Full Nelson Virginia Pale Ale - Blue Mountain Brewery

VTFriar

2.15/5  rDev -44%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Niceburnt orangewith hint of amber color.
Overwhelming malt aroma - like sticking my noose into a bag of dry malt.
Light hop aroma - faint.
Light/Medium body - finishing rather watery...Not a full mouthfeel
Feel bad, but overly sweet / heavily malty beer that I was going to pour out.

Serving type: can

02-09-2013 03:09:22 | More by VTFriar

stephenjmoore

Maryland

2.81/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

A- Clear pale amber colored body with a bubbly bone white head.

S- I really don't smell much of anything, maybe some sweet malt and a dash of citrus, but not much.

T- A little more hop flavor comes through in the taste. Mostly sweet caramel malt, with a dash of piney hops at the end. Still nothing much going on though.

M- Medium-carbonation and medium bodied. Very drinkable.

O- Really lacking aroma and flavor. Almost tastes like it is an old pale ale, but the freshness sticker on the bottom says otherwise.

Serving type: can

02-06-2013 00:56:42 | More by stephenjmoore

jtierney89

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Crystal clear orange glow with big bright white sticky head. Interesting sweet and fruity nose. Caramel, some pine and tropical fruit. Lots of malty caramel sugar up front followed by bright fruitiness and moderate bitterness to balance. Bitterness is a nice contras to the bright sweetness. Slick mouth feel, hop resin, dull carbonation medium to full bodied. A super complex and pretty good pale ale but at the price of $12.99 a 6? You can find better pales.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 22:38:56 | More by jtierney89

oberon

North Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

After reading a few other reviews of this beer I went with an aggressive pour and it yielded a nice one finger craterous white head that left a full ring of soap scum behind as it settled into a froth mass atop a clear medium golden with a tinge of orange.Where the aromas shit after an aggressive pour and letting it sit you would think something would come out if there but nothing except for a trace of tasted grain,lighter mouthfeel but it went down very easy.Wow really nothing stands out on the palate mild toasty-grainy notes some residual sweetness a bit of leafy hop but pretty bland.Iam hoping this is a off and or old bottle label says best before April of 08 so Iam guessing its off or just not as good as others may think?

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2008 22:29:24 | More by oberon

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

12 oz can. best before 12/12. i appreciate the

A: slightly hazed orange. thick slightly off-white head has good retention and great lacing.

S: a little buttery. toffee. herbal hop aromas interact and overpower the sweet buttery 'flaws', in my opinion.

T: a little bit of toffee flavor backed by some hop bitterness, but not much hop flavor. finish is sweet and buttery, similar to the nose, and lingers pretty long.

M: the bubbles are fine and they actually suite the brew quite well. medium bodied.

D: not sure what to feel about this. not a bad beer, but not an APA. much too much malt here for me to consider this hoppy. still drinkable, but like i said not what i was expecting.

Serving type: can

09-20-2012 03:14:30 | More by Jimmys

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On cask at Rustico - Alexandria. Served in a pint glass.

Pour brings a reddish-hued copper-colored brew with a very slight white head. Given that it's a full glass, I drank it down a bit and swirled. Not much head creation--just a few bubbles that didn't last for all that long. The nose was a bit plain with some moderate floral and herbal hops and a bit of bready malt beneath. The taste was interesting with a rather potent front-end bitterness without any real hop flavor or bitterness in the finish, though it was fairly dry. Feel consisted of a medium body with moderate levels of carbonation. Not a bad beer, but nothing too special about it.

Serving type: cask

01-27-2011 01:21:19 | More by Thorpe429

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.19/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Pours a dark clear amber, head is off white and decent but not huge.

Smells of piney hops, hints of orange and grapefruit citrus, some vanilla/oak maltiness. Also smells a little smoky?

Taste has that same slightly smoky oak character, decent pine-oriented hops, faint hints of citrus. Pretty decent, might be a few weeks/months last freshness.

Mouthfeel is great, lots of carbonation, very refreshing and drinkable.

6.3/10

Serving type: can

03-24-2013 23:11:44 | More by AlexFields

engagechad

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased a growler from the brewery. Served in a stein at home

Pours great with a fat head, smells okay. Citrus is there but there is a little solvent, very faint over all. Taste is just okay, kind of solventy with some bad burn on the back.

