Alpha Ale - Wild Wolf Brewing Company

dhartogs

Virginia

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

So many up and coming breweries in Virgina it's getting hard to keep up, a good problem to have. Found this to be a borderline IPA, so for the lower ABV and the big hop profile, I think it's an excellent beer. Would be a nice every day drinker. Had this at a bar on tap, just a nice looking beer with a solid aroma. Would recommend to anyone.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 12:44:35 | More by dhartogs

ipas-for-life

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-14-2013 22:35:06 | More by ipas-for-life

bdtva

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-12-2013 00:42:54 | More by bdtva

ChrisKayler

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-25-2013 18:32:24 | More by ChrisKayler

pquijal

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-19-2013 21:03:44 | More by pquijal

bubseymour

Maryland

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-19-2013 00:04:40 | More by bubseymour

jmutoml757

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-02-2013 02:33:16 | More by jmutoml757

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

01-09-2013 18:32:38 | More by Rhettroactive

rvajohn

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

12-28-2012 14:30:41 | More by rvajohn

avgjoseph

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +11%

12-28-2012 05:09:47 | More by avgjoseph

2dogbrew

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

10-27-2012 02:47:18 | More by 2dogbrew

lupercmda

North Carolina

2.5/5  rDev -34.7%

10-20-2012 22:39:45 | More by lupercmda

ncaudle

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

10-13-2012 15:17:57 | More by ncaudle

thingsidontremember

4/5  rDev +4.4%

09-05-2012 21:17:23 | More by thingsidontremember

tanner1980

4.25/5  rDev +11%

08-31-2012 01:29:22 | More by tanner1980

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I got a chance to try this flagship beer option from Wild Wolf through a growler brought all the way from their facility in Virginia to Georgia, shared with my family and I.

"Our American Pale Ale with a ton of Citra, Columbus and Cascade hops. Deep amber in color with an extremely well rounded hop and malt character. This beer gives hop heads what they are looking for without wrecking your palate, yet it is sufficiently balanced which is pleasing to many hop-timid beer drinkers. The finish is slightly dry and refreshing to the last drop. This beer will not disappoint!"

Poured from a growler to a snifter. Served at 44º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a creamy copper cream tone head. Retention is average, settling to a thin white cover, lacing is thin and streaks. Body color is a orange-red amber, crystal clear with little active carbonation. Nice appearance for a robust pale ale. 4

(Smell) High level of low bitter hops upon a robust caramel malty base. Hop character is slightly spicy, slightly peppery and very faintly citrusy, the bright hop characters are a bit subdued but the overall hop aroma and beer smells pleasant nonetheless. 4

(Taste) Flavor is mostly peppery bitter hops with a medium-heavy bitterness over a spicy caramel malt base, finishes with a bit of piney hop resin. While the main emphasis was the bitter character of this beer, the malt base was a bit overshadowed and the finished product a bit off-balance; the malt character just doesn't shine like it should. I question the general lack of bright citrus hop tones, too. Overall, more bitter than sweet but still approachable for those who like a moderate drinking, bitter beer. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is largely slick with a bit of airy crispness, probably as good as it could get for the style, as with too much carbonation the malt base would be harder to discern. Body is light-medium, alcohol presence is light. A good pairing with the flavor. 4.5

(Overall) A crisp and refreshing flavorful hop-heavy Pale ale, significantly bitter but enjoyably so. A worthy beer to try from this brewery. 4

Wild Wolf Brewing Company's
Alpha Ale
3.83/5.00

Serving type: growler

08-01-2012 01:58:47 | More by Jadjunk

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

07-27-2012 18:56:35 | More by DrunkinYogi

jtd335

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

07-07-2012 20:42:07 | More by jtd335

Brian15

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

07-01-2012 00:00:32 | More by Brian15

bluetrevian

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

04-11-2012 17:04:47 | More by bluetrevian

TechTriumph

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From notes on 03/13/12:
Growler from the brewery; Poured in a pint glass.

A - Less than one inch of off-white creamy head and doesn't stick around for too long; Crystal clear amber in color with some visible bubbles of carbonation within the glass; Nice webs of lacing left behind for the majority of the glass

S - Nice citrusy hops with the first smell, but I get a dose of fresh pine as well in subsequent smells; There's a bit of toasty and earthy notes present as well with some caramel lurking in the background

T - Light citrus hits first and quickly fades as the mild bitterness hits and lingers; Quite a bit of toasty, biscuity, and earthy flavors come with the bitterness, with a sidekick of piney hops and a subtle touch of citrus

M - Moderate carbonation; A few notches below medium bodied; Somewhat dry finish

O - This is without a doubt a very hoppy and mildly bitter APA, which I certainly enjoy, though the toasty and biscuity malts certainly hold their ground as well. As a super drinkable and sessionable beer, I'd love to have this one again and look foward to filling up another growler or two when I'm driving through the area again.

Serving type: growler

03-17-2012 17:21:03 | More by TechTriumph

williahd

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

01-01-2012 15:52:12 | More by williahd

AgentMunky

Alabama

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

Served in a pint glass at Mellow Mushroom in Charlottesville. From notes. Reviewed 15 November 2011.

A: Light head, good lace. Thin amber-gold. Clearish.

S: A standard IPA (which is what it was listed as) -- pine, grapefruit, hops.

T/M: A good beer, but nothing super-special. Lightly carbonated, well-bodied, well-balanced. An all-around solid beer. No complaints.

O: A nice, local beer that should appeal to those who enjoy hops. Give it a try if you're around, but no reason to seek it out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 00:37:31 | More by AgentMunky

argock

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a clear Shaker pint glass at Mellow Mushroom (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Hazy golden-lemonade yellow with 1/2 finger of sticky head leaving dense lace.

S: Extraordinarily fresh aromas of pine resin, lemon, grapefruit, and herbal, earthy aromas. The pale maltiness doesn't contribute a lot to the aroma aside from some mild caramel sweetness.

T: The hoppiness is profound with pine, grapefruit, lemon, and floral notes all coming through strongly and layered on a solid but not overwhelmingly sweet pale maltiness. This APA certainly fits the dry, hoppy style.

M: Medium body with moderate carbonation and plenty of hoppy aftertaste.

O: Impressive APA with relatively low ABV and tons of aroma and flavor. I bet their dry-hopping regimen is intense.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2011 02:24:50 | More by argock

MrOH

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Overzealous pour gave me a huge, off-white head with great staying power. Deep gold body, slight haze. Big gobs of lace.

Pungent, citrus hops. A bit of dank earth and caramel malt underneath.

Hops are subdued in the mouth. Lemon, orange and grapefruit followed by pine. Some caramel malt under it all. A touch bitter for the style.

Medium-bodied, light carbonation, but it is a day old growler.

Overall, a tasty beer. Almost more of a low-alcohol IPA than an APA. Either way, it's hittin the spot.

Serving type: growler

05-31-2011 22:16:16 | More by MrOH