The Public Ale - DC Brau Brewing Co.

enoisone

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bought it at WFM in Arlington.
First tasted this PA on tap and then in a can.I prefer the can.

A little darker then most pale ales.

Nice fragrant hops on opening the can.

Very nice hops up front,a mix of grapefruit and other citrus.I believe it contains 3 different hops.

Loved the mouthfeel and bitter aftertaste.

Overall a very good Pale Ale that i hope to keep stocked in my fridge.

Love the cans.

Serving type: can

05-28-2011 16:04:10 | More by enoisone

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at ChurchKey.

A: The pale ale is dark, darker than the Corruption that preceded it with a full ambery copper tone that retains its translucence. A white head, thin, comes with the pour but doesn't last long.

S: The nose has more malts than hops, caramel and biscuit aromas paired with a citrus hop profile. Grapefruit stands out but remains balanced.

T: A nice pale ale; I'm grooving to DC Brau's beers so far. Caramel and biscuit lead off, very bready with a flavor that seems to be in charge. Behind the malts, citrusy hops add spiciness without taking over. A very drinkable pale ale, hoppy enough to keep me happy.

M: The chewiness tends to push the hops to the side, but there are enough bitter moments to reel me back in. Seems sessionable, but that could be me drinking to ignore the pups in tow.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 01:23:58 | More by akorsak

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at Rustico in Alexandria VA, thanks to a solid recommendation from Mike. The beer is a pale golden orange color with very little haze and a tightly celled foam. A nice hoppy aroma as befits the best APAs, pine needles and citrus, a little malt character beneath but this leans comfortably towards the hops.

More balanced in taste, still the hops take the lead but the malts give some sweet counterplay. Good carbonation, no flaws to be found anywhere. A solid if not entirely remarkable representation of the APA style, definitely an easy choice to make again in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2011 19:34:32 | More by TurdFurgison

goldbot

District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A clear, copper to amber pour with plenty of lacy, foamy off-white head and plenty of carbonation and lacing. Strong hoppy smell with lots of grapefruit as well as some pine. Malt is there but definitely well covered up. The flavor is strongly hoppy as well, with more grapefruit and pine. Refreshing citrus notes with a good bit of malty sweetness. This beer has a rather heavy body (for an APA at least) and also lots of bitterness. Honestly it drank more like an American IPA to me than an APA. Still, a great beer that I am quite proud to show off as a local.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2011 21:46:25 | More by goldbot

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this special brew on tap from several places. Poured from a growler into a pint class. Pours a beautiful hazy amber/golden body along with a thick head that retains its lacing throughout the session well. Aroma is moderately sweet, pine, some lemon/grapefruit, and orange zest. Taste is medium sweet, somewhat malty, pine/grapefruit, some lemon. I am also picking up some sticky hop pellets throughout. Overall light-medium body, resiny. A very nice introduction to DC Brau Brewing after 60 years in Washington, D.C.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2011 17:09:21 | More by CuriousMonk

SummitVA

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Nice golden pour with fluffy white head and steady carbonation.

S - Pine hops most dominant, but followed with a good bit of citrus. Some bready-iness, as well, giving a nice hint of malt in the background.

T - Resiny pine strikes the palate first, rounded out nicely by a hint of biscuity malt character. Less citrus hop flavor than the nose would suggest. Nice balanced beer, but I find the finish a bit muddled with a sort of soapiness.

M - Nice and light.

O - A solid first beer from DC Brau. Looking forward to trying their other beers and having this again.

Serving type: can

05-13-2011 21:38:11 | More by SummitVA

mdfb79

New York

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 04/30/11 notes. Thanks to ahalloin for sharing a growler of this one; thanks Tony. Poured into my SAVOR snifter.

a - Pours a hazy bright orange color with an inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of citrus hops, pine hops, and fruity malts. Lots of citrus hops up front.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, pine hops, fruity malts, and grapefruit. Light bitterness and citrus up front.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

o - Overall a very nice hoppy APA from a local brewery; I'm looking forward to trying more beers by them in the future. Lots of citrus hops, will certainly have it again.

Serving type: growler

05-07-2011 01:40:54 | More by mdfb79

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 64oz growler to plastic cup with Easter dinner on 4/24/11
*From notes

A: Unfiltered and robust autumn amber. Enticing 1.25 finger head and killer, sticky lacing.

S: Extremely floral for an APA. It really pulls you in, as the hops are so well balanced with the light, sweet traces of alcohol and malt.

T: It's English meets West Coast. You've got that malty Enlgish foundation upon which the citrusy West Coast hop profile comes out to play. It's quite bitter on the mid and the finish showcases a bit of the alcohol. Really tasty stuff.

M: Winning - this is a really creamy and well balanced brew that flashes the proper carbonation and weight. I know the canned version will be filtered, though I hope they can keep the weight I found so luxurious here.

O: An outstanding APA, and I'm extremely proud to know this came from the D to the C. DC Brau's The Public Ale is a home run for the style, and I simply can't wait to see what these crafy craftsmen have up their sleeves in the coming months and years. Two BIG thumbs up.