Overall this is an okay pale ale - not what I was expecting and a little disappointing.

Serving type: growler

11-07-2011 16:58:25 | More by engagechad

route66pubs

California

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark golden color, with a few tiny little bubbles, and a white, very small head. Head has very little lacing on the glass.

Not much going on in this aroma ... very little discernible scent here.

Much like the aroma, not a whole lot there. A bit of bready maltiness at the front, with a well-balanced bit of hop at back.

Very crisp, rich, extraordinarily even and well-balanced brew.

Could easily keep enjoying this for quite a long time as there's so little to get in the way. Extremely well-balanced and crisp, a great summer pale to be sure.

Serving type: can

08-15-2009 03:28:47 | More by route66pubs

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

koopa

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Received as an extra in a trade with a generous BA thanks!

Appearance: Pours a very transparent toffee to copper with a 1.5 finger white crown that displays moderate retention and lace. I'd give it a 4.25 if I could so I'm rounding down a bit.

Smell: Bread, biscuit, and toffee in the malt profile. Floral, herbal, and citrus (orange and grapefruit) hop notes.

Taste: Same as the nose but a bit disjointed.

Mouthfeel: Thin side of medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Fairly soft mouthfeel that teeters on the edge of crisp.

Overall: This beer looks and feels nice but the smell and flavor profile are lackluster at best.

Serving type: can

11-21-2012 21:21:40 | More by koopa

wedge

North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear gold under a beautifully thick, mousse-like head. The aroma is quite floral and soft...very dry, grassy, and a little toasty. Tasty, balanced flavor. Cascade hops, floral notes, mild pine, apricot, and sweet, biscuity malts. Nothing really special, but perfectly enjoyable overall. Medium bodied and drying. Pretty good.

Serving type: can

11-22-2012 19:23:57 | More by wedge

kylehay2004

Florida

3.48/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed at the brewery. Review is from notes.

A: half finger head with mild lacing on a clean golden body.

S: caramel malts, light candied oranges, simple overall with additional tangerine notes and bitter presence.

T: flavor is basic, standard malt variety and non-descript hop mix. follows the aroma perfectly.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: not very memorable. Hops are limited. One of the less impressive beers from this brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2012 00:48:11 | More by kylehay2004

Durge

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Yet another imported treasure auspices of the Ohoove library of brewskies, this one poured a medium dark iced tea color with a decent off-white head that leaves a nice coating of lace. The aroma brings a pleasant peachy caramel sweet pine, a bit different and pleasing. The flavor brings out a crisp grassy light pine hop with a sort of watermelon overtone. Generally tart with ash tray malt, in a tingly thinnish feeling brew. Drinkable but not highly desirable. An OK pale, that's about it. Too bad it doesn't taste like it smells.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 04:32:50 | More by Durge

myatomicpolygon

New York

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Color- pours a reddish copper with a delicate off white finger of head with bubbles of many different sizes…
Aroma- has a sturdy bready malt character with traces of caramel malts that are well balanced with mild touches of citrus and herb from the cascade hops…inviting yet subdued.
Taste- malty caramel on the front end…with a bitter finish with essence of herbs and citrus…
Mouthfeel- dry crisp refreshing…perfect for the style
Drinkability- very easy to drink…good session beer. 15 plato 60 IBU 5.9%
Overall- B. this is one to throw in the fridge for every day drinking and as an East Coast substitute for Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale. Good for those just starting out with the hops…or for those moments when your craving a solid beer that does not break the bank…and it’s available in cans too.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 21:02:56 | More by myatomicpolygon

Billolick

New York

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce can, with a paper sticker on the bottom, telling me this is best by 4/01/13.

Pours typical amber, dull and murky, lite tan head, goes rapidly to a medium buble film, collar and thicker bands of lace.

Dull bready nose, with just a hint of hops.

Middle of the road APA. Hops muted, malts in control. Notes of caramel, honey, and then just some dusty hops in the finish. More of an English pale in style and attitude.

Nothing special going on here. Glad to give it a try, but I'm happy to have purchased just a single can.

Serving type: can

11-27-2012 02:08:22 | More by Billolick

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to my friend Christian for bringing this and a few other Blue Mountain brews up my way.

