Pale 31 - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Sessionable, serviceable, drinkable pale. Floral and citrus and malty aroma. Light colour with short-lasting foam. Tasty and citrus hops comcommitant with aggressive carbonation. Medium or less body. Slight better than average pale, average beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2007 00:50:00 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Polished amber suffused with orange peel orange. Atop the beer is a beautiful, firmsticky head of alabaster cream that has tiny, pearl-like bubbles embedded in its upper surface. Delicate snippets of lace keep watch over the head's descent from the safety of the upper portion of the glass... until the drinking begins, that is.

Pale Ale has a very nice nose. A hop bill that includes Fuggles, Cascade, Centennial and Chinook is hard to screw up, but I still have to give credit where credit is due. Firestone has fashioned a wonderfully aromatic '3-Cs and an F' nose that many pale ales would kill for.

The flavor isn't quite a match for the nose, but it's close. The same citrus hoppy elements are in play, even if they don't shine with quite as much luster as I'd like. It's a tad undermalted and a wee bit underhopped, although I feel as if I'm being overly picky. The beer has a fresh, clean flavor of orange and grapefruit sections soaking in their own juice.

It all fades away a little prematurely thanks to the light body/mouthfeel, but that only makes me want to drink faster. The flavor profile is right on the money, I just wish there was more of it.

Firestone Pale Ale is pretty good beer that would benefit from a slightly more assertive nature. Having said that, there's nothing at all wrong with a pale ale that doesn't feel like blurring the distinction between an APA and an IPA. In the end, I like this one more than the final score would indicate and I'm certain that I'd drink a lot of it if it was brewed locally.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2005 23:04:05 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was the second of my Firestone selection that I had this evening. It was quite nice to have a decent amount of their regulars around fresh to try. I popped this one open and poured it into my pint glass. Very nice medium amber colored ale came forward, with a bit of a bright golden yellow touch to it. Very nice carbonation was evident from the very beginning with streams of bubbles coming through and rippling up toward the surface to reinforce the foam. A nice head had formed on this one as well now, with a three-inch high layer of fluffy white that really just settled down very nicely, leaving behind about three quarters of an inch that really just stayed put the entire time. Really quite nice looking, leaving a good amount of lace dripping down the sides of the glass as it went as well.

The aroma was very nicely hopped, classic west coast style pale ale all the way. Big aroma of floral citric hops coming off of this one now, not so much on the sweet side, as it was light and biting. A noticeable amount of grass like flavors now mixing in as well, really pushing the hops out in front, but as it warmed, some nice light grain notes began percolating up and mixing in well, giving a still light, but a bit more depth to it overall. The flavor followed along classically and was one of those west coast pales you could sit down and drink for about a week. Gorgeous carbonation profile here, really made it feel quite light and airy. The light floral hops really dominating this one, but never becoming harsh in anyway at all, really showing their lighter side. Nice touches of grapefruit and tangerine really pushing through, with a very noticeable light cereal grains coming through underneath. Very well balanced and very light with nothing really pushing forward and nothing really dominating. Perfect pale ale flavor hands down. If you wanted that light, refreshing pale, with the west coast hop zing, this one was for you.

Overall I thought this was excellent, really a very nicely down pale, with very little errors at all. Lots of nice flavors with a good balance between bready and cereal like malts and the light floral hops, very nicely balanced. I would have loved to have had a few more of these as well. Definitely, a high quality session ale and something that I do not think I would ever turn down.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2008 01:39:30 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: The pour is a hazed golden orange color with a sticky white head and nice lacing.

S: Smells a bit sweet, but there's plenty of citrus and even a few tropical fruit notes. Mild grass with a nice pine note to it as well as a light floral scent. Some bready malt gives a little body.

T: Like the nose, it's a bit sweet, but it works fine for a pale ale. Lots of citrus hops (especially orange and tangerine, a little less grapefruit). Some pine bitterness as well as a little bit of floral character.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O: I really like this beer, a solid pale ale that I know will pretty much always be good.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 20:38:42 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Pours a deep gold with a nice wheat head.

S: Plenty of hops for the style with some mild sweetness.

T: Slightly sweet malt with some citrus/grapefruit hops.

M: Medium bodied and well-carbonated.

D: Quite good in this department. A nice, low abv beer with plenty of hops--my definition of great session-style drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2009 15:18:17 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color with a robust head that laces well

Smell: Biscuity aroma that is extremely floral and citrusy with a vague hint of vanilla

Taste: Starts with a biscuity taste that is slightly sweet; by mid-palate, the citrusy hops kick in, along with a flash of vanilla at the swallow; the finish is balanced between the biscuity malt and the citrusy hops

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: What a nice APA; superbly balanced and a low abv, to boot

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2007 20:36:20 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly murky honey orange with a 1 inch foamy off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus zest, and some pine aromas. Taste is of malt, herbal/pine hops, and some citrus zest flavors on the finish. There is a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good pale ale with a nice balanced malt and hop flavor that is easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 04:30:40 | More by UCLABrewN84

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Mostly clear deep golden body beneath a full head of white that gently settles to an average collar, leaving behind some thin sheets of lace.

