30th Street Pale Ale - Green Flash Brewing Co.

Halcyondays

California

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ, I'm glad I got to try this beer without traveling to San Diego,

A: Pour amber with a nice white head, good retention, spots of lace.

S: Hoppy nose for sure, lots of pine and citrus, pretty good balance between the two. Aromatic and pure.

T: Light crystal style malt upfront. But what makes the beer is the great hop flavour. Lots of sweet pine, orange, lemon. For as bitter as it is, it's also quite floral.

M: Medium-bodied, resiny, oily. Crisp and smooth for a pale ale.

D: One of the best pale ales I've ever had. Delicious, bordering on IPA, but I'm fine with that. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 05:26:21 | More by Halcyondays

Durge

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Picked this up at DeCicco's in Brewster, NY and it presents a very solid appearance with a very clear, golden amber, a modest but stubborn with blanket of white on top and commendable lacing. The aroma seems definitive of a great pale ale, with some clear hop profile without giving a dominant bitterness like the IPA typically does. There's a nice lemon bread with some rice and other mild cereal grain present. Very pleasant. The taste buds are greeted by much more hops than I would have thought, although that is rarely a disappointment to me. Definitely more hop bite than your average pale ale and maybe too much for the style by some folks' preferences. But I love it, certainly could pass for an IPA but there is a more bready, grain profile that harkens to the intended style just a bit. This leaves a nice bite on the tip of your tongue and delivers a touch of malt backbone and grain to the back of your mouth as it goes down. It's a medium bodied brew that feels a bit lighter with its very crisp carbonation. I get some turnip nuances, minor sweetness and some pleasant yeastiness. All and all this is a very enjoyable pale ale, certainly a pleaser for the hop heads....like myself.

Serving type: growler

04-14-2013 04:06:34 | More by Durge

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.59/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

On tap in a pint glass at Lucky's in Dayton on 8/11/12

Cloudy orange and amber. One finger head takes a long time to dissipate and leaves thick patches of lace.

Dry, spicy citrus aroma - tangerine, orange, pineapple. Hints of grass. Sweet like sugar beets and grapefruit as it warms. Sweet cracker. The taste is prickly and roughish. Herbal toughness with citrus zest and grassiness. Sharp grapefruit bitterness on the finish. Some toasted grains, but not too much malt though. Medium body with fluffy, mildly pointed carbonation. Dry finish. Bitterness grows on the finish and becomes harsh.

Overall, this is not a terrible beer, but I like my pale ales to be smoother than this.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2013 05:10:22 | More by Ryan011235

kojevergas

California

3.15/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Served on-draught at Green Flash. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a half finger beige colour head, thin, of little cream, and of poor retention. Body is a clear copper colour. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Floral hops, pale malts, and lots of citrus. An average strength aroma.

T: Floral hops, pale malts. Good body. No yeast or alcohol comes through. Simple and boring but clean and refreshing. There's not a lot to say about it; it's rather simple.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A touch too thick. Dry on the finish. Decent but not tailored to the flavour profile.

Dr: A drinkable pale that lacks complexity and subtlety. About what I expect from Green Flash. Still, it's above average and I might buy a cheap 6er of it. Meh.

C+

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2013 23:24:07 | More by kojevergas

doopydoogle

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A somewhat cloudy copper with a good lacing that leaves nice, large bubbles clinging to the side of the glass.

S - Citrusy, piney resins jump out first, follow by herbal stones with a hint of starfruit. A good bready malt profile rests beneath, leaving implications of sweetness.

T - Malt front with citrusy elements giving way to a big bitter thwap. Overall the malts hold up but are balanced strongly with the bitter. The hops give more by way of bitter than flavor, lending to the style. Overall balanced, nothing jumps out too strongly, except maybe the bitter towards the middle/end.

M - Thick and almost oily, with a good slurpy carbonation that carries the beer along.

O - A solid pale, maybe a little overly bitter for the style, but I'm not surprised given the brewer. A good beer for an IPA who is looking for something with a bit more balanced malt profile.

Serving type: growler

10-14-2012 02:02:23 | More by doopydoogle

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a Unibroue tulip Very fluffy white head, soapy lacing, light copper in color. Aroma is extremely hoppy. Earthy, lemony, piney, grassy, marijuana-y hoppy dankness. The aroma of a great double IPA actually. Taste is juicy with grapefruit-like bitterness, mild caramel malt in the background. Not a pale ale for beginners but extremely delicious and nicely hopped. Very nice, very drinkable. More like an IPA but who cares.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 06:37:02 | More by KickbacksSteve

jvillefan

California

4.95/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: A clear filtered deep yellow orange color with a two finger off white head.

S: Hops, there are piney notes to this with a subtle caramel-malt backbone.

