Kirkland Signature Pale Ale - Kirkland Signature / Costco Wholesale Corporation

harrymel

Washington

2.17/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Best by: Oct 22, 2011

A: pours an amber ale with two fingers of peanut head which falls quickly to a sheet of the same. No lacing. Excellent clarity.

S: Sweet malts, herbal hops. More sweet malts. Some chemical smells here. Some butter, some corn.

T: Tastes like cheap, oxidized malts, tea, herbal hops and sugar.

M: Medium body with hi carb. Dry finish

O: Not a good beer, and not much different than the IPA IMO.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 06:46:21 | More by harrymel

BeerBelcher

Ohio

2.25/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I love all things Kirkland and am also a big fan of Costco, but this beer was a genuine let-down. As a craft beer fan, I love hops that really punch you in the face, but as a realistic beer consumer, I also know that a lot of people who drink beer DON'T like this, and as a result there are quite a few more mild mannered beers out there, which is fine. I guess what is disappointing to me about this beer is that the name "pale ale" sort of implies to me that at least some discernible hop presence is contained within the bottle, and I did not find that to be the case here. Much like Bud American Ale, which promised hops and taste and delivered a disappointing blandness, I feel as though this beer is not what it implies.

It pours an attractive brassy color, with a pretty nice amount of head. Aroma is biscuity and malty, and not really at all hoppy. Flavor is very mildly hoppy - these beers are relatively new and the one I tried I thought was fresh, but the flavor within reminded me of hops gone bad - like when a super hoppy beer gets old and loses both its hop punch and its balance, becoming a big malt-ball. Mouthfeel was unremarkable.

I love Costco, and I am a big fan of their store brand (Kirkland), but that respect does not extend to their beer. I cannot in good faith recommend this to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2009 16:41:03 | More by BeerBelcher

notsoprobeer

Oregon

2.25/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Color is golden orange. It has a white head that dissipates very quickly. It appears to be very carbonated as I see lots of effervescence. I can smell some malts and it has an aroma similar to a pilsner lager. Bitterness is the first thing I noticed after tasting--and it totally overpowers the malts. The bitterness isn't pleasant and leaves a lingering aftertaste. I'm really curious about what variety of hops were used, as the IBU rating of 35 is relatively low. After it warmed up, the bitterness was even more pronounced. Body is very light and when combined with the carbonation, it reminds me very much of a pilsner lager.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 07:40:02 | More by notsoprobeer

kojevergas

California

2.3/5  rDev -26%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This was one bottle of 24 in a pack acquired at Costco today for $19.00. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Oskar Blues pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average; this is my second Kirkland Signature beer and the IPA I had before this was average. I certainly like the price. 5.4% ABV confirmed.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a two finger thin white head of no real cream. Retention is above average, though the ABV is merely 5.4%. Body colour is a clear pale copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Looks like a typical pale ale; standard fare.

Sm: Buttery. Pale malts, biscuit malt. Generic floral hops. Very little character. Bland and boring. An average strength aroma.

T: Pale malts, floral hops, straw, barley, light nectary hops. Very grainy foundation mixed with an artificial sweetness. Bland, boring, and uninspired. Strangely sweet, to its detriment. A pretty mundane pale ale. Not real well balanced either. This is about as dull as a pale ale gets. Why brew this? Tastes like an extract homebrew.

Mf: Smooth and wet, and also unnaturally thin. Carbonation is overdone. Meh. Doesn't really suit the flavour profile.

Dr: Drinkable but beyond mediocre. If you like a novice homebrewer's extract concoction, this may be for you. If you like a tasty refreshing pale ale, I'd steer clear of this one. Hides its ABV well. I'd even sooner take Simpler Times from Trader Joe's over this at this price point. In fact, I'm pretty sure Simpler Times is half the price of this.

Low D+

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 05:10:44 | More by kojevergas

hackmann

Michigan

2.35/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Another review of flavored water.
Why did I buy this case.

Appearance: A good looking clear pale amber color with a nice looking white head. Leaves nice lacing on the glass. Forget it after this.

Smell: uneventful. Little hop citrus and slight malty nose.

Taste: Wow, is that water! The Kirkland line of beers have a big watery style. Then, they add a little flavoring. A little dry citrus taste and a little sweet malt. Nothing that stands out but, that water is fresh!

Mouthfeel: The watery style cleans the palate fairly well from overpowering flavor of ... water. Ok, it has a little dry citrusy bit and a strange taste of sugar. I swear once in a while on the aftertaste I get a table sugar taste.

