Hurricane Reef Pale Ale - Florida Beer Company

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.8/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured in an Allagash snifter. Thanks to theghost3 for this!

Pours a nice pale golden color with a small fluffy head, just what you'd expect from an APA. On the nose is a bit of hoppiness and malt. It smells somewhat like a lager but with some tasty undertones.

Taste is surprisingly good after smelling it! It's nice and malty with a bit of toastiness on the finish. Overall quite a solid APA from Florida!

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 01:08:37 | More by kingcrowing

neenerzig

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a 6 pack of this a few days ago during my still ongoing vacation here in Osprey/Sarasota Florida. Wanted to try something I would not be able to find back home and thought this one looked good. Poured a 12 oz bottle's worth into a standard pint glass. This beer pours a clear and medium golden/copper color. White fizzy head about 1/3 inch when first poured. Settles quickly to a medium sized ring lining the inside of my glass. Little lacing. Aromas of fairly sweet caramel. biscuity malt and hops. Bready, biscuity, caramel malt flavor upfront followed by bittering hops. Nice balance, but the hops do tend to dominate a bit. Not complex in any sense, but tasty nonetheless. This is a bit more hoppy than most pale ales I have had are. Would have thought this was an IPA if I didn't know better. Has a crisp, thin to medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Easy to drink in a good way. this is nice and refreshing on a hot August night here in Florida. Good enough, but nothing special.

Eric

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2009 02:14:31 | More by neenerzig

JayQue

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A pretty average American Pale Ale. Pours a copper color with a small white head and no lacing.

Very little aroma

Mild taste of a little floral hops up front followed by bready malt. Taste is more robust than the smell. The malt wins out in the balance department.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin but not bad. Drinkable enough but not something I would seek out.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 23:33:12 | More by JayQue

DIM

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

a: This was a golden color with some coppery highlights. It poured with a sticky, white fizzy head.

s: Some slightly citric hops that have a surprisingly strong bittter element. Sweet aromas of vanilla cookies and caramel. There is a little something spicy in the backround.

t: Bitter, but not all that flavorful. Moderate herbal hop flavors with a little citrus. Sweet malt balance in the form of vanilla and toffee.

m: Gently carbonated with an average body.

d: Thanks to tpd975 for this from the nobody wants to see a beer geek naked BIF. Bitter to the point of being unbalanced, but not bad overall.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2009 10:40:23 | More by DIM

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.6/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I tried to sample the more interesting styles at the brewery. A little C-hop aroma. More malt that bitterness. Some lacing. Watery. A little more of anything to add to mouthfeel, taste, and preferably hops for some citrus hops taste. Redkneck IPA, sorry redknecks.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2009 03:05:22 | More by northyorksammy

superdedooperboy

Georgia

3.3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. brown bottle into a pint glass, this beer pours a clear golden amber with a slight half-finger of white froth, disappearing rather quickly and leaving virtually no lacing aside from a few specks.

Nose is rather downplayed, with a soft resinous hop presence and some buttery, bready diacetyl character.

Flavor is much like the aroma, with a smooth, rounded diacetyl nature combining with a mildly bitter, resiny middle, and going down with a watery finish that leaves a lingering piney aftertaste. Body is very light and thin, with a light touch of carbonation.

Easy-drinking, yet not nearly the most desirable session beer. A bit understated for an American-style Pale Ale, and perhaps with just a bit more hop presence and a fuller mouthfeel, this could be a great quaffer. As it is, it's just not nearly there.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2009 04:49:41 | More by superdedooperboy

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.03/5  rDev -36.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Brought this bottle back with me on the plane from Miami Beach this past summer. The bottle was leaking when I unpacked. We just poured it and there was some carbonation but a bit flat. No lace and very little head. Clear medium amber color. Not much hop in the nose. Mostly caramel malt. Body wasn't too bad, cept for the flatness. Not much here. eh.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2009 01:38:37 | More by drpimento

