Edward - Hill Farmstead Brewery

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at my home-brew clubs Christmas party tonight.
Pours a slightly hazy light golden color with a nice bone white head that persists forever. Wow that aroma has got lots of hops in it for a Pale ale! Juicy citrus and pine with a hint of green onion and a touch of bready malt make for a wonderful smelling beer. The flavor is loaded with pine and citrus with a bit of sweet malt to back it up. Flavorful bitterness, but never harsh. Medium to light body with a moderate to high level of carbonation and a bready resinous mouthfeel. This is a great little beer, that at times feel more like and IPA, but its so damn good I'm not going to quibble of stylistic designations.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2012 04:01:46 | More by johnnnniee

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - 4 - Pours a hazy orange color with light reddish tint, one fingered head dies down to a sticky lace, light carbonation.

S - 4 - Aroma is light to moderate grapefruit, papaya, spicy, crisp caramel malt.

T - 4.5 - Big on flavor for a Pale Ale. Light colored tropical fruit from start to finish, tartness nips the tip of the tongue and gives way to a sweet and spicy ruby grapefruit, papaya, and mangos and finishes off with an assertive pine grapefruit bitterness of an IPA.

M - 4.5 - Light medium body, sprightly carbonation, and a lingering piney, grapefruit finish.

O - 4.5 - A flavorful pale ale that drinks like an ipa without the higher ABV, hits the spot, nicely executed!

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 05:23:36 | More by jzeilinger

AnnArborJoe

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750mL HF growler thanks to baconsausage!

A: Pours lighter orange with white foam and lacing like crazy.

S: Citrus fruit, touch of pine, maybe some peach? Very nice.

T: Follows the nose, citrus, hint of pine, juicy with a decent amount of malt and bitterness. I almost get a faint hint of rye, although it's not in this beer, it must be a similar hop/malt combo to another beer that I associate with rye.

M: Nicely carbonated, light body, again another HF beer that I could drink all night.

O: Very good beer, I don't like it as much as S&S5 or Susan but it's still awesome.

Something is familiar between the three hoppy HF beers I've tried but it's hard to put my finger on. I'm not sure if it's the malt, the water (my guess), or a particular hop (I don't think this is it) but the three HF beers all have a similar taste that I really like and isn't like many other beers. It's very slight but since HF beers are few and far between for me I'm really taking the time to analyze each one. I'm interested to see if this carries over into the saisons that are next up.

Serving type: growler

12-05-2012 20:54:47 | More by AnnArborJoe

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a bright, lightly cloudy lighter shade orange with a nice white cap which resedes leaving layers and rings of white lacing and bubbles sticking to the edges of the glass

S: Very big, down right awesome for a 5.6% beer. It smells live a big, fresh liquid orchard ina glass, amazing; grapefruit, peaches, oranges, light lemon and pine. Splendid.

T: Big fresh fruits upfront. What can I say? Excellent. Lots of fresh citrus, peaches, some hints of pin needles dance around the orchard fruits. A nice bitterness rides beneath all of the flavor. The finish is juicy, clean, dry and delicous.

M: Delicate carbonation, light body, lower ABV and immense taste leaves this beer so crushable yet something you want to sip and enjoy.

O: Most excellent.

Serving type: growler

12-02-2012 01:56:26 | More by barleywinefiend

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2L Hill Farmstead growler filled on Wednesday the 21st of November, the day before Thanksgiving. Reviewing on the third pint over the past week...should have reviewed sooner. It's still fantastic but obviously the fresher the better.

A: Hazy, golden-yellow with a huge, soapy, bubbly, white head. It's an APA, after all.

S: Massive bursts of fresh, fruity, juicy hops. Citrus, pine, cedar, some spice, some booze, all balanced by a hint of malt at the back.

