Hook & Ladder Golden Ale - Hook & Ladder Brewing Company (No. 2)

cdizinno

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Poured into a tulip glass from a 12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

A: Medium golden color with nice white head and heavy lacing.

S: Mostly a mild malt sweetness with a faint citrus hop scent.

T&M: Medium bodied with nice medium carbonation. Like its smell the ale is mostly malty with very mild hop bitterness. Nice flavor, nothing extra special but very good for a golden ale. Finishes with a more sweet malty note, almost fruity in character.

I am not a fan of golden ales, but this is one of the best I've ever had from an American brewer. Not sure if there is inconsistency in brew batches from looking at other reviews, but it is definitely worth a try AND the proceeds go to a good cause.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2009 00:00:34 | More by cdizinno

bigbeers84

Minnesota

2.75/5  rDev -12.4%

03-30-2013 08:20:59 | More by bigbeers84

brheuer

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -20.4%

03-24-2013 15:57:00 | More by brheuer

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

2.75/5  rDev -12.4%

03-17-2013 14:17:13 | More by grahamboudreaux

dertyd

California

3.75/5  rDev +19.4%

01-22-2013 18:19:42 | More by dertyd

iemailjack

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -20.4%

01-08-2013 03:40:18 | More by iemailjack

cliff1066

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%

12-27-2012 03:19:44 | More by cliff1066

GinDC

Virginia

4/5  rDev +27.4%

08-11-2012 22:10:52 | More by GinDC

MarshMan71

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%

08-08-2012 00:24:10 | More by MarshMan71

Dapperticus

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +19.4%

07-04-2012 03:54:30 | More by Dapperticus

TheSixthRing

California

3.18/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a semi-hazy golden yellow. White, 2 finger head. Average retention. The resulting lace hangs well and is somewhat clingy.

Smell - Grainy notes. Somewhat grassy.

Taste - Grainy malts and grassy hops. That's it, from start to finish. Fairly boring.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body. Carbonation is on par for the style.

Overall - There's nothing bad about this beer, but there's nothing great, either. Simple and straight forward. Drinks like a German pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 03:19:12 | More by TheSixthRing

amstokesdb9

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%

06-11-2012 01:09:43 | More by amstokesdb9

OriolesFan1008

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev +11.5%

06-05-2012 19:39:01 | More by OriolesFan1008

bconsidine

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%

05-31-2012 16:42:30 | More by bconsidine

budgood1

Minnesota

2.85/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

pours out a slightly hazed golden colour with a minimal mead and subsequent minimal lace. sweet toffeeish aroma...a bit buttery showing off some grainy and sugary notes. upon tasting...more characteristics of the golden ale style present themselves...sweet maltiness, cloying at times; a strange spicy boozy note i wasn't expecting...and more buttery diacetyl that really isn't all that welcome. minimal hopping...just enough to notice...and no real bitterness. bigger body than most other golden ales with a slick and sugary mouthfeel. drinkability is ok...i'm drinking on a very warm day in spring after work and it's having a hard time hitting the spot.

overall i would say that since this is a delicate style, with subtle nuances being most important...this is a heavy handed stab at the style and misses the point. oh well...i didn't have to pay for this.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 23:25:02 | More by budgood1

HarmonMW

Michigan

2.5/5  rDev -20.4%

05-11-2012 01:48:51 | More by HarmonMW

Cavanaghty

Maine

3.75/5  rDev +19.4%

04-29-2012 19:18:43 | More by Cavanaghty

rah1734bones

2/5  rDev -36.3%

03-25-2012 04:42:28 | More by rah1734bones

smakawhat

Maryland

2.28/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Are you drinking a Blonde Ale? Yeah you are.. at least you didn't buy it, ok what's this all about, into a nonic pint glass to go.

A slightly hazy pale amber yellow, lots of carbonation. Head is shocking white, foamy, seems to fall slowly. Pour makes a lot of noise and snapping. Cap manages to keep for a short while.

Bouquet is rank. Smells like bile and vomit, not pleasant at all. Gross. I am trying to find something at least worthy, and I get nearly nothing.

Taste is very lacking. No malt presence, hop, chewiness, density, horrific aftertaste highlighting the nose nicely. Slightly numbing in the aftertaste and even grainy sour. Borderline wet, but with a little bit of seltzery feel.

There is nothing to enjoy here for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 02:57:00 | More by smakawhat

AndrewMichael

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +11.5%

02-01-2012 01:57:55 | More by AndrewMichael

khargro2

Georgia

4/5  rDev +27.4%

01-11-2012 19:15:59 | More by khargro2

LDemarais

North Dakota

2/5  rDev -36.3%

12-30-2011 06:47:36 | More by LDemarais

ROGUE16

Delaware

3/5  rDev -4.5%

12-07-2011 01:51:19 | More by ROGUE16

nmann08

Maryland

3/5  rDev -4.5%

12-04-2011 22:30:23 | More by nmann08

leinie13

Ohio

4/5  rDev +27.4%

12-04-2011 14:53:27 | More by leinie13