Pale 31 - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

mdfb79

New York

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap tonight at Churchkey in Washington, DC.

a - Pours a clear golden color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of floral notes, citrus hops, toasted malts, bready malts.

t - Taste follows the nose, plus some fruity malts. Lots of floral and citrus hops, and some bready malts.

m - Medium body and low carbonation, super smooth and very easy to drink.

do - Overall a very nice pale ale. Not overly strong in any sense, but a lot of nice floral and citrus hops to it. Would have again and a good beer to start a session with.

Serving type: cask

04-05-2011 01:12:10 | More by mdfb79

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to beermaninpa for this one!
Appears a light gold with a half inch white head that fades to a light film in about a minute. Some bits of streaky lacing stick to the glass. Some streams of large bubles slowly rise to the top of the glass.
Smell is of crisp hops with an oak and vanilla aroma.
Taste is of creamy vanilla and mild hops that seem to blend into a nice, crisp finish.
Mouthfeel is crisp, smooth, sweet with a semi-dry finish that is slick on the tongue. This also has a mild, tingly linger on the front of the tongue.
Drinkability isn't half bad for a pale ale.

It's ok, dog.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2005 22:21:47 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

3.33/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear gold color.

Smells distinctly hoppy and fruity. There is a small amount of maltiness in there too.

Taste is malt and hops. The hops used are flavorful and not very harsh so it makes for a very hoppy, yet still not bitter brew. Not sweet at all it is a dry ale.

Mouthfeel is good.

Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2004 02:50:17 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a bomber of this at the brewery, drank it a few weeks later, so fresh!

Pours a clear amber/golden, thin white head forms, drops down to a ring and leave some pretty lacing. Smell is real nice, biscuits, caramel, jasmine, citrus, very flowery hopping, just the right balance, very fresh aroma. Taste is great as well, very caramelized, bready, wheat, jasmine, floral, some light fruitiness and a bit grapefruit, very nice balanced finish. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied with medium carbonation. Pretty standard pale ale, but damned fresh and goes down right. Very flavourful for a sub 5% brew, I like!

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 20:55:56 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

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

Received as an extra in a recent trade with EinWeizenbitte. Thanks again man!

Pours a clear dark golden yellowish orange color with golden yellow hues when held to a light source. Frothy 2 finger white head with decent retention, slowly fading into a lasting ring that leaves spots of soapy lacing behind.

Sweet citrusy hop aroma with nice butterscotch malty presence and earthy grassy notes. Interesting combination of sweet lemon peel/grapefruit citrus along with butterscotch like biscuity malt and earthy grassy straw notes.

Pretty hop forward for a pale ale with a prominent dry earthy pine presence that's complimented by a sweet citrus lemongrass/grapefruit character. The malt backbone is a lot stronger than I expected in a west coast beer but provides excellent balance. Hints of caramel, butterscotch and biscuit. More dry bitter earthy hops and citrus sweetness in the dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 07:07:29 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

Standard amber light color in a pale ale. Aroma was pleasant, if muted though.

Taste, a non bitter pale. Ample hopping for style, nuanced sweetness with it. Good session ale. Light in the heft on the palate, mouthfeel doesn't thin out, but doesn't weigh you down (sounds like a macro jingle). a little cost prohibitive for something this simple ($8 a 6r).

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2010 22:35:05 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Monk's, Philly, PA

Here's a nice little easy-going pale ale. I had this while I was waiting for the Funky Buddha Berliner weisses to go on. Served in a shaker, a clear golden color with a delightful puff of white head that sank quite a bit, but left some nice lacing on the way down. Not much in the aroma from what I could perceive anyway; light toasted grains, floral hops, pretty standard stuff. Taste of sweet biscuity malts, nicely balanced by fresh floral hops, slight citrus notes. Light, crisp, basic. Light body and easily drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2012 00:52:07 | More by Rifugium

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased from BevMo in Sunnyvale, CA.

Pours a very clear, bright golden colour, with a fine body and a pleasantly thick white head that leaves complex lacing. I love the bright, yet light colour of it—it makes it look vibrant and inviting. Yeah.

Nose follows on with this vibe of brightness, with a really lovely crisp citric hoppy nose, layered with sweet-savoury pastry tones and a touch of apricot. It's fruity, but layered and complex. Ooh, yeah. It doesn't break the boundaries or make you question your assumptions about the style, but it's brimming with character and about as good as you can imagine an APA nose being. Awesome.