T: Incredibly fruity, floral, grassy, earthy, spicy, piney, woody, juicy hops. Not many other adjectives to use when describing fresh American hop cones. This APA showcases the power of the hop without being shy. An absolute dream to drink from first sip to last. Very happy I had the opportunity to drink 2L of this beer.

M: Naturally, the carbonation has diminished with each pint but it's still there as is the incredible smoothness that's been there since I popped open the growler. Creamy, thick, luscious body with a delicious lingering aftertaste of fresh hop oils.

O: My first and certainly not last beer from Hill Farmstead. As I can already tell, the hype is real. A nearly perfect version of the style and a great utilization of all the characteristics of hops that beer lovers cherish. You can taste all the ingredients and differentiate them as unique to this brewery. Incredible stuff.

Serving type: growler

11-29-2012 01:33:51 | More by Gatch

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours cloudy gold/orange with a couple fingers of white head. Tons of lacing as usual for a HF beer.

Very bright and hoppy aroma. Citrus hops (grapefruit, lemon) jump out with a little pine as well. Just a touch of caramel malt.

Tastes follows the aroma. Bright citrus fruits with a little cereal graininess to provide some backbone. Finishes a little drying while picking up some pine flavors. Nothing spectacular, but a very solid combo of hops and malt. Passed the bitterness taste with my IPA disliking companion, so definitely a great pale ale.

Medium to light bodied but with a wonderful creamy mouthfeel. Finishes somewhat dry with just a bit of resin on the back of the tongue.

A very solid pale ale. Pales in comparison to some of the other HF hoppy offerings, but still a pale ale, I'd be glad to order anytime.

Serving type: growler

11-13-2012 14:20:55 | More by jmarsh123

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Farmhouse in Burlington. Pours hazy and shimmering orange with a small off-white head that settles slowly and leaves little patches of lace on the glass. Fresh hoppy aroma wafts up, citrus in front, pine and floral notes following. Little in the way of malt detected.

The flavor has slightly more malt presence, with subdued caramel and biscuit character and mild sweetness. Hops are front and center, again citrusy tangerine, orange, and grapefruit, with lesser pine and floral notes. Finishes dry with a very lightly lingering bitterness remaining. Overall a mild but flavorfull pale heavier on the aromatics than the taste.

Medium to slightly light bodied with smooth but clean carbonation. Elegant and totally drinkable. One could drink a lot of this one, a perfect candidate for a session, American style. Not as exciting as the HF IPAs perhaps, but more of an everyday drinker to be sure.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2012 11:44:25 | More by tobelerone

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 2lt growler I grabbed at hill farmstead yesterday. Poured into a hotel glass

A: pours a murky golden amber with a finger of white head that leavs tons of lacing... A very nice lookin beer

S: this deffinatly is hoppy and aromatic, a good amount of hops jump right out with citrus and pine aromas, a light graininess and a touch of caramel malt as well when the beer hits room temperature, but the aroma is mostly a delicious medly of hops.

T: is much like the aroma, delicious hop flavor over a bready and lightly caramely malt backbone, deffinatly delicious. The hops give loads of citrus flavor, mango, citrus rind... Along with some nice, slightly resinous pine.... Never getting overly bitter, very nicley done.

M: nice medium lush and creamy mouthfeel, highly drinkable with a dry finish and a touch of lingering bitterness.

O: an amazing pale ale, loads of hoppy citrus goodness, excellent all the way through, awesome.

Serving type: growler

10-14-2012 19:26:21 | More by PeterIngemi

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Not the first time I have had this but it is always a pleasure. Consumed at Smuggler's Notch State Park while camping, notes taken then. 750ml growler.

A- Cloudy pour with a golden orange body into a 4oz taster glass, quite hazy. A frothy white head forms with a finger in size and retains decently. Good lace webs.

S- Nice hop presence right off the bat, not IPA level or over the top though. Notes of mango, citrus zest and fruits come to mind. Beyond that it is balanced by cereal grains, caramel and yeast bread.