BDIMike

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours an orange amber color. There is a slight bit of carbonation, but it creates a nice white foam head that has nice lacing all the way down.
Smell has a slightly mild aroma. There is a bit of a hop shot, but not much besides.
Taste is a bit better than the smell. There is a bit of fruity hop taste. Very clean and standard.
Mouthfeel has a very crisp shot. The body is a good meduim thickness that one would want on a pale ale.
Drinkability is good because of the subdued taste. This is a very average and standard beer. Everything about it is stereotypical for the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 01:33:12 | More by BDIMike

babaracas

Florida

3.73/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear medium orange with spotty lacing. Smell: bready malt, citrusy hops. Taste: caramel malt + earthy/spicy and citrus hops. Mouthfeel: medium bodied, a little hard water in the finish. Pretty much spot on for the style. Might be the best thing from FL beer co.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2008 04:34:07 | More by babaracas

pepsican

Iowa

3.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This review is just a placeholder for now, I will move it eventually. Gold pour with just a few white bubbles for the head. The aroma was heavily grainy, cereal, and just a touch of grassy hops. Flavor was similar. Some chalky bitterness and orange peel shines through but I dont know if I care for it. A good try but I was hoping this would be a bit better. 6/3/5/2/11

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2008 07:44:38 | More by pepsican

ViveLaChouffe

Georgia

2.65/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a crystal clear copper with an creamy ivory head. Fruity malt and and herbal hop aromas wafting from the glass..

The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth and creamy but...the hop profile in the mouth is quite muted and not particularly tasty. Very little malt profile too, quite watery tasting overall. You could call it refreshing if it was actually pleasing to the tongue but it's really not. It's thin and what little hop flavor there is comes off as harsh and vegetal. Crisp finish.

They need to get more flavor in this one. The mouthfeel is great but it delivers a disappointing tasting ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2008 18:37:13 | More by ViveLaChouffe

abcsofbeer

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle with a drink by date of 10/28/08. The appearance is a near perfect amber color that is topped by a two finger off-white head. There is pretty decent lacing and excellent retention.

The aroma is very flowery, mixed with honey and buttered bread. The overall smell pulls in a very sweet bouquet. The taste is a good blend of sweet caramel malts and a decent hop flavor. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a good amount of tartness. This is a good ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2008 00:58:11 | More by abcsofbeer

cjgator3

Florida

3.08/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best by date printed on neck of the bottle. 12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours an orangish amber color with an off-white head. The aroma is a little faint for an APA, with some sweet malt and faint citrusy hops. The taste is slightly toasted malt with some citrus hops in the finsh. Overall, this is a decent pale ale, but not something that I would purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2008 01:43:32 | More by cjgator3

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

3/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer poured a nice golden, copper color with a nice 2-inch white head. Descent lacing present. The aroma was a nice balance of hops and malts. The taste was more malty with hint of hops. Not a great balance. Had a descent grapefruit sourness to it which seemes appropriate for the style. The finish was a nice dry finish. The mouthfeel was a medium body with medium carbonation. This beer was ok. Something nice to drink on a hot day or after you mowed the lawn.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2008 02:29:01 | More by Beerbuddha

GRPunk

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a tumbler glass.

A- It poured a golden orange with a good finger tall head. I have a feeling there may have been a bigger head if not for my conservative pour due to the limited size of my glass. The head became a nice lace and left good sticking on the glass. It had medium-heavy carbonation.

S- It was fairly balanced between floral hops and sweet malts.

T- The flavor was bold, yet balanced. There were grapefruit hop flavors (I thought it was appropriate for an FLA beer). It was balanced by bready malts and had a clean/dry finish.

M- The feel was a tad on the thick and oily side.

D- It was an easy drinker. I could have more than 1 in a sitting.

Overall- It was a refreshing beer after sitting on the beach and poolside in the Florida sun with temps topping 80F.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2008 01:55:05 | More by GRPunk

Wasatch

Utah

3.5/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Jredner for this brew.

Pours a dark golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice small creamy tannish head, some sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, hoppy, and some caramel. The taste is more on the malt side, with some hops, sweet, and some caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, nice little Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2007 00:00:23 | More by Wasatch

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear orange body with a small, white head.

Smell: Thin aroma of caramel and traces of citrus fruits.

Taste: Faint caramel flavor with only a hint of sweetness. Mild, citrusy hops. Finishes dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Ah, good times and good friends. It had been far, far too long since the last time we threw our heads back and had a good laugh over something.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2007 01:04:01 | More by ChainGangGuy

GreenWBush

Oregon

2.6/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pale gold. Near-dead carbonation. Oily bubble-skim on-top. Nice wiley lace.