Taste is a lot lighter, as probably was to be expected, but it continues that nice apricot flavour while not spiking it with any bitterness. Also carried along is the slight pastry character, which is what gives its lightly sweet basis. The back drops out a lot, not giving the pleasant staccato bitterness which would cut it off and round it off nicely—instead, the sweetness sits around and fades away rather limply.

Still, this is a nice APA, and a cracker for such a rather ubiquitous brew, at least around these parts. Very drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 21:51:40 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Brea's Yard House, on to the beer:

This beer shines in the glass orange/gold with a froathy head on top, very good lacing sticking to the glass. The aroma is mild, a mix of citrus, hops, and fresh-cut pine. Refreshing....yum. By the way, that's the taste I'm talking about. Clean upfront with a mix of bread/citrus/hoppy/floral flavors, the balance being good. This is one beer I'll be coming back to for sure, and it's great on a warm day like today.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2008 02:49:45 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

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

Had this at the Brickskeller in Washington DC.

Pours a clear light copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head dissipates into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of citrus and floral hops with a decent malty undertone. Pretty pungent for an APA.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet malt flavors kick things off, followed shortly by citrus flavors. There's a mild bitterness at the end and the grapefruit flavors tend to stick around.

Mouthfeel is good. It's a bit on the light side, but it still goes down smoothly.

Drinkability is good. This is not a really flavorful beer but I could certainly have a lot of these.

Overall this is an APA that is actually an APA and doesn't try to do too much. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2009 03:58:33 | More by glid02

Gusler

Arizona

3.48/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer as it pours from the bottle presents an unambiguous copper color the head modest in size and the color a beauteous light tan, it vanishes quite quickly leaving a fair sheet of lace behind. A sturdy hop aroma upfront and a candy like sweetness, fresh, crisp and pleasing to the senses this nose, start is overly sweet, the top thin to medium in feel to the palate. Finish is leniently acidic, the hops perky in their spicy bite, dry and long lasting aftertaste. A nice session beer me thinks, but does seem a bit too sweet, but nothing I can't live with.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2003 20:47:30 | More by Gusler

plaid75

New York

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

On draft at Sapsuckers, Huntington, NY.

Poured a light copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light citrusy hop and soft pale malts.

The taste offered bready malts, a springy citrus spice and lingering pine.

The mouthfeel was of average fullness for the style.

Overall a tasty simple ale that is highly quafffable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2011 23:32:47 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

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

From the bottle: "Passion for the Pale".

I was initially concerned when I popped the cap and foam began to slowly seep up through the neck, but it stopped shortly thereafter and allowed me to pour it into a glass. I ended up with a finger of French Vanilla-colored head with moderate retention. Color was a deep golden-amber with NE-quality clarity. Nose was very pine-like and my mouth began to water in anticipation. Mouthfeel was medium and the hops were immediate upon making contact with my tongue. Man, this was pretty intense for an APA, but I was not complaining, believe me! Finish was pleasantly dry and the malt even made an appearance. Lots of sticky lacing was in evidence as I finished the glass.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 00:48:53 | More by woodychandler

HopHead84

California

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

5/13/2012

A: Yellow with good clarity and a finger of white foam.

S: Tangerine and grapefruit balanced by biscuit and bready malts. Lightly sweet with soft floral aromatics. Gives the impression of balance.

T: Upper low level of bitterness with a light and ephemeral malt sweetness. Biscuity and grainy with tangerine and orange flesh. Smooth crisp and dry finish.

M: Lower medium body with upper medium carbonation.

Overall: A highly drinkable balanced Pale Ale. Expertly brewed, but I prefer them a bit hoppier.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 02:40:23 | More by HopHead84

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A bright and sunny yellow-tinged scotch with sheer transparency. The colour is golden and gleaming and the clarity consummately clean. Its head, although sickly anemic, is resiliently sticky. Tight clinging bands of white lace appear hopelessly stuck to the glass. This visual certainly imparts the temperate, sunny climate of Paso Robles to my mind.