S: Pale malt, gently citrusy and grassy hops, mild yeasty fruitiness. Pretty basic, but clean.

T: Hop flavors and yeasty fruitiness lay just beneath, or perhaps on, the surface of the golden malt. It's just slightly grainy, and just slightly sweet. The fruit and hop flavors help to liven it - the grapefruit gives it a hint of a raspy edge. A median bitterness supports it, and it's almost too perfectly balanced! It finishes pretty much as it starts, with a smear of lingering gently sweet and grainy malt that's threaded through with hints of fruitiness and hops.

M: Medium bodied and gently crisp and smooth with a moderate, fine-bubbled carbonation.

D: Drinkability is where this beer shines. There's just enough malt, yeast, and hop to give it some character, but not enough of any one - or all - to make it shine. But it's perfectly balanced and clean and fresh and easily quaffable!!! It's almost like 'American Pale Ale Light' to a certain extent - everything's there, but it's not nearly as full as you might expect. It's easy to drink, and there's certainly some flavor to it, and that keeps me wanting more... wanting to find those hops and malt and bitterness! But I never will, so I'll just have to have another. Pretty nice!

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 12:54:44 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

All the rest have 31 and seem to be getting drunker by the day... ...Wow, sorry... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear brass topped by a finger if lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises bright grapefruit zest, light orange zest, light honey, and a bristling of pine needles. The taste brings in more of the same, with the citrus blending together into a tasty little tropical smoothie, the parts indistinguishable from the whole. In a good way. The body is a rather light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, a very nice pale ale, highly drinkable and even more highly enjoyable. Good times.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 05:17:35 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great. It has a light pale and bisquit malt scent along with mild hop aroma and a light oak barrel presence. The aroma is quite complex and highly enticing. The taste is decent. It has a thin pale and bisquit malt flavor that goes down easy and finishes bitter with a nice hoppy aftertaste. The barrel taste really covers up the simple, yet refreshing pale malt flavor. The mouthfeel is good. It is a medium/full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a fine pale ale. It's got an interesting flavor palate, but I could kill a sixer of these easy.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2008 02:16:57 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was not impressed with this beer. Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass. Beer is yellow and hazy. Carbonation is low, a thin white, broken head floats around on top clinging to the glass, leaving almost no lacing.

This beer has almost a sweet / plastic aroma to it. There are some hops in there but more than that there is just this sweet candy like aroma. I don't smell the malt. Maybe buttery. I'm not sure what's going to happen.

Beer is medium body, so that's good. The flavors are mild and understated, which is fine. The sweetness I smelled is present in the beer, for sure. There isn't a lot of bitterness, no aftertaste, I'm not sure how the different flavors are playing together, they all seem disconnected. Drinkability is fine so is mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2009 21:03:31 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a clear, bubbly, orange color with gold highlights. It had a bubbly, white, two-finger head of foam that left a little lace.

S - It smelled of citrus and floral notes.

T - It had a nice roasted malt and caramel taste with bitter, floral hops providing a potent kick.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a dry finish. A light bodied ale.

D - This is a high quality APA. I'm glad I was able to find one.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2009 00:48:12 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is a gold color and only has a wispy, pale draught head. This beer has an incredible, fresh, hop aroma. I get notes of apricots, some peach, and of course some of the typical citrus notes. The aroma is just quite striking, and I really like the mix of fruit character that the hops evoke here. The taste is pretty light and refreshing and has a light sweetness to it that really helps to accentuate the fruity flavors from the hops. The hop character is definitely dominated by a fresh fruity character that is most evocative of peaches and apricots. This is really quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2006 22:13:30 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.43/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Acquired via trade from Phocion, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him.
Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep yellow color, with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a decent lace on the glass.

S: Sweet citrus aroma dominates the smell. There’s a good complimentary hops aroma along with a background of caramelized malt.

T: The citrus sweetness that you get in the smell comes out first in the taste. The hops quickly follow and it’s a much stronger burst than the smell leads you to expect. Once the two flavors are introduced, the taste stays very well-balanced the rest of the way.

M: Smooth and very crisp, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, clean & dry finish.

D: Very tasty, goes down very easily, not filling at all, the only drawback I can see with this beer would be that you might look for something with a little bit more of a kick to it. Overall, it’s an excellent representation of style while at the same time keeping the beer lighter than most APA’s.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2006 02:03:15 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured out as a hazy yellow color with a white foamy head on top. The retention and lacing were very good on this beer. The smell of the beer gives off a massive fresh citrus hop aroma. The smell of the beer seems very fresh, bright and lively. The taste of the beer is bitter with a good balance of malt and hops. There are fruity notes in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel of the beer is medium bodied with a solid carbonation and a clean crisp finish to it. Overall this one is very good, it pushes the boundaries of being an APA and IPA, this beer could go either way I think. It's very good though regardless.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2012 02:12:00 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12 oz. bottle, single, purchased from the Hi-Times Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa,

A: Pours a macro pale yellow, with a white head that's a tad on the thin side, but has good retention and leaves some nice beer lacing.

S: Light smell of hops and malt, some oak.