Nose is off-putting; toasty-grain glue, faux-banana.

Taste is not as bad as nose but nothing good to be found here. Toasty grains follow fishiness, plastic/rubber found in many lower brews, molasses. Tastes frighteningly lager-like, even suggested by my compatriots.

MF: About right. Fresh example, even. Stands up to the suggestions that Florida beer isn’t so great.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2007 03:25:24 | More by GreenWBush

roller

Florida

2.93/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy, deep-orange with a very small head that quickly faded. There is not much here in the aroma department, but it's mildly hoppy. There is a slight hop bitterness in the taste with orange rind character. Malt is not strongly represented. This beer (this bottle?) was very lightly carbonated and went flat after a few minutes. Date notches on the label weren't visible (plus the label only went up to 2006). Hopefully it was only my batch that was like this. The beer goes down easy and I could have several in a row if I wanted. But with the general lack of character, I probably won't.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2007 23:14:44 | More by roller

barefootbrewer

Mississippi

3.5/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured a slightly hazy golden color with a ½ inch head – persistent. The aroma is citrus and malty. The taste is bitter from hops with the malt noticeable. There is a slight citrus taste as well. The mouthfeel is medium bodied. Overall, this is an interesting ale that has noticeable flavors that are not overpowering – making it easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2007 17:54:00 | More by barefootbrewer

BeerRun13

California

2.93/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Almost Pale golden amber. Aggressive pour produced the smallest head with no retention. Looks flat... Very clear though.
Slightly toasty malt aroma. Not much hops in the nose.
Malty bread like up front, but it's quickly washed away by a rather one dimmensional citrus grapefruit hop flavor. Bittering finish. A fruity push shows up as she warms.
Medium body. Kinda watery plain with a citrus bite.
I've got a few more from Florida, and am hoping for a little better luck. Thanks to Hunteraw all the same for giving me the opportunity to try these.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2007 00:21:26 | More by BeerRun13

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is tthe last of the Hurricane Reef trio I brought back from my Dad's 60th B-day party in the Fla. keys two weekends ago. The other two were fairly crap so I'm hoping this one can turn the tide.

Pours an attractive deep reddish copper that loses its head all too quickly. Nose has a surprising dominance of malt with heavy fruit flavors, maybe figs or plums, and hops just barely in the backround.

The taste also sees a strange malt predominance, which means for me that this isn't truly a pale ale. The mouthfeel has the proper depth and crispness but the lack of hops is a little unsettling. Still, not a bad beer at all. The fruit is tasty and round enough to avoid the fate of the cruddy raspberry wheat by the same brewery. Slight alcohol tones follow the fig flavors. Some surpising complexity here, and very nice to drink, but I maintain that a pale ale it isn't. It is, however, worth a shot if you see it, I'll look for it again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2007 04:24:55 | More by daliandragon

Drew966

Florida

3.7/5  rDev +16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hurricane Reef Pale Ale pours a copper color with a thin white head from a brown twelve ounce bottle. The aroma is primarily malt, with caramel being noticeable. Tastes better than I expected, nice balance of hops and malt for a pale ale. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2006 00:41:45 | More by Drew966

hunteraw

China

3.48/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Apearance: Orange amber color with a smallish white head that exhibits nice lacing. Carbonation seems to fade quickly.

Smell: Fairly mild aroma, maybe it needs to warm up... Even after warming, there's just not much there.

Taste: Crisp fruit flavors, very clean. Somewhat soapy. Hops are understated for an APA. Finishes dry.

Mouthfeel: Crisp is definitely the word. Body is on the lighter side.

Drinkability: Not great, but at least it's local. Might be a good beer to cook with.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2006 19:27:11 | More by hunteraw

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear amber with an orange hue, it poured with a thin head that quickly settled into a collar. Spotty lacing. Mild malt aroma with earthy and floral hops. Bitterness is restrained, letting mild sweetness and orange hop character come to the foreground. A bit earthy as well. Finishes with a bit of lingering bitterness and hop flavour. Medium/light body and carbonation. A solid pale ale. Thanks Wintermute!

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2006 00:42:29 | More by DrJay