T: The taste mirrors the smell perfectly. A light refreshing tasting beer that is excellent on a hot day.

M: A little light but it's a pale ale, and maybe a little over carbonated.

O: I believe it is between this and row 2 hill 56 for the west coast equilivant of Zombie Dust. Great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2012 03:24:04 | More by jvillefan

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Toronado San Diego. Yellow and light orange beer, sudsy white head, 3/4" deep, strong retention. Aroma, mildly hoppy, mild cereal grain aspect to it, enjoyable, but given as much as this was talked up, I found the aroma to be just barely above run of the mill when it comes to west coast pale ales.

Taste, solid, delivers a good amount of citrusy and grapefruity hop presence, over a mild malt bill, probably no caramel to it. With the alcohol level, this really seems like an ipa. But I guess boundaries aren't what they used to be. Carbonation was big, bitterness was even bigger.

A pretty good pale ale, just once the abv gets to six percent, with this type of hopping, I dunno, the line really gets blurred with an ipa. Either way, a good choice, would like to see bottled, I'd pick up a sixer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 22:20:53 | More by Beerandraiderfan

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap. A lovely, assertively hopped pale that’s basic an IPA-light and serves up the hops with more freshness and vitality than many workaday IPAs on the market. Pale gold pour; nearly clear, with a fluffy white head that settles down slowly and good lacing. Aroma leaps from the glass; grapefruit-y citrus and pine hops; traces of pale and sweeter caramel malts underneath, but this smells like a typical west coast IPA and had me salivating.

The flavor happily follows the nose. Lots of fresh hoppiness bursting with citrus and piney notes; a moderately sweet biscuit/caramalt backbone that mostly stays in the background and doesn’t step on any toes. Dry finish with a lingering bitterness in the aftertaste. Not as aggressive as say, Green Flash’s West Coast IPA, but not far off. Would love it if I could grab fresh bottles of this in NYC rather than a one-time draft offering/growler fill.

Medium-light body; medium carbonation; clean drinking, still smooth; lovely feel. Really glad I got to try this one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 21:48:01 | More by tobelerone

UCLABrewN84

California

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Green Flash Brewing Company in San Diego, CA.

Pours a clear light orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus zest, herbal hops, and some tea-like aromas. Taste is much the same with a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 01:16:13 | More by UCLABrewN84

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at green flash in san diego

Pours a lightly clouded dark golden color with a one finger high head of white head. Patchy rings of lacing streak the glass while drinking.

A flash of hops in the nose with some citrus peel. Touches of orange and grapefruit with a balancing malt scent. Light sweetness and bread.

Pleasantly bitter up front with citrusy hops and a light notion of pine. Well balanced with mild malt backbone. Bread crust, caramel and a soft sweetness. Bitter and dry in the finish with some citrusy pith.

Medium body, nice carbonation, refreshing and crisp on the palate. A really pleasant, balanced, yet hoppy pale ale - if I lived closer I would have brought home a case.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2012 00:41:46 | More by xnicknj

BucannonXC5

California

4.28/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a draft into a pint glass at Station Tavern in San Diego (South Park), Calif. About a finger of head when I got it. Color was caramel orange. Bubble, frothy white lacing on the top. Lots of white film sticking to the sides. Both the lacing and film lasted throughout.

Smelled caramel pale notes. Also wheat and citrus hops. Got a mix of lemon, grapefruit and some orange/tangerine.

Tasted similar to the nose. Got caramel, lemon, orangeish hops and some ginger. Bitter aftertaste.

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Slightly bitter finish.

I can’t believe it took me this long to rate this beer (although I think I’ve had it). Just a great American Pale Ale, although it did get a bit old towards the end. Good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2012 05:35:43 | More by BucannonXC5

Murrhey

Montana

3.38/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured on-tap at Green Flash Brewing in San Diego, CA. Reviewed from notes.

A- Half finger white head. Low retention. Some frilly lacing. Pale orange-gold color with nice clarity.

S- Smells like an English-style Pale Ale. Subdued and lighter with sweet malts.

T- Very hop heavy. Bitter taste with a sweet, crisp finish.

M- Smooth and light.

O- This is an alright Pale Ale, but I might avoid it unless I was looking for a sweeter hop-bomb.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2012 22:48:29 | More by Murrhey

avalon07

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a growler to a pint glass. Had a golden yellow color and a clear consistency. There was a big, foamy, long-lasting head. Excellent lacing.

S: A surprisingly hoppy aroma, with notes of citrus evident as well.

T: Tasted of hops, a little citrus (lemon), and a nice amount of malt in the finish. This beer comes close to being a IPA due the amount of hops, but this isn't a bad thing. A bold, assertive flavor.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A very good APA that's well made and easy to drink.

Serving type: growler

03-03-2012 13:16:19 | More by avalon07

Spider889

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