Golden State Ale - Uncommon Brewers

emsroth

New York

4.33/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16 oz can. I love these cans.

App: Hazy golden with a light, frothy head. A touch of lace.

Smell: The wonderful smells of a belgian ale: white grape skin, apple, and pear. The hops are fruity and resinous with a touch of woodland forest in both taste and aroma.

Taste: Light pilsener malt with a honey sweetness. Woodland, herbal, floral, fruity, resinous hops in the middle. I am very impressed with the hop flavors in this beer. They are a blend of all the hop flavors (minus citrus) combined. Ends dry and sweet with some husk, chalky yeast, and higher alcohols. No notice of the poppy, but still delicious.

A medium-high level of tight, spritzy belgian-style carbonation. The can really holds it in. Medium body. Ends rather dry asking for more.

Serving type: can

05-22-2011 20:13:31 | More by emsroth

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a hazy caramel amber with a one finger white head that dissipates to a film and thick ring around the glass. Aroma of caramel malt, Belgian yeast that is reminiscent of saison yeast, light fruit. Flavor follows with sweet caramel malt, light apple and stone fruit, nice Belgian yeast, a hint of Belgian spicing, slightly vinous. Light bodied, but pleasant mouth feel from active carbonation. A pleasant, somewhat sweet take on a Belgian pale. The poppy seed component is not obvious, but may add to the slightly floral fruit flavors. I enjoyed this as interesting change of pace.

Serving type: can

04-16-2013 02:33:06 | More by LiquidAmber

blackie

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

single from WF Fairfax

a: served in a wide piraat chalice, golden state is a perfectly clear golden hay in color, topped with a thin white head and low retention

s: surprisingly nice nose - a full serving of pale malts brings a moderate sweetness level, mild banana esters and hints of clove, bubblegum, poppy seeds not really distinguishable, a pleasant mixing of clean malt character and Belgian yeast aromatics, grassy hops with touches of citrus

m: carbonation just over moderate, somewhat lively, with a body raging light but not thin

t: slightly sweet pale malts on the palate, estery banana and delicate yeast spice, some earthy notes suggest the toasted poppy seed - but again it's not really something I can pick out, starts to dry out about halfway through, towards mild grassy hop flavors with some lemon pith, lightly bitter with a clean finish and lingering notes of pale grain, I like the transition from start to finish but it seems to happen rather abruptly - not really a balance thing, hard to explain

o: for some reason had a little prejudice going in to this one, but it was surprisingly good, not gonna judge it by strict belgian golden standards as I don't think it was intended to be - a tasty, drinkable beer with some interesting things going on

Serving type: can

04-08-2013 04:15:14 | More by blackie

ambruns1979

California

4/5  rDev +9.9%

04-07-2013 21:53:02 | More by ambruns1979

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

04-06-2013 05:56:56 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

brandoman63

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

03-14-2013 20:37:46 | More by brandoman63

WDJersey

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -10.7%

02-09-2013 06:38:53 | More by WDJersey

litheum94

California

3.75/5  rDev +3%

02-05-2013 04:50:24 | More by litheum94

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another beer from Uncommon that I picked up at the Buy Rite in Jersey City recently. I never had any with poppy seeds in it before and even though I couldn't taste them in here, I enjoyed this take on a Belgian Pale Ale that was less strong and funky than others examples of this style that I've had before, while still having that funky yeast taste and just enough alcohol in here to remind me of what kind of beer this was.

The pour to this was cloudy, golden, and with a nice head that stuck around for a bit. Lots of honey and yeast in the nose, which were repeated in the taste and mouthfeel. The carbonation was a bit too intense, which distracted me from the poppy that I was trying to pick out of this. A bit of Belgian yeast sweetness could also be found here, with the lighter flavors of apple and white grape. There was just a bit too much alcohol in the back, which further separated this from other Belgian Pale Ales that I've had in the past.

Sure, this was stronger, "wetter", and funkier than what I expected but it was good to find a beer that crossed the line and dared to be different. While not a session beer, I would give this a go again and see what I could pick out. The complexity was there but it just took a bit of adjustment to get used to it and there's no doubt that there's nothing on the shelf quite like the offerings that Uncommon has out there now.

Serving type: can

01-17-2013 10:00:07 | More by JerzDevl2000

barnzy78

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz can, pours a hazy golden-bronze color topped with a frothy, white head that fades pretty quickly into a foam atop the ale leaving some lacing on it's way down, but not much. Aromas are fruity, floral, mandarin, yeast, I want to say toasted poppy but it's just that I know it's in there. Tastes are decent and very fruity with Belgian yeast, Juicy Fruit gum, white grape, biscuity grain, floral, mildly spicy; overly sweet in the long run. Thin-to-medium mouth-feel with ample carbonation. Overall, no wow factor here; pretty good BPA though. Yes, it's uncommon with the poppy, but that doesn't make it that special.

Serving type: can

12-17-2012 23:06:12 | More by barnzy78

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.7/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

US pint can purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne. It felt like a good beer for the first day of summer.

Pours a clear golden hue, with a middling head of fine white fuzz, that sits filmily on the top of the glass and stacking up against the edges. Minimal lacing, if any: just some spots here and there. Carbonation is quite fine, and the body looks hefty. Overall, not a bad look, but not exceptional either.

Nose is a little flat and bland, but it has some good aspects. Some rounded Belgian notes come through, along with a slight earthy or perhaps peppery tone that I can't place, and hence attribute to the poppy seeds. Sweeter than it needs to be, at least on the nose, with a toffee or corn sugar slickness that feels a bit too much. Eh.

