Shift Pale Lager - New Belgium Brewing

Phocion

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz. can poured into 16 oz. shaker pint. Well, most of it. Pale, translucent, golden/dark straw colored body with a thick bubbly off-white head that doesn't want to break. Big, intermittent chunks of lacing around the edge of my glass.

Whoa. Okay, when I read "pale lager" I'm not expecting to smell this big of dose of Northwest hops. Floral, citrus, and resiny aromas dominate and mix well with the big, bready malt backbone of this beer. Quite a bit of earthy aromas as well.

The flavor doesn't quite hold up to the nose. The hops are a bit more subtle, with big bread dough flavors coming out. Just a touch of sweetness. Overall, pretty well-balanced.

Clean, crisp mouthfeel. Light-medium body and medium carbonation.

Okay, I'm normally rather unimpressed with New Belgium's standard offerings, but this is pretty good. This is what a "pale lager" should be.

Serving type: can

10-31-2012 21:31:34 | More by Phocion

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Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +3%

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Ohio

3/5  rDev -17.6%

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Indiana

2/5  rDev -45.1%

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Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.9%

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Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev +3%

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North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +3%

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JMUbrewz

Virginia

4/5  rDev +9.9%

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Brew33

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%

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savagepm

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

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neckbeered

Montana

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

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Gerred

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +3%

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DeutschesBier

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +3%

06-07-2013 15:22:44 | More by DeutschesBier

gritz147

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

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baklo

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -17.6%

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Panama

3.75/5  rDev +3%

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randymanar

Arkansas

3/5  rDev -17.6%

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ajzy

Wisconsin

1/5  rDev -72.5%

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Jas45678

Michigan

4/5  rDev +9.9%

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Luiz0930

California

3/5  rDev -17.6%

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AR_Rios

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

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ChrisKayler

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -10.7%

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metter98

New York

3.74/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On-tap at 12 Bones Smokehouse, Asheville, NC

A: The beer is clear yellowish amber in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high creamy white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light aromas of toasted malts and citrus hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, except that the flavors of hops seem to be stronger; these also contribute a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very flavorful for the style and also easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2013 11:51:15 | More by metter98

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New York

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

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New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +3%

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