T- Starts off like the nose with some great hop character. Pine and citrus rind make more noise here with some tropical fruit hints behind that. Balanced very nicely with notes of cracked grains, yeast bread and slight caramel sweetness.

Crisp lighter end body with a nice creamy substance to it. Nice carbonation level supports the flavors well. Clean bitterness in the finish.

Right where modern pale ales should be. Hoppy but balanced nicely by malt and yeast. Would probably buy a 12-pack of this bi-weekly if I could, I can dream.

Serving type: growler

10-10-2012 00:49:36 | More by cbutova

cfrances33

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml growler thanks to ILOVESTOUTS, poured into a Hill Farmstead tulip.

Pour: Completely hazy orange with a finger plus of stick white head. Head leaves a little lacing, but not too much.

Smell: Grapefruit and tangerine mostly, but with a nice bready caramel sweetness in the background. Not as in your face on the nose as other HF beers.

Taste: Now here is where things crank up. Huge burst of tangerine and mango, followed by a light resin and light caramel sweetness. Solid bitterness. Lingers with oranges.

Mouthfeel: This is so drinkable, definitely more so than Zombie Dust. Juiciness hangs around on the palate, but not in a cloying way whatsoever.

Overall: An amazing APA that might have Zombie Dust beat out for me as best in the style.

Serving type: growler

10-05-2012 19:14:11 | More by cfrances33

433

5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Serving type: On tap many times. Mostly at the Skinny Pancake Creperie and the Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier. I'm not even sure where I had it first. I had never planned on reviewing it, or any other beer, but it's so good that I've decided to type about it.

Appearance: It looks fine to me. Like a glass of beer. The glasses they serve it in at Three Penny Taproom are great. Sort of like a pint glass, with the Hill Farmstead Logo. Honestly the glass is so nice, it does add something, I think.

Smell: It smells like it tastes, as far as I know. I sort of object to the idea of discounting points for relatively unimportant considerations like appearance, or even smell. As far as I know, it smells like heaven.

Taste: The taste is brilliant. Fresh. Hearty. Hoppy. It's like the best IPA ever.

Mouthfeel: My mouth feels absolutely fantastic when I'm drinking this beer.

Overall: 11.

When I see the detail that some people have put into their reviews, I almost feel apologetic that I haven't labored over the details more. Three Penny Taproom has a lot of great beers (24 taps), but I often get buyer's remorse if I get anything other than the Edward, including other Hill Farmstead beers. From what I've had, a Sixpoint Resin is the only thing close to the heavenly Edward, although a lot of the other Hill Farmstead beers aren't too far behind, like Citra and Abner, which are nice because they taste somewhat similar to the Edward.

All of their beers taste fresh and flowery, that I've had.

From my experience, I've never had a beer with such a good finish as the Edward. In this respect, I think it does outclass the other Hill Farmstead beers I've had. There's just some kind of bonus in the after taste. Dry and inviting. It's such a hearty and delicious beer, and my favorite of all time. The challenge now is to find something comparable. I've never tried Pliny the Elder which I've read is really good. I've seen polls where the Dogfish Head 90 minute is listed as a top five beer. There is absolutely no comparison: the Edward is much, much better than the 90 minute, but then again, I think the 60 minute is better than the 90 minute.

Sorry to go off topic. This is my first and perhaps last review, and it's just odd that no one is giving the Edward all 5s. I see the tips on the side that all 5s are to be used rarely, but come on. If there was ever a beer that deserves it, it's this one. Otherwise it's misleading.

Update: Reading more reviews, it sounds like I would really like Zombie Dust. I'll ask Three Penny if they can get some of that.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2012 03:59:52 | More by 433

Arbitrator

California

4.85/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Chilled growler into a glass. Thanks!

A: Pours a murky, nearly opaque, soft peach body. Clearly unfiltered, which is something I usually criticize in APAs and IPAs. Forms a finger of off-white head that vanishes after about 30 seconds. Some register marks during the initial sips.