Taste is similar. Big sweetness in particular, with a sluice of chewy, almost underfermented malt characters giving a grainy, thick and heavy flavour to whatever follows. Some spiciness comes through, but not nearly enough, and by the time it's spent itself, the sweetness roars back on the finish, leaving a sticky sickly back palate. It needs something—some crispness, a bit of bitterness, more of that spice—anything to cut back on that sweetness. I'm afraid I was unimpressed.

Overall, I'm really quite disappointed in this beer. It feels like a bit of a mess. Something needs to give: the sweetness is excessive, and the spice that comes through is not enough, or doesn't fulfill the role it needs to play. It ends up sickly, chewy and a little unpalatable.

Serving type: can

12-01-2012 03:29:12 | More by lacqueredmouse

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is relatively clear yellow in color and has a very high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger and a half white head that took a long time to start dying down and left lots of bubbles on the sides of the glass.
S: It smells a little like a Riesling wine and has aromas of white grapes as well as hints of yeast. Hints of the poppy seeds become noticeable as the beer warms up.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and also has a light amount of sweetness, although this isn't cloying due to its bubbly nature. No flavors of spices are apparent. Flavors of green apples begin appearing after the beer warms up.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and has an extremely high amount of carbonation.
O: Like its name, this beer is uncommon but I found its uniqueness to be in its simarities to a Riesling wine in the smell and taste and a champagne from its highly carbonated nature.

Serving type: can

11-30-2012 03:29:01 | More by metter98

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%

11-16-2012 00:46:13 | More by Molson2000

rm9679

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +3%

11-04-2012 16:14:30 | More by rm9679

Imrite

2.75/5  rDev -24.5%

10-19-2012 00:27:14 | More by Imrite

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice in the fact that they use a Belgian yeast which really changes the game for this beer. The poppy seeds are a non issue as I could not really taste them. The beer is nuanced and quite drinkable . The belgian yeasts are sweet on the front but the beer finishes quite dry. Different beer for an American ale.

Serving type: can

09-14-2012 02:54:55 | More by canucklehead

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An ale that's brewed with poppy seeds, eh? Sure, why not. This seems a very timid apa to me. Quite fruity and somewhat sweet as well. I mean, it's a nice beer, but doesn't really strike me as a pale ale. This would be better classified as a blonde, imo.

Serving type: can

08-27-2012 02:11:23 | More by RblWthACoz

aanth

California

3/5  rDev -17.6%

08-14-2012 06:11:37 | More by aanth

hilgart1

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

08-01-2012 02:09:57 | More by hilgart1

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a hazy medium golden yellow in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation near the surface of the beer. The beer has a half finger tall light beige head that quickly reduces to a medium sized patch of extremely thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light aromas of pale malts, honey, Belgian yeast, and just a little hint of light fruits.

T: The flavor starts out with a pale malt body that includes some light honey sweetness. Additionally there are notes of light fruits, spices, pepper, and Belgian yeast.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and kind of leaves a coating in your mouth.

O: This beer is pretty easy to drink though is a little too strong to be sessionable. An enjoyable beer and I love the fact that it comes in a can.

Serving type: can

07-31-2012 01:20:15 | More by dbrauneis

ADZA

Australia

3.03/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a slight hazy golden hue which leaves a creamy two finger head and some clingy lacing,the smell is poppies,golden pale malts and herbal hops,the mouthfeel is just over lightbodied and a touch macro with tastes of floral herbal hops,golden pale malts,candi sugar,lemongrass and finished with a floral hop honey bittersweetness and overall this is average and bordering on a good Macro which i would not buy again anytime soon cheers.

Serving type: can

07-30-2012 12:27:55 | More by ADZA

mbs11

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%

07-18-2012 17:24:35 | More by mbs11

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

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

A - Man do I hate the carbonation on this I get over two inches of rocky head that overflows the glass. Color is a bright yellow with a touch of orange.

S - Smells of a nice Belgium golden ale. Fruity yeasts, mild hops, and a touch of lemon. Not getting much poppy seed but it must be in there.

T - At first I really didn't like this. Cold the Poppy seeds gave it a bitter abrasive kind of medicinal taste but as it warmed it became a great beer with fruity yeasts, mild lemon and a good hoppy finish. Not bad.

M - Medium bodied yet the ABV is well concealed.

Overall I picked this one up at the House of 1,000 beers for a dollar and got well over the value of the beer. Not something I would pick up again but worth a try.

Serving type: can

07-01-2012 04:35:15 | More by DrDemento456

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a cloudy golden-yellow with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down very slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet malts, lemon and other citrus smells, poppy, honey, coriander, and some Belgian yeast.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet and lightly grainy malts with some lemon zest and other citrus flavor with a bit of coriander. Through the middle, some poppy comes through with some honey and Belgian yeast flavor. The finish is a mix of sweet malts, Belgian yeast, spice, and a bit of lemon peel with a hint of tartness.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet, and lightly dry and tart finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice BPA. Good overall balance with the poppy adding some nice flavor.

Serving type: can

06-14-2012 05:39:55 | More by ngeunit1

alexgash

Connecticut

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16 oz. can. Bottled on 11/08/2011.

Partly cloudy golden orange body. Small, gauzy, off-white head. Some lacing. Fruity, yeasty malts on the nose. A little bubblegum and wheaty clove. A hint of pepper and an overall botanical edge. Interesting.

Soft wheat malt up front. Slightly sweet and fruity, with some banana. A little bit of honey joins in mid-palate, as the wheaty malt swells. Peppery, slightly spicy hop bitterness around the edges. Still, they mostly bow down to the fruity wheat malt. Yeasty throughout. Plenty of banana in the finish. Medium-bodied with a soft, mildly carbonated feel (almost cask-like). Not bad.

Serving type: can

06-14-2012 01:13:22 | More by alexgash