The aroma is about as existent as it is non-existent. The faint grapefruit-like pungency of the hops suggest this may not be intentional but the lack of aromatic malt suggests it is. I keep taking bigger and bigger whiffs to be sure but my nostrils are largely drawing blanks. The floral qualities of the English Fuggles are apparent but I don't note much to resemble any of the big American C's (Cascade, Centennial, Chinook).

Is it just me or does the "California Pale Ale" taste a touch better than regular old pale ale? Strong bready, biscuity, doughie, cookie and wafer-like malts and a sprinkling of green, zesty recently ripened hop flowers (there's the American influence!) make for a delicious beer in my opinion. The caramel outweighs the grapefruit but not by much, the beer really does taste fresh-hoped even nearly 6 months after the bottling!

This is barrel aged but the beer itself doesn't advertise it. Good. Why should it have to? Novelty and insatiability have become driving factors in a lot of America's (especially California's) microbreweries. Special releases and experimental, high gravity beers (often with the use of blending, wild yeasts or barrel aging) have become the focal point of many breweries and the products on which they're most often judged...

While Firestone is responsible for making what are arguably the best examples of such beers (Firestone 10, 11) it's good to know they put every bit the same craftsmanship and attention into their normal lineup of pale ales too. Between the Double Barrel, the Union Jack IPA and now the Pale 31, I would say with little hesitation that Firestone is responsible for some of the best simple but solid drinking ales on the entire continent. Thanks BuckeyeNation!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2009 21:48:01 | More by biegaman

kojevergas

California

2.64/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Nabbed a sixer at my local Vons grocery store. "California Pale Ale Dry Hopped." 4.9% ABV according to the label (not 4.8 as currently listed; I chalk it up to batch variation). Bottled 02/20/13 - that makes this less than two months old, and it's been refrigerated the whole time. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard branded pressure cap served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live.

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

A: Pours a four finger head of beige colour, fair cream, decent thickness, and pretty good (~4 minute) retention. Body colour is a clear pale copper. Not very vibrant. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Typical of the style; it's generally appealing.

Sm: Generic floral hop notes. Light citrus. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable. Pale malts. A mild to moderate strength aroma. Light hop oil.

T: Pale malts, floral hops, light hop oil. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. Boring and bland for a pale ale, but passable. A bit grassy. Imbalanced. Decently built. I'm unwderwhelmed.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A bit oily. Adequate carbonation. It's thin and weak. Suits the flavour profile okay, but it's very wanting.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable for what it is, but very pedestrian. Another underwhelming brew from Firestone Walker. I wouldn't get this again. Hides its ABV decently. Meh.

C-

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 23:30:36 | More by kojevergas

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Golden yellow, slight haze; White head, zero retention, but it tries to lace on the glass.

S: Citrousy american hops, slightly clean/soapy. Toffee.

T: Sweet toffee, slight citrus, a little bready/biscuity.

M: Light to moderate body is smooth, light to moderate carbonation.

D: Seriously chugable.

Thanks Len!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2006 00:12:09 | More by Derek

mactrail

California

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Light in weight but the flavors seem quite appropriate to the lower alcohol and the general thin and crisp body. A clear yellow in the glass, a nice head, and plenty of carbonation. Sharp and refreshing.

Quite a delicious but delicate hoppy flavor. The nose is really flowery. Brewery says this is dry hopped with Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook. Some resins and pine in the flavor. Some understated malt with a fresh, bready flavor. The combination is totally drinkable. Even the bitterness is just right. You can taste that it's bitter, but somehow it's a pleasing hoppy flavor rather than a medicinal taste.

The one I had to sample was icy cold, and it stands up very well to the chill with its fragrance and crisp flavor. It's one beer to chill when you want a cold one. From the 12 oz bottle. I am getting to be a Firestone fan.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 04:38:16 | More by mactrail

ccrida

Oregon

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

Bomber (stamped 10/1/09) poured into my Meantime snifter, Pale 31 is chill-hazed golden orange with a creamy off-white head that leaves scattered lace. Nice glow to it.

Smell light and clean, limes, oranges and apricots, a touch overripe and soured, nice.

Taste is pleasantly hoppy, more so then I expected for a pale, with really clean but satisfying fresh bread malt backbone that goes great with the fleeting citrus of the hops and esters before the dry, spicy finish. Not super complicated, but an exceptionally well made and tasty APA. Very impressive, I love the freshness (even though it's 3 months old) and sessionability.