Drinkable: For me I'll pass. The german and hefe were a little more drinkable.

Save your money and go buy, at least, good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2010 01:38:46 | More by hackmann

BEERME528

Missouri

2.35/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

After seeing the label, I was expecting the worst of the worst. However what I experienced was not extremely terrible. The head disappered quite quickly and the smell was not very noticeable. The taste was pretty generic/bland and not very good. But for the price, this is not a value brand to pass up.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 15:34:13 | More by BEERME528

engagechad

Virginia

2.38/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bought in a 24 pack with other Kirkland beers - poured into a pint glass.

This beer pours a pretty Amber color with great clarity but absolutely no head and no lacing whatsover.
Smells like corn and soap, no hops in the nose.
Tastes like an adjuncty lager but with decent hop balance

Over all this beer is just not that great. I wouldn't seek it out by any means.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 00:56:25 | More by engagechad

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

2.45/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint. 5.4% ABV, 35 IBUs, Best before Jun 21, 2010 printed on the neck.

A - Completely clear golden amber with moderate carbonation going up to a off-white head. Three-fingers tall with solid retention and patchy lace coating most of the glass.

S - Faint aroma in general that has the majority of the nose coming from lightly citrusy and floral hops. A drop of lemon livens what's there up. A background of pale malts isn't all too supportive.

T - A protein-tannin thing seems to overshadow what little flavor is there. Lemony citrus hop and an herbal touch. Low malt presence. It gets really metallic on the finish.

M - Medium-light bodied with a really dry metallic finish that kills the good hop bitterness at the start.

D - Blah. I can finish it but the metallic flavor and feel gets worse sip by sip. Not something I'd like to have again. Giving the last half to my brother.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2010 03:05:39 | More by BeerFMAndy

HalfFull

California

2.5/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

An interesting pour from my brown bottle. This beer has historically, from notes that is, poured an orange amber in color. Now, from this new mixed case which includes a Wit and an IPA, the Pale Ale pours quite pale. Downright golden in color, perhaps a deep straw, and quite clear. A different beer indeed which lacks any true carbonation and offers only a fleeting cap of foam before surrendering to a thin ring.

Nose is ultra pale in nature. Bit of malt in the background and with a very light hint of citric hops. Quite 'Blonde Ale' in nature at best, and thin at that.

Flavor follows suit. All malt perhaps and slightly bready with a minimal hop profile. Offers a moderate amount of coarse spice on the feel. A decent Blonde Ale to a point but somewhat of a fail for a Pale Ale.

Offers a hollow and over filtered yeast lameness which is somewhat reminiscent of a Sam Adams beer. In fact, I think that's what it is...Oops, I'm sorry, did I say that out loud?

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 02:39:10 | More by HalfFull

sweemzander

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -17%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz. bottle poured into an imperial pint. Best before June 21, 2010.

(A)- Pours a clear amber color. Produced a good white head that left tons of web-like lacing behind.

(S)- Lots of corn husk & lemon wheat.

(T)- Very bitter pine with lemon. A grassy, almost metallic finish. More corn husk.

(M)- A good carbonation level. The hops are rather bitter; almost a peppery or burnt character.

(D)- Not a bad pale ale, but rather just off balanced with some harsh hops that could be fruitier & creamier. Not liking the metallic thing either.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 00:22:26 | More by sweemzander

Khazadum

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Visiting family this weekend netted me an unusual four pack. I was chatting up the beer part of my family when my Aunt comes walking over telling me I MUST review this collection of beer. Bunch of kirklands... well, here goes Auntie!

Vision
Pretty interesting finger of egg shell head rests above a honey colored body. Little bit of carbonation seen in the midst of the liquid. I was a little thrown back by how dark a body this pale ale possessed.

Bouquet
Little bit of fruit noted, mostly citrus in nature. Minor hops and partial malt character. Not much to note here. It seems interesting, but faint throughout.

Flavor Profile
Unfortunate notes to make here. Very strong hop body that is overwhelming. Bitter enough that I could swear they got the style wrong. Faint sweetness from the malts but overwhelmingly hoppy. Confusingly so.

The finish is moderately clean with the hops fading away almost as quickly as the drink goes down. This saves the flavors from being noted as anything worse than what it is rated.

Oral Sensations
Decent body for this. Not overly watery to note. Extremely carbonated however. Very distracting when I feel the pinch all over my tongue,.

