Batch 1
Westbrook Brewing Co.

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From:
Westbrook Brewing Co.
 
South Carolina, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.53 | pDev: 13.88%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
16
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 31, 2013
Added:
Jan 04, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
The result of an epic and torturous 22 hour-long brewday (and night), Batch 1 is a hybrid, single hopped pale ale. As the name suggests, it was the first batch of beer brewed at Westbrook Brewing. An American-ish grain bill was hopped with Amarillo and split into two fermentors: one got an English ale yeast; the other was fermented with our Belgian ale yeast. After fermentation, the two batches were blended back together and dry-hopped with more Amarillo. The fruitiness of the English and Belgian strains is harmoniously accented by the intense apricot aroma of the Amarillo hop. Enjoy this very deliciously drinkable ale while you can, you may never see it again!

35 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by glid02:
Photo of glid02
Reviewed by glid02 from Georgia

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Growler purchased from Charleston Beer Exchange in Charleston.

Pours a clear light copper color with a half-finger white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of pale malts with moderate amounts of citrus and slightly grassy hops. Also present are hints of light pears and slighter hints of indistinct spices.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Moderately dry pale malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by citrus and light herbal hops. Midway through the sip, subtle light fruit flavors and earthy hops work their way into things, carrying through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I didn't have any problems finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall I thought this was an easy-drinking beer and a nice hybrid of an American and Belgian Pale. Worth a shot.
Mar 17, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by mikeincharleston from North Carolina

Mar 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by beeruser from Colorado

Jun 20, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by UltimateLivewire from South Carolina

Mar 12, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by whitekiboko from South Carolina

Dec 27, 2011
 
Rated: 2.5 by exposur3 from South Carolina

Dec 22, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by ecmoon3 from South Carolina

Dec 01, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by WillyMac from South Carolina

Nov 21, 2011
Photo of kkipple
Reviewed by kkipple from South Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
From notes. On tap at the Flying Saucer in Columbia. Literally the first batch of beer brewed on the new commercial equipment at the brewery. Cool.

A. Unfiltered, unpolished yellow bordering on copper. Light cap of white foam. No lace, but the head sticks around.

S / T. Smells earthy and ESB-like, but with a stab of American hops shooting through the beer. Flavor is pretty light and crisp with an English biscuit malt profile. Slight toastiness, vague light esters from the Belgian yeast. Unusual, and not bad, but doesn't really take flight if you get my drift.

M / O. Creamy mouthfeel, odd. Semi-dry finish, chalky. A most unusual take on the Pale Ale style. If this was homebrew, it'd rightfully go into the specialty beer category. Hard to score on any real objective level, so let's just give this marks off the cuff and look forward to the beers to come. Welcome to our state, Westbrook!
Oct 19, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The pour was extremely nice. Rich and decadent looking with a nice dark amber color with a ton of orange highlights in it. Lightly cloudy with a good bit of carbonation visible on the inside of the glass bubbling up towards the surface. A rich head of maybe two inches then came up over the top and only settled down gradually before becoming a thick layer of foam across the top.

The aroma was heavenly. Rich notes of wet hops mixing in with a deep, biscuit like backing that only served to show it off even more. Lots of pine resin like aromas here, sticky, with an almost fresh, wet hopped like aroma making up the bulk of it. Some subtle sweetness as it began to warm. The flavor was smooth, super smooth with a nice medium body that bordered on being almost chewy at times. I was impressed with the carbonation as well as it never came across as dull in any way either. Started out with a quick bite of hop resin that slowly went over and faded into a nice bit of biscuit like malts. Rich with some nice hints of caramel and a long, drying finish that kept me going back for more of this very session able pale ale.

Overall I have to say that this was damn good. I really did not know what to expect of it going in, but I have to say it was well worth it. A little dark and resiny for a true pale ale, but this one will work for me any day of the week. Solid offering that will have me looking in their direction again.
Mar 23, 2011
Photo of PDXHops
Reviewed by PDXHops from South Carolina

3.61/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap in a tulip. Hazy caramel body with a generous cap of creamy foam. An intricate network of frothy and sticky lacing is left behind.

Smells 'Belgo-esque' with clove and lemon complimenting light bready malt aromas. On the thicker side of medium-bodied, but the prickly carbonation and hearty dose of lemony hops keep the feel pretty nimble. Quite yeasty and spicy; cloves, coriander, white pepper and more elusive flavors come into play. A tasty beer, although I'm not convinced that APA is the correct style (and I'd score it higher as a Belgian pale ale).
Mar 19, 2011
Photo of SFrankBrew
Reviewed by SFrankBrew from South Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I believe in buying local, when you can, so I took a chance on this beer. New brewery in Charleston area. Had on draft in a pint glass. It's good. Not earth-shattering. But a really good first effort. There wasn't much of an initial smell. The taste was good, but not the overpowering flavor of hops that normally smacks you mid-tongue. Then again, it's not a IPA. So, it had a nice balance. It's a good freshman effort from a new brewery that proves you don't have to be big to make good beer. Buy local and support new breweries that are trying to make their way in the world.
Feb 10, 2011
Photo of jpro
Reviewed by jpro from Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had a 10oz draft at Closed for Business...

A: Cloudy, light copper / orange; fluffy white head leaves some nice rings of lace before retention fades.

S: Slightly clovey Belgian yeast aroma; hints of caramel malts and some Amarillo-esque hops.

T: Light malt sweetness, some dry hoppiness (light tropical fruit notes); peppery-ness from the yeast; yeast dominates the flavor profile - or at least, distracts me from the rest of what's going on with this beer.

M: Light-medium bodied and moderate carbonation; a touch creamy.

D: Good. Not crazy or overly flavorful, but easy drinking. I'm not too big a fan of Belgian pale ales or Belgian IPAs, so that may come into play here, as well. The yeast flavor just seems to take over.
Jan 23, 2011
Photo of jsanford
Reviewed by jsanford from Georgia

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Filled fresh at Growlers in Hilton Head, SC. Poured into a pint glass.

A - Hazy orange-gold with a thin white head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring.
S - Caramel malt, bubblegum, citrus and earthy hops.
T - Sweet bready malt with more bubblegum and esther-y flavors, followed by more slightly bitter, earthy hops.
M - Very smooth with a medium body and crisp carbonation.
D - Nicely drinkable, this would be a great beer to combat the sweltering Summer Georgia heat!
Jan 16, 2011
Photo of thagr81us
Reviewed by thagr81us from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served from tap into a tulip. Poured orange with a one finger pure white head. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark fruit, citrus, and a very slight hop character. The flavor was of sweet malt, nutty, earthy, slight citrus, and bitter hops. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this brew wasn't really that bad. Went down really nice and smooth. Had a nice aroma and a nicely balanced flavor going on here. Not a whole lot missing on this one, but just doesn't stand out from other brews of this style. I am however excited to see what they come up with next.
Jan 12, 2011
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Barley's in Greenville

Appearance: Arrives with a hazy amber color and a modest cap that leaves shards of lace around the pint glass

Smell: Bready malts with a spicy, peppery aspect and an earthy hop element

Taste: Taste follows smell, as the bready malts open, followed by the spicy/peppery and earthy hop tones; the complexity builds after the swallow and the finish is dry

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: One of those style benders that uses Belgian and English yeast strains and an American hop bill, this is a very drinkable session beer; liked it much better than their Belgian Pale that I sampled but did not order
Jan 04, 2011
Batch 1 from Westbrook Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 16 ratings