S: Bright citrus pith: cantaloupe, honeydew melon, grapefruit. A touch of pine needle rounds out the back end. Very little malt character, with a small biscuit note throughout.

T: That bright, beautiful citrus nose dominates the taste. Melon and grapefruit flesh lead the way, gradually segueing into pine needles. The aftertaste is moderately bitter, which the biscuit malt base does little to offset. The exhalation resurrects honeydew and brings some peach. Lovely.

M: Medium-bodied; this feels a little heavier than most pale ales. But it cleans up well; bitterness lingers in the aftertaste for only a little while before falling off. No unpleasant stickiness. It makes the beer eminently drinkable.

O: Russian River's Row 2, Alpine's Hoppy Birthday, and Three Floyds' Zombie Dust are probably the most popular pale ales on BA right now. This and Hill Farmstead's Citra should be in the conversation, as well. Superlative for the style. I feel almost like a broken record saying how good Hill Farmstead's hoppy beers are, but when it's true...

Serving type: growler

09-13-2012 04:30:32 | More by Arbitrator

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: very cloudy golden amber color with a small head that stays

S: amazing smell of citrus grapefruit, melon, and grain

T: delicious fruity flavor with bitter hops and some bread

M: good Spritz carbonation and light body

O: most excellent beer. Looks like a homebrew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2012 15:54:07 | More by Holland

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from tap into tall HF pint at three penny Montpelier, VT. Pours a hazy orange with really nice foam head, with sticky as hell lacing. Really hoppy citrus/grapefruit aromas. Slight citrus and malt flavours with a "raw" hop flavour but not bitter. Its creamy smooth for an APA and really easy to drink. Such a fantastic brew.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 01:38:35 | More by DrinkSlurm

smakawhat

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured on tap into a Hill Farmstead wine taster glass at the brewery/tasting room.

A pale honey gold body is presented. Opaque, solid. With a real nice classic white creamy head that seems so common on Hill Farmstead beers. Pretty attractive.

Nose brings light hints of melon and cantalopue, with a bit of floral hints. Some lemon like citrus kicks in a bit too. Pretty nice.

Light bodied and quite a lively carbonated palate. Lime hop forward in the mid palate, with a real light toasty almost mix of burnt grain. Playful carbonation feel giving a hint of spicy pepper.

Overall real interesting beer, perhaps not as drawn to it, but it's quite a unique pale ale style beer by these guys and a very well crafted solid brew.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2012 23:09:57 | More by smakawhat

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at ABC Beer Co in New York.

Beer is a cloudy dark yellow colour. Small white head, decent retention. Excellent lacing.

Smell is very nice. Bright citrus, grapefruit, pine. Very fragrant.

Like the smell, taste is excellent. Grapefruit, pine. Quite bitter. Tastes very fresh. Somewhat simple in flavour, but a really wonderful simple- everything tastes bright and juicy.

Medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Slightly oily.

Overall, just a terrific APA. Really well done.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2012 22:51:24 | More by jrenihan

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at Prohibition Pg. Cloudy peach coloured body, with no head. OK drinkability, good hop flavour, citrus tangerine not necessarily my favourite flavours. Carbonation right there. Decent flavour but not my favourite Hill Farmstead nor pale.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 12:02:11 | More by northyorksammy

hagbergl

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had a couple proper pints of Hill Farmstead Edward (in an English pub-style nonic glass) at The Crop, a great new restaurant in Stowe, Vermont. Edward was the only HF beer they had on tap, but it was in excellent company–they had stuff by Ommegang, Green Flash, Lagunitas, and Rodenbach as well, and Alchemist Heady Topper in cans, as well. Review is from notes.

