on tap at the Cloverleaf Tavern.

A: Pours a dark, amber body with a small, white head with pretty good retention and lacing until the finish. Lacing was fairly thick and sticky.

S: A sweet, grapefruit smelling beer. Slightly sweet, citrus notes. Smelled very good.

T: A pretty bitter, slightly grapefruit note beer. There was some citrus and grapefruit notes in the aftertaste. Was not that balanced of a beer; the sweetness of the malts were not as evident. If this was an IPA, I'd say it was closer to that style, but seemed a bit hoppier than I expected for an APA.

M: A medium-bodied beer that was slightly light and silky on the tongue. Overall, pretty solid mouthfeel.

D: A decent mouthfeel and taste combination makes for a nice drinking beer. I was hoping for more of the malts to come through later as I drank to balance out the hops, but it never really made itself evident.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2010 05:10:35 | More by maddogruss

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

tewaris

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Stub & Herb's.

Appearance 4.5/5
Clear deep copper with a creamy off white head; decent head retention and good lacing.

Aroma 4/5
Very fruity in the nose with tropical fruit notes shining, mango & papaya, and some herbal aroma.

Taste 4/5
Flavorful bitterness riding on a good, but nondescript, malt base with a bitter, medium-dry finish.

Mouthfeel 3.5/5
Medium bodied with low-ish carbonation. I'd like it crispier, but it could be the serving temperature too.

Drinkability 4/5
Good but nothing exceptional given the flavor/ABV ratio.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2010 12:38:34 | More by tewaris

Kolsch

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Headkeepers, Greensburg PA.

Just tapped, no keg date.

Appearance: Golden amber with small cuspish of head. Kinda average to say the least

Smell: fresh cut hops, what else?

Taste: taste was a bitter up front hop assault giving way to a slowly building malt base. Hop taste stays throughout drink. Not bitter but exceedly hop forward. Malt took a back seat on this one. Out of many of the fresh hop ales I have had, this is the one of the best. We did a side x side comparison to SN Harvest Ale; Great Divide was the clear winner among our circle of hop loving friends. Fresh Hop ales should deliver a hop up front taste and this indeed did deliver.

Overall: I have been really disappointed with these so called fresh hop ales that are sooo prevalent today. This delivered exactly what I was looking for in a fresh hop ale....actual Hops!

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2010 23:15:23 | More by Kolsch

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served on-tap at Al's of Hampden into a standard pint.

A - Pours a pale copper with no head whatsoever leaving no lacing at all. It appeared to be served far too cold.

S - Hints of piney hops and faint citrus fruits but both were fairly muted. Lots of sweetness from the roasted caramel malts.

T - Similar to the nose. Muted flavors of citrus fruits and piney hops. Strong roasted caramel malts that overpower nearly all other flavors. Is this one a little past its prime? Looks like it. It is a borderline malt bomb at this point in time.

M - Light body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Slight hop bitterness on the finish with more and more malt coming thru as it warms.

D - One of these was enough for me. It seemed to be a little bit old. I think I might revisit this one down the line when I know I can guarantee the freshness.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2010 21:31:40 | More by orangesol

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a hazy orange-ish color with an off white head. In the aroma, citrus hops and mango like hints. In the taste, fresh hops, a small citrus note, pineapple to to pine, with a nice malt backing. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry pineapple and fresh hop aftertaste. Nice hop presence and easy to drink, dig it!

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2010 12:46:24 | More by OWSLEY069

koopa

New Jersey

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

Had this one on tap yesterday at the Copper Mine Pub's 2nd Anniversary Party.

Appearance: Pours a light copper with a 1 finger white crown that displays some retention and lace.

Smell: Nice amount of fresh herbal hops and some citrus hop notes over a fairly neutral malt.

Taste: Same as the nose but the citrus makes a bit more of an appearnace. Never over powering but down right full flavored without the bitterness typically associated with a hoppy brew.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a light spritzy carbonation.

Drinkability: Sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2010 20:09:18 | More by koopa

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap in a shaker pint. See-thru light amber with a finger's worth of dense head that leaves an impressive amount of sticky lacing.

Fairly potent hoppy nose, herbal and citrusy with just a bit of bready malt in the background. Surprisingly bitter up front before intense hoppy flavors take over. Zest of lemon and grapefruit, mint and pine, some spice. Hints of bready malt; this one's all about showcasing the hops. A touch boozy, even at this modest ABV, yet it's not entirely out of place.

Overall impression: A fresh hop ale definitely worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2010 18:27:17 | More by PDXHops

ktrillionaire

Florida

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

On-tap at Willard's

A - It pours a straw-copper hue, is capped with a white head of micro-bubbles, and leaves satin-y sheets of lace upon the glass.

S - The aroma is generally hoppy, albeit mildly so. Notes of lemon, herbal-ness and random citrus fuse with a slightly caramel-y malt to produce an overall earthy tone. The smell is quite mild when compared to a good IPA, but really it is correspondingly appropriate given the style.

T - The taste is quite subdued, even more than the nose is. Soft herbal notes, esp. lemongrass and verbena, sit on a (flavor-deficient) caramel malt, and the whole thing is nicely safe and inoffensive. This is a very mild beer. It tastes good, and even comes with training wheels.

M - It feels so good.

D - Though I really can't knock this beer for its flavor, I wouldn't recommend it to those who have earned their 'big boy pants'.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2010 03:18:13 | More by ktrillionaire

salvo

Indiana

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

Great divide fresh hopped ale arrived brown red crystal clear with a quarter inch tan head the disappeared in five minutes or less leaving tan hints of lace at the edges of the glass.

Smell is all grapefruit and candied citrus rind with pine and grassy suggestions. Taste starts with an initial malt kick with molasses followed quickly by honey before the hops assert themselves: all tea and astringency in the most pleasant way kissed by a light buzzing reminder of alcohol. Finishes long and slow as the hops emerge on the tongue, palate, and throat.

I'm already on my second so this is dangerously drinkable stuff that makes me feel like I haven't returned to the
Midwest but have continued my Boise based fresh-hopped adventure. On tap at the wonderfully moody Black Sparrow.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2010 13:25:08 | More by salvo