Full Nelson Virginia Pale Ale - Blue Mountain Brewery

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz can poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a reddish copper color with top notch clarity for the style. This features one of the best heads I've ever seen on a pale ale - three fingers high, with an offwhite shade. The retention level and fluffy texture is quite excellent, and so is the lacing left behind on the glass.

S: Tons of bready, caramel malts, grapefruit, and floral notes on the aroma. This one really reeks of Centennial hops, even though this seems to be primarily a Cascade-hopped ale.

T: It's a rather typical pale ale, with citrusy, lemongrass hop flavors backing up a clean malt undercurrent. The malts also seem to develop a nutty, earthy tone after a while, balanced by the hops. No extreme flavors here, just a simple, easy to drink pale ale.

M: Very clean and dry on the finish and aftertaste. Has that crisp, refreshing texture that would make it great on a hot day, only with a body that could stand to be less flabby.

O: It is what it is - a well crafted, basic pale ale in a can. Really, it's just another SNPA clone, but that just means SNPA is such a great beer to ape. Damnit, I need to buy more canned craft beers ASAP!

Serving type: can

12-21-2012 22:41:35 | More by ThisWangsChung

MrBoh

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

06-19-2013 02:29:36 | More by MrBoh

e30todamax

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

06-18-2013 23:51:54 | More by e30todamax

5thOhio

South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a deep brown-amber with a slight head that reduces to a skim of foam. Aroma has a quick rush of fresh hops, and then dissipates like the head.

Mouthfeel is solid & rich with nice crisp carbonation.

This is one of an increasing number of pale ales that comes across as more of an IPA---not that there's anything wrong with that. Taste is strikingly malty for an APA, with a deep musky flavor. Strong hops bite follows, mostly piney and resinous. The heavy malt and hop combination pairs well with the mouthfeel. Hops linger quite a bit after a sip, aided by the malt base for emphasis.

Overall a strong APA whose rich appearance is a pretty good predictor of its taste. Bet this is a treat fresh on tap.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 22:46:33 | More by 5thOhio

CHADMC3

Connecticut

3.74/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a caramel colored body beneath the foamy, off white head which slowly dissolves to leave a scattered lacing around the glass.

Aromas of woody and herbal hops float from the glass. A seemingly fairly generous malt backbone seems to be present as well perhaps a bit toasted or biscuity.

Flavors are similar to the nose with more woody and herbal hops, perhaps a touch spicy, and more toasted malt. Ther is also a very faint malt sweetness, and perhaps a touch f straw or wheat. As it warms ther is a touch of sweet fruit as well.

Medium in body with medium carbonation, and a nice hop biting finish that is still refreshing.

A fairly nice American Pale Ale. A unique hop profile versus some of its counterparts but one can clearly see what the brewer was aiming for.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 00:53:07 | More by CHADMC3

dwoolley1

New York

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

06-15-2013 21:23:36 | More by dwoolley1

PaulsBrew

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

06-13-2013 23:44:55 | More by PaulsBrew

JMUbrewz

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.2%

06-12-2013 16:04:09 | More by JMUbrewz

obywan59

Virginia

3.76/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a golden-orange to red-orange in color. Quite pretty, and almost tropical in appearance. Color is midway between a pale ale and an amber ale. A 3-1/2 finger off-white head tops it off, and leaves plenty of lacing. Carbonation is very apparent.

Fruity on the nose. Mainly over-ripe citrus at the start, but then seems to become more lemony. A touch of roasted grain rounds it out.

Well-matched tart citrus, lightly sweet roast malt, and bitter hops Tartness predominates, but then fades in the end, leaving sweet and bitter mellowing out together.

Peppery carbonation with light syrup, light burn in the throat. Somewhat drying on the tongue.

This beer grew on me. I notched up the taste on the second bottle. Judging from this one offering, I'd say Blue Mountain is, in my experience, one of the top four breweries in Virginia, along with it's sister brewery Blue Mountain Barrel House, Parkway Brewing Co., and Williamsburg Alewerks While it's perhaps slightly heavier than most pale ales, it's still light enough, and has enough character to be a good choice for a late spring or summer sampling.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 02:46:43 | More by obywan59

jpd026

New York

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

06-11-2013 23:30:40 | More by jpd026

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.41/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A: Medium pumpkin orange with a pristine clarity, Dirty white foamy head is about 1.5 inches high and moderately lasting providing minimal window dressing. Light spacious rise of carbonation comes at a fairly quick pace.

S: Small citrusy toasted grain presence on the nose. A hint of dry flowery hops.

T: Dry citrus and dry lemon hops mixes with some sweet toasted grains for flavor upfront. Sweet piney-lemon hops come on strong for the finish.

M: Light bodied, very little carbonation detection with some toasted grain warmth on the inner cheeks. Bite of spicy hops and toasted grain with a dry hop warmth.

O: Overall some strong hop presence for a pale makes up for some other short comings, visually, and depth wise. Sweet, wet, toasty upfront follows through with a dry lingering citrus finish.

Serving type: can

06-11-2013 00:51:34 | More by beerthulhu

Jimbo4430

Virginia

3/5  rDev -21.9%

06-08-2013 23:24:05 | More by Jimbo4430

Claytonbrewsby

Virginia

3/5  rDev -21.9%

06-08-2013 12:56:43 | More by Claytonbrewsby

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

06-07-2013 01:11:08 | More by ygtbsm94

FLBeerGuy

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

06-05-2013 04:27:56 | More by FLBeerGuy

Camjmorton

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I had this beer on tap at Blue Mountain Brewery. It's darker than most pale ales that I have seen. Overall, it's a got a great hop flavor, balanced well with caramel malts. It is very easily drinkable, and one of my favorite beers from Virginia. Plus, a growler fill at the brewery for 7 or 8 dollars is a pretty solid deal.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2013 16:42:12 | More by Camjmorton

Mcooly

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

06-02-2013 14:58:59 | More by Mcooly

trigger467

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

06-01-2013 22:19:29 | More by trigger467

Eriktheipaman

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

05-30-2013 02:40:40 | More by Eriktheipaman

zdeck37

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-29-2013 21:42:55 | More by zdeck37

BertLoveIII

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

05-28-2013 15:14:41 | More by BertLoveIII

GFish

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

05-25-2013 20:18:06 | More by GFish

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

05-23-2013 01:20:59 | More by mikeincharleston

TimHitchings

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-20-2013 02:58:40 | More by TimHitchings

lupercmda

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

05-18-2013 21:57:22 | More by lupercmda