Appearance (5/5): Edward pours a brilliant, opaque, deep orange hue with some yellow highlights when held up to the light. Very cloudy, due to it being completely unfiltered. A 1.5 inch, billowy, crown of off-white foam sits atop this beauteous nectar. Plenty of sticky lacing clings to the sides of the glass as you drink. This is absolutely the BEST LOOKING pale ale I have ever seen.

Smell (4.5/5): Edward smells very hoppy, hinting at a decidedly hop-centric flavor profile: sweet tropical fruit and piney hop notes dominate. Biscuity and bready notes can also be discerned, along with an interesting...buttery note (?). An excellent, excellent nose.

Taste (5/5):This is most certainly one hoppy pale ale. Edward features serious complexity, though: the hops are fruity (grapefruit, passion fruit, and mango–flavors common to many hoppy Hill Farmstead beers), earthy, grassy, and deep. They are very nicely balanced by a biscuity malt backbone–as with the smell, notes of butter in there again. There is a lingering, dry bitterness that is refreshing and not overly astringent. Very impressive, and in my eyes, a perfectly executed hop-forward American Pale Ale.

Mouthfeel (5/5): Edward is medium bodied and has a pleasing medium level of carbonation that compliments the hop bite and dryness of this beer. It is slightly creamy. Hop resins prickle and coat the tongue. All these factors make Edward a pleasure to drink. The low ABV (5.2%) means you can (must, really) have a couple of these whenever you see it. Drinkability is absurdly high.

Overall (5/5): Hill Farmstead Edward is a superior American Pale Ale. Its delicious aroma, its exceptionally well-balanced fruity hop and biscuit malt flavors, and its out-of-this-world drinkability make it a true stand-out among not only beers of its style category, but among all the beers in the wide world of beerdom. Now, Edward may not be the most unusual or sought-after of Shaun Hill's fermented creations, but it certainly is one of the best and makes a great introduction to his other beers. Bravo, Hill Farmstead!

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 02:59:23 | More by hagbergl

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml growler filled at HF Festival of Farmhouse Ales last Saturday (5 days ago). Shared with Brian (Auror) and DonFrap. Had on tap at the Festival and bought a growler to bring home. Poured into a HF tulip.

A- Pours a hazy dark brownish yellowish orange, slightly grapefruit colored but a little bit darker, decent carbonation, about half finger of head that receded fairly fast, nice layered lacing.

S- Citrus hops, light grapefruit, some pine, a little bit of lemon, caramel malts mixed with a little bit of pale malts.

T- Citrus hops, lemon, grapefruit, a tiny bit of pine, finishes with caramel malts, a tiny bit of pale malts, and some lemon zest and bitterness. Lingering aftertaste of citrus hops and pale malts.

M- Medium bodied, refreshing, slightly juicy, nice carbonation, very easy to drink.

O- This was a very nice pale ale, one of my favorites. The only one I would say is maybe a little bit better that I've had is Row 2/Hill 56. Has a very nice hop taste for a pale ale and is very well balanced between the citrus hops and caramel/pale malts. I will definitely be drinking this one again. Definitely recommend trying it if you get the chance.

Serving type: growler

08-17-2012 00:20:03 | More by jaasen64

brystmar

New York

4.13/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Blind Tiger back in March. Reviewed from notes.

Golden-orange pour sprouts mountains of white head. Decent lace, not super sticky though.

Super fresh hops dominate the aroma. Smooth, crisp, citrusy. Taste follows suit, though not as impeccably crafted as was the nose. Hoppy bitterness lingers in the back of my throat.

A very good APA; about on par with Daisy Cutter in my book. Zombie Dust still reigns supreme!

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2012 23:03:39 | More by brystmar

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Halfway between copper and gold. Slight haze. A nice, solid, thin head with staying-power.

Nice sweet citrus on the nose.

Sweet citrus up front, orange flavours. Nice clean malt flavours through the middle. Hops and malt combine in the finish to make it dangerouslt moreish.