Conclusions
I'd drink it again if it was given to me free. I'm not sure if I would choose this over something less oppressive... May even take an American Adjunct Lager over this.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 01:27:43 | More by Khazadum

JackieTH

Minnesota

2.7/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured caramel-gold, a half finger of foam that disappeared quickly, leaving a thin skein. Some lacing was noticeable.

The smell was almost completely absent. This is becoming a theme with these Kirkland beers.

Taste was crisp from the carbonation, some grain and malt was apparent. Bitterness came in about midway through, hops, grassy and floral at the edges of the palate. Bitterness lingers modestly into the finish in the light to medium bodied beer.

Overall, non-descript. Perhaps it's worth drinking st it's price point, or not. There are way too many beers and not enough time..but now I'm rambling on...

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 04:05:19 | More by JackieTH

RJLarse

Washington

2.75/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I bought a sampler of Kirkland Signature Beers at Costco, 4 beers 6 bottles of each. Poured in to a pint glass.

Pours a pale gold color and is clear. A small creamy head caps the beer, and hangs around for quite a while, leaving nkice little lace rings on the glass.

Smell is a faint fruity aroma, lemon and grape fruit, perhaps with a hint of pine or juniper.

Taste is dominated by fruit flavors, with very little malt presence. There a lemon and grapefruit flavor, with an aserbic vinegar-like taste.

Mouthfeel is light, perhaps a bit watery, with a dry bitter aftertaste.

Drinkable but unremarkable. I wish it wasn't quite so dry. Still at this price point it is a decent choice for a run of the mill beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2010 23:24:32 | More by RJLarse

Darkmagus82

Montana

2.78/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance- The beer pours a clear light amber color with a one finger white head. The head fades relatively quickly to leave a tiny level of lacing on the sides of the glass

Smell – The aroma is malty with lighter hop notes of a citrus and grassy. Mixed with these aromas is a light caramel sweetness as well as a small amount of a musty grain smell.

Taste – The taste begins with flavors of a lighter caramel sweetness and a bready and slightly grassy hop flavor. As the flavors advance from the initial tastes the sweetness gets a bit stronger with a light citrus hop flavor entering the taste as well. These flavors largely take the taste to its end where there is a bit of an increase h the grassy hop flavors as well as a metallic flavor to leave a moderate hop bite on a brew with a bready and lightly sweetened flavor.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the slightly medium side in terms of its thickness and creaminess with a carbonation level that is on the slightly higher side. Both the carbonation and medium body are quite appropriate for the more subdued and mix flavors of the brew as well as provide for a higher drinkability of the brew.

Overall – Well not really the best out there. The odd grassy and metallic flavor at the end of the tongue are rather off putting, even while most of the other flavors and attributes of the beer are not.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 03:18:02 | More by Darkmagus82

gkunkle

Oregon

2.9/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a transparent golden color with a 1/2" white head that quickly dissipates. Smell is not terribly potent, but you can smell American hops and a little bit of citrus. Taste is hoppy with a little bit of citrus again, a little bit of a soapy finish, but not as bad as the Kirkland Hefe. Mouthfeel is average, a little thin, carbonation is okay. Overall, I am glad I tried it, I would have another if it was offered to me, but I wouldn't go buy it.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 18:15:41 | More by gkunkle

mountsnow1010

Vermont

2.93/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - pours amber with a white fluffy head that leaves nice lacing
S - smells lemony, metallic and that's about it. weak smelling
T - Malt emphasis with stale hop flavors, almost a fake lemon taste. slight hints of sawdust/cardboard. not horrible but definitely not what I consider good
MF - High carb, overwhelming. Almost like a soda. Not much body.
DB - Easy to have several but would go out to the liquor store and buy a six pack of something better instead.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 02:53:26 | More by mountsnow1010

Poppleton

Virginia

2.95/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A- Golden, clean appearance with reasonably full white head and carbonation.

S- Faint flowery tones with hints of citrus. Kind of standard.

T- Hop bitterness predominates though the hoppy taste seems to fade into just bitterness fairly quickly. Nothing unexpected.

M- Thinnish.

D- I was surprised to see these Kirkland beers at Costco and thought they were worth a try given their inexpensive price. Overall this is not a beer I'm going to go out of my way to purchase but better than expected given its warehouse company origins. You could do worse making this your cheap everyday beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 22:19:20 | More by Poppleton

dgilks

Australia

2.98/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Brilliantly clear, amber colour with a foamy, small, light tan head. Some head retention but it's not great.