T: Very crisp hop bite attacks first with some citrus and tropical fruits, maybe a bit of tangerine. Toffee and sourdough bread come in as the malt backbone, with a very nice vanilla note to end the beer, a gem.

M: Crisp, light and smooth, good carbonation, very refreshing.

D: This is a really good pale, up there with Anchor and Alpha King, possibly the best made in CA.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2008 22:21:29 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear orange color with a 1" head. Some light lacing develops. The aroma is nice as floral hops and oranges are easily detectable. The flavor was nice as malt and floral hops were nicely balanced, but the malt came across as slightly sweeter than other pale ales. The citrus (orange tones) were quite strong.

The mouthfeel was smooth and it had a medium body. The finish was relatively short with bitterness and citrus lasting on the tongue. Nicely drinkable, but the sweetness may be a turnoff to some here.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2004 11:12:50 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Wasatch for including this in a trade!

Pours slightly hazed golden yellow with a white head that thins to a wide patch, leaving dots of lacing.

The smell is citric, floral, a touch of pine with grainy/caramelish backing.

The taste if of citrus/grapefruit with some floral and piney notes and an orangey, grainy, caramelish balance. It has a bitterish, dry finish. I might like the nose a tad more, but not enough to distinguish in the score.

It has a pretty chewy, medium body.

A relatively modest abv for an American Pale, yet with strength in aroma and taste and a sturdy body. A great choice for a "sessioner" for those who like their pale ales edging on the hoppier aroma side!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2008 01:54:04 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Ordered a bottle with my Brick's Ale Burger at the Brickskeller. The body is a clear straw yellow with a white head and lacing.

I know many hold this up as one of the great pale ales, and I'm inclined to agree when you consider the whole package. It holds nearly the same depth of hop flavor as Sierra Nevada, but with a lighter body it's much more drinkable. The malts have a light bready malt taste, that's matched first by piney, citrus hops, and then later a spicy, long-lasting aftertaste. How this beer drinks actually reminds me of a good English bitter, for the ability to hold complex flavors in a light and highly sessionable beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2008 02:44:44 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A 12 oz bottle courtesy of Zorro, my Secret Santa.

A: The pale ale is indeed pale, a soft light copper color. The ale is clear with only a stream of carbonation obscuring the view. A 1.5 finger head livened things up a bit, but it quickly receded.

S: The nose has a tangy aroma, full of citrus hops and stronger than I expected for an APA. A very enticing aroma with malty elements that balance out the hops.

T: A sip reveals a hop depth that really socks the tastebuds. Citrus flavor, strong grapefruit primarily, really grabs you up front. The hops are bitter but not intense, allowing a grainy toast flavor to mix with the grapefruit.

M: The hops make this beer. The citrus element that they add is flavorful and strong, a marked departure from most APAs.

D: The abv is perfect, as is the flavor. This is a solid APA, great taste and fantastic hop profile.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2007 01:47:57 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appears a light pale golden hue with a bright white head, fine speckled lacing. Aroma has brilliant citrus/tea leaf/herbal grassy notes. Pale biscuit malt breadiness sneaks out amongst the wave of hops coming at me. Flavors are completely cohesive with malts and hops working together so well. Below 5% this is some excellent hop forward session ale, biscuit malt delicate bready profile with citric, earthy, floral hops. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied sturdy spritzy carbonation goes down smooth. Drinkability was wonderful world class pale ale excellent stuff that deserves all of the accolades that they have gained recognition for.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 03:05:32 | More by WVbeergeek

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured a light golden color with small head that dissapates. Nose of very subtle hops. Tastes is hoppy that's not too overpowering, keeps in balance overall. Some subtle floral and pine notes. Extremely drinkable and tasty, dangerously good! One great Pale! A perfect example of a West Coast Pale!

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2009 01:31:58 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Modest start to the head. Leaves some streak and spotty lace.

Excellent hop aroma; half floral and half peppery.

Good malt start but it quickly devolved into a hop bomb. This borders on an IPA in terms of bitterness. Good body with a high carbonation level.

If you like bitter beers, this could be a new favorite.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2010 01:48:26 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.4/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a clear dark golden color, nice carbonation, tiny head, some lacing afterwards.

S - Scents of hops, citrus, bready, slight toffee/caramel.

T - The taste is sweet/hoppy, kinda dry finish.

M - Medium body, nice carbonated feel.

D - Very drinkable, good for a hot summer day. This is my first Firestone brew, will buy other's if the liquor store carries them.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2006 23:01:26 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)
Bottled on 12/17/12
A- This beer pours a crystal clear deep copper body with a slow carbonation that trails up to a sticky antique white head that fades to a thick ring.

S- The pale green hops have a papery but pungent aroma to them.

T- The hint of sweetness to the pale malt stays soft even though the pale malt flavor grows and some hints of toasted malt come though in the background. There is a full pale green papery hop flavor in the finish that has a mellow pungency in the dry finish.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel has a nice gentle fizz and no alcohol heat.

O- This beer has a nice fresh malt flavor that grows to over take the hop flavor. This beer is very sessionable and it would be nice to try this on cask to see if more nuances come out.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 15:21:23 | More by rhoadsrage