A pretty standard pale ale here, not bad overall. Clear amber pour with a half-finger of fizzy white head that sank to a ringlet; minimal lacing. Aroma of toasted grains, caramel malts, grassy hops. No surprises. Basically the same on the palate, caramel malts, toasted grains, earthy and grassy hops, with a subtle touch of stone fruit. Light-medium body. Not the best of its class, but a pretty easy drinker overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 10:28:46 | More by Rifugium

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Blue Mountaiin- Full Nelson

A- Clear golde copper with a big frothy head. Solid lacing down my tumbler glass.
S- A light touch of sweet caramel malt dominated by burning bitter hops.
T- Slight caramel malt is quickly overpowered by strong vanish like pine hops.
M- Bitter and oily. Strong tangy hops just dominate with a touch of sweet malt in the end.

Overall- A good mini hop bomb. Although mild and easily sessionable. I liked this 1.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2008 14:01:51 | More by NJpadreFan

AgentMunky

California

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pilsner glass.

A: Pours a medium woody colour, high clarity, little head, nice lacing.

S: Wonderful! Heavy hops laced with citrus are complemented by sweet, almost fruity, malts.

T: Hm, not much going on here. A piney (piny?) flavour joins the maltiness. Interestingly, the hops are not nearly as prevalent as in the smell. The aftertaste is bitter and only mildly pleasant.

M: Pleasant, slightly dry and biscuity.

D: It's good, but not something I'd drink on a daily basis.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2010 01:13:45 | More by AgentMunky

Wasatch

Utah

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes out to cyrusthepup for this brew.

Pours a nice cloudy copper color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with some nice small islands and sticky lacing left behind. The nose is mostly malty, with some hop notes, and some citrus. The taste is sweet, malty, slightly hoppy, and a nice touch of citrus. Medium body. Drinkable, this is my first brew from Blue Mountain, tasty.

Serving type: can

05-25-2010 00:29:29 | More by Wasatch

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sample at Alan's HSC initation. This beer is a clear orange color with a compact off-white head that burns away slowly. Stringy lacing on the glass. The aroma is moderately bitter with hops backed up by caramel and earthy malt. Medium-bodied with a hoppy character. Notes of caramel and malt along with a bit of citrus too. The finish is hoppy and lingering. Decent all around.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 01:43:32 | More by Dogbrick

brentk56

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a nice head that drops a fair amount of lacing around the glass

Smell: Grainy and grassy, with a hint of citrus

Taste: Starts out with a caramel base that has some developing fruit flavor as well as some earthy hop elements; after the swallow, the grainy flavors explode on the tongue and overwhelm the fruit

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A bit unbalanced to my palate, with a grainy flavor that lingers on the palate well after it has worn out its welcome

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2008 02:12:10 | More by brentk56

oregonskibum

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz can into a tulip glass.

A: Color is an orange-amber. Pours with a 1 1/2 inch slighly off-white head. Fades slowly, leaving some splotchy lacing and heavy ring around the edge of the glass.

S: Leads off with a strong pale malt aroma that is on the bready side. Hops take a backseat, but there are some citrus and floral hops there.

T: Taste is similar to smell. Bready with some caramel sweetness. Some hop bitterness towards the end of the taste. Finishes quick with some faint bitter notes.

M: Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. In style.

D: This beer isn't bad, but nothing that great either. It would make a good camping beer, but if given the choice, would still grab a Caldera Pale in can over this.

Serving type: can

06-19-2010 19:57:14 | More by oregonskibum

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Blue Mountain shaker pint glass.

I hope a Half Nelson is in the offing... This one pours a clear golden straw topped by over a finger of white foam. The nose comprises sweet toffee, hot buttery biscuits, and some nice florals. The taste holds notes of light caramel, greens, a fairly strong floral bitterness, and some pine needles. The body is on the border between heavy light and light medium, with a lightish-moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a solidly decent brew, but not entirely impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2010 04:09:18 | More by TMoney2591

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A golden/orange beer with excellent clarity and a finger of white head. Good retention and lacing, nice overall appearance. Aroma of citrusy, floral, and earthy hops and crackery malt.

Nicely balanced flavor; again with citrus, grassy, and earthy hop notes and crackery, slightly bready malt. Modest sweetness with emerging bitterness that lingers nicely in the aftertaste. Dries up pretty well in the finish.

Medium body, moderate carbonation, a bit smooth and creamy. A nicely made contemporary pale ale; good but not exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 14:27:05 | More by tobelerone