Lightly citrussy aroma with some metallic malt notes. A touch grassy but overall it just falls a bit flat.

Nutty, metallic, caramelised malt with some earthy, mildly citrussy American hops. Dull.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Okay.

It's a cheap beer. Certainly nothing special but if you've already had a few it probably isn't a bad option.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 06:34:00 | More by dgilks

jeffjeff1

California

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

This was average for a pale ale.

Appearance- gold color, transparent

Smell- malty aroma

Taste- grainy malt

Mouthfeel- light bodied

Drinkability- pretty drinkable, ok, great for the price, great deal on these at Costco, got a case of 24 beers for 15 bucks

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2009 00:54:56 | More by jeffjeff1

SmokinSmyth

Belgium

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

Pours a cloud amber with about an inch of head initially that recedes fairly quickly, but does leave liberal lacing.

Aroma dominated by hops with a hint of malt.

Tastes good, with the malt overtaking the hops in terms of taste.

Feels good in the mouth, ending with just a slight bitterness.

Nothing bad, but nothing great, an average beer for a lower than average price.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 19:23:55 | More by SmokinSmyth

PEBKAC

New York

3.03/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

This particular sample case has been contract brewed up in Utica with 400 other recipes. Costco usually just rebrands things(albeit, quality name brands) so I'm wondering if anyone can guess what this stuff is yet.

Best by June 28 2010
Poured into a Rave Vos tumbler.

Half a glass of milky, fluffy, off-white head that is slow to settle. Body is a vibrantly filtered, bronze/amber/lightly steeped tea-colored brew.

Smell is of starch, pine, parsley, alcohol &... new sneakers?

Upfront, the taste is of leafy lettuce-like hops. A mild nutty caramel sweetness follows, backended with just a bit of residual barky bitterness. I agree with the bottle description, it tastes pretty clean. Especially for a ale(bland even). Very grassy, but without much else noticeable in the pot besides a bit of alcohol burn. Subtly sweet, & more bitter then I would of expected(bottle only says 35IBUs). They seem to have used the same boring bittering hops for flavor. :/

Lasting head gives it an airy feel. Good carbonation, without being too sharp. Very dry finish, giving up just a bit of lingering metallic bitterness.

A bit boring, but better then the last one(I think).

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2010 07:44:50 | More by PEBKAC

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.03/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Grabbed one of these from a relative just for curiosity sake. Pours amber with good clarity and a reasonable head that fades to a thin swirly cap. Somewhat harsh and hot in the nose, followed by some grainy, dry malt. The taste is less harsh than the smell, but still somewhat grainy, with some vague, slight bitterness, and a bit of a watery finish. It's not terrible, but it's a bit of a mess. The combination of the grainy malt and watery finish makes it less crisp and drinkable than it could otherwise be. Drinkable in a pinch, but there are many better options out there.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 02:56:01 | More by Georgiabeer

originalsin

California

3.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Inexpensive pack of beers from costco here. Certainly no complaints w/r/t value.

This is a relatively simple pale ale, as could be expected.
A light golden beer with about an 1/8 inch of head that settles quickly...Smells like a pretty typical west coast pale- it's somewhat more balanced though, with sweet malt and citrus hops on the nose. The beer has some hop bitterness but is mostly balanced, but not exactly the most drinkable brew. As it warmed up, I found myself struggling more and more with the mediocre medium-body and bland taste.

Not a complete miss, and not completely unexpected.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2009 04:50:25 | More by originalsin

biggred1

Indiana

3.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pale bronze with a finger of bone colored foam that leaves some decent lace on the glass. The aroma is light and fruity with not much detectable malt. Mildly bitter and earthy hop notes with an overall dry quality. I find this beer to be seriously lacking in malt flavors. Medium light bodied and effervescent. I won't seek out Kirkland pale ale again.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2010 19:43:11 | More by biggred1

nickd717

California

3.1/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle thanks to my roommate. When Costco stamps their brand on a beer, you know it's got to be a quality product. To be honest, this really isn't an awful beer.

Pours clear golden with a medium-sized white head.

Aroma is grainy and malty with some slight floral and herbal hop notes.

Flavor is pale and caramel malt, grains, and just a bit of hop bitterness, mostly herbal.

Medium-light body with average carbonation and nothing particularly exciting on the mouthfeel.

Drinkability is decent. Overall...meh, but hey, at least this beer is cheap and better than BMC.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2010 21:42:21 | More by nickd717