Mouthfeel is light, crisp and dry, a sharpness to it, although served at fridge temp.

Drinkability is very high, this is a tasty but clean pale ale that's not to robust or strong but very satisfying, I can see really sucking down a bunch of this at a party. This immediately became my all time favorite APA, from a style that I granted don't normally much care for.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 01:51:38 | More by ccrida

largadeer

California

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Clear gold with abundant head and lace.

Smell: Floral hops, citrus, a hint of grain. Fresh and mild, doesn't jump out much, but it's very pleasant.

Taste & mouthfeel: This brew opens with a malt character of cereal and freshly baked bread, leading way to a perfect floral hop bite. Very mellow in the finish, with a hint of citrus remaining on the tongue.

Drinkability: This stuff goes down ridiculously easy; it's gone before you know it. The ideal session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2008 00:37:30 | More by largadeer

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.4/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Darkish Copper-Golden color. Reasonable head that has reasonably good retention. Huge floral hop aroma, that had an almost perfume dimension. Reminded me a lot of Burton Brewed Pale Ales I used to drink in England. In fact the beer label states they use a Union Oak Barrel Brewing System, which is what many of the Burton Breweries in UK utilized in the past. Leads me to believe it may well be dry-hopped as well, if not - it certainly smells like it does. Really good hop character, gives a dominant medium malt-bitterness that fades slowly, and makes way for a hint of wood in the aftertaste. Vanilla/toffee tastes are barely perceptable, but were there towards the end. Dare I say this reminds me so much of some 'weaker' (4 to 5%) English India Pale Ales that I used to drink. Very Burton-esque.....
A nice beer, I like the Hops and Bitterness, but it may be a bit one-dimensional for some "non-hopheads".

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2002 17:14:27 | More by TheLongBeachBum

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I must admit before I get into the review I am becoming more a fan of well-balanced, well crafted brews. This to me is one of those beers - not to say it is for everyone, just an all around well made beer to me.
I picked this bottle up at Outlet Liquors in Rehoboth Beach DE, poured chilled in a mug.

A - A beautiful honey amber w/ 2 1/2 fingers of rocky glistening ecru w/ a very fine bead. The clarity is refulgent and the carbonation visibly rises toward the head.

S - A woody, earthy green hop aroma w/ subtle stone fruit essence. Hints of grapefruit and floral accents are present w/ mild malt in the back

M - A balance of fruity sweet and acidity w/ moderate carbonation and a spicy middle. The ale finishes more on the bitter side, but still retains a mild malt sweetness

T - A light citrus note leads to a light sweet malt w/ a gentle biscuit tinge. More lemony hops w/ mild orange similar to a meyer lemon. More spice from the hops as it opens up w/ a zesty sweet taste and the semi dry finish has moderate bitterness.

D - A great pale ale w/ plenty of hop flavor, citrus and still mostly balanced - perhaps one of the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2009 22:37:06 | More by Slatetank

Bitterbill

Wyoming

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

Bottle courtesy of Wasatch. Thanks John!

It pours a clear yellow gold with a 2 finger head of foam.

The smell really has a nice citrus hop and fruity nose with a ample amount of malty sweetness. I'm impressed with the smell, for sure.

The taste has that nice citrus up front with the malt right behind it with both a light bready note and some sweetness. Nice tasting APA.

The mouthfeel just crosses over to medium and the carbonation is medium.

Drinkability? Good tasting and very easy drinking. This is a very enjoyable example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2009 23:06:31 | More by Bitterbill

Tone

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, gold/amber color. 1/3 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of citrus hops, slight pale malt, slight sweet malt, and hint of alcohol, and a hint of caramel malt. Fits the style of an American Pale Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of citrus hops, slight hop oil, sweet malt, slight pale malt, and a hint of alcohol. Overall, good appearance, decent aroma, body, blend, and feel.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 13:50:42 | More by Tone

beertunes

Washington

3.2/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into straight pint glass. Poured with less than an inch of head that very quickly dissipated. Left light but sturdy lacing. A dark yellow color. Clarity is very good. Pleasant floral hop aroma with citrus notes. Flavor followed aroma closely, with the citrus flavors leaving a sharp taste. Body is what was expected for the style. Nicely drinkable. I received this as a gift, if this was available locally I would put this in my regular rotation.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 23:06:58 | More by beertunes