Serving type: growler

05-05-2011 22:12:21 | More by Rhettroactive

localone703

Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This pale ale is closer to an IPA in hoppiness. It has a woodsy/sap and citrus hop taste. It reminds me of Dales Pale Ale before it got all watered down.

This is a great pale ale to be proud of if you are a local like me. PROUD. Good bitterness on the finish too.

Serving type: can

05-04-2011 04:08:28 | More by localone703

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this one on draft a week ago, but didn't take notes. This is my first crack at a can of it.

A: Pours a light amber/orange with a fluffy white head. This one foamed up big-time right out of the can.

S: It's got a very nice floral hoppy aroma with some hints of citrus in there, smells much hoppier than your average pale ale.

T: Hops are definitely the primary flavor here. It's very hop-forward for a pale ale, as hoppy as many IPAs. It's got a bit of maltiness to it as well, but that flavor lingers in the background merely supporting the hops. The flavor isn't particularly complex, but it's quite nice and easy to drink. Not much sweetness going on here, definitely more on the bitter side.

M: It's a very light-bodied beer, which works just fine here.

O: I'd say this is a very impressive first effort from a brewery I've been excited about for months leading up to this release. This beer isn't incredible by any means, but it's a very nice, drinkable, hoppy pale ale that will make a nice go-to beer all summer long. I can't wait to try their IPA (coming in May), after seeing how hoppy their Pale Ale is.

Serving type: can

04-30-2011 02:01:54 | More by starrdogg

DCBenny

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very good beer, if not a little generic. VERY fresh, as I read it was only canned a few weeks ago. Always nice to have that sort of thing going for you.

The taste is hoppy and flowery and pretty strong. It's VERY drinkable, which is great. I am very excited to have more beers from the DC area coming out like this one. It's a great start for DC Brau.

Serving type: can

04-28-2011 22:39:51 | More by DCBenny

petacutlasaurus

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this one at Pizzeria Paradiso the Monday after their Friday release party. Sat down at the bar next to some other sap, and after grabbing one of these, saw that we were both drinking the same thing. Since there's so much buzz about the beer, we started talking about it.

All the while, our glasses slowly shrunk and before we could order more, the keg was tapped. I feel like this is a perfect anecdote to describe DC Brau. Just as easy to enjoy as it is easy to slip into the background. It won't jump out of the glass and bite ya, but it's not dishwater either. Nice healthy hop character with a bit of citrus. Just enough to keep you interested long enough to find the kegs of it are all tapped out. I think this'll be the case as long as this beer establishing itself. Establish away, sirs. Can't wait to drink it from the can.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2011 22:00:10 | More by petacutlasaurus

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Rustico in Alexandria. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a nice orange color with a thick white head and some good spotty lacing as it makes its way down the glass. The nose is pretty hoppy with a bit of a malt undertone, though not too much of the latter. A good bit of pine, floral, and citrus hops. Cornucopia of possibilities right there, my friend. The flavor is along the same lines. Not too hoppy, but not too much malt, either. Really nice and drinkable. "Balanced" in the sense that it contained hops and malt, but the latter was more just a base helping out the mouthfeel than providing much flavor or sweetness. Good bitterness in the finish. Fairly light body. Really solid; can't wait for the cans of this to hit the market.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2011 01:03:21 | More by Thorpe429

Jaynuze

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Also tried a pint at Meridian Pint on 04/15/11. Poured nicely with a nice thick head. Head retention was pretty good, which allowed a nice belgian lace to form along the side of my shaker pint.
S: Aroma was pleasant though did wane after a few sips
T: Solid PA with a nice hop kick to it
M: very well balanced malt and hop ratio (though it was a bit hop heavy for a Pale)
O: A very good beer for their inaugural. Very exciting to have a local DC brewery that will distribute ... interested in seeing the rest of DCB's portfolio over the next few months. Also looking forward to see how this tastes from the can as the draft is unfiltered while the cans will not be.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2011 16:16:36 | More by Jaynuze

Lunch

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on-tap at Meridian Pint during opening night of DC Brau's release. The name of this brewery give me a good laugh as I picture some jackass wearing a straw trucker hat and the required pastel polo shirt and plaid shorts...but let's give their beer a try.

Served in a pint glass this one appears just like any standard APA as it is a golden light amber with a decent frothy off-white head. Smells fresh and quite hoppy with some citrus notes and pine. Not terribly complex, but nice. Taste is identical, but some malt shows itself. Body is thinner than I imagined and this is a very drinkable beverage.

An above average APA that I could certainly drink a lot of, but nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2011 22:38:48 | More by Lunch

drabmuh

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer is amber with some haze, low carbonation some lacing thin head.

Aroma fades quickly but initially it is quite hoppy, piny.

Beer is medium to thin bodies on the front with a strong hop finish. Pretty bitter. Dry on the end, lingering bitterness. Decent apa, I would have it again. There is a slight solvency to the finish that comes more obvious the more you drink of it or as it warms. Overall it's a good beer though.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2011 23:58:17 | More by drabmuh