I love being surprised by an APA. Brewers in the US have mastered the style, and even the efforts from mediocre breweries are usually nice enough. Hill Farmstead's Edward focuses on freshness to make a quenching APA, with very little of the resinous bitterness that sometimes blurs the lines between this style and AIPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 02:55:01 | More by CanuckRover

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

4.53/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap several times. Copper body with thick white head and beautiful lacing. Intense aroma of tropical fruits (pinneaple, grapefruit, mango puree), spicy and grassy hops. Taste is simply amazing. A rush of grassy and piny hops with subtle caramel malts and some grapefruit skin. Awesome hop profile. I thought it was very robust for an IPA before I read the menu and found out it was an APA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2012 02:49:13 | More by Luk13

Pahn

New York

4.13/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1 liter growler into Duvel tulip. Bought from the brewery a week ago (consuming now).

Appearance: Free pour yields a 1.5 inch fluffy white head that dissipates steadily. Pours a glowing opaque yellow orange and leaves tons of lacing everywhere. One of those "walls of lacing" beers, nice.

Smell: Slight piny-ness, and kind of an orange / grapefruit grove thing happening. Smells citrusy and outdoorsy. Not an explosion of hops, but a very bright, fresh aroma. Bit of banana/melon-y aroma that Hill Farmstead seems to get into every hoppy beer that I have hitherto been unable to wring out of hops myself.

Taste: Orange juice, with mild weed pungency and mango highlights, as well as a nice hop bitterness. Bitterness kind of gives way to an indistinct toasted malt backbone. Finishes very clean, with a tiny bit of lingering sweetness.

Bitterness eventually starts to take on a strong grapefruit pith character as the citrus hop notes build up (the beer is at times uncannily similar to drinking orange juice or eating a grapefruit). That same melon I love can be tasted underneath everything, but the primary flavor is citrus. There's a sweetness that I think is coming from a higher-than-expected percentage of crystal malt. Large crystal malt additions are generally an unwelcome guest in non-barleywine hop forward beers (even in barleywines, actually), but here the sweetness puts a nice balancing touch on the juicy, citrusy hop flavor.

Par for the course with Hill Farmstead: a well thought out, delicious tasting beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Very juicy. Moderate carbonation. Not particularly dry or crisp, but finishes clean.

Overall: My first thought about this beer was "There really is no difference between American Pale Ale and American IPA nowadays, is there?" As I made my way through the first glass though, I started to appreciate all these beautiful little details that wouldn't necessarily make sense in a full on IPA (the lack of dryness, the high--at least perception-wise--amount of crystal malt), playing well alongside IPA staples (high but satisfying bitterness, American citrusy hop-centric flavor highlighted by a variety of interesting hop flavors--mango, pine, melon, weed).

In the end, I felt the beer to be a really subtle affair, unique and immensely satisfying. It rewards careful attention, yet also hits the spot if you just need a good, soul-satisfying pale ale--the hallmark of a great beer.

Serving type: growler

08-05-2012 23:16:26 | More by Pahn

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft served in a nonic. The brew appears a hazed copper color with a quick dissolving off-white cap. Strings of lace stick to the gkassware.

The nose is herbal and catty with pine from the hops. There is some mild straw grain inclusion breaking things up a bit but for the most part the aromatics are all about the hops.

The taste is the same with pulpy zest and rind elements that are more flavorful than they are bitter. The bitterness is modestly pleasing and leaves enough room for a bit of straw like grain inclusion to poke through.

This is a med bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. It is very easy drinking and worth checkin out. I would have this again if presented with the opportunity.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2012 14:58:25 | More by stakem

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

An amber hued ale a tad cloudy and a desent size head sitting on top.There was good lacing on the glass also. Carbonation seemed a bit average.
Aroma is mostly citrus and grapefuit with some bready malts too.
Taste is rich sweet malts and grapefuit hops with additinal citrus notes.
had this at the blue dog and was quite good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 12:10:16 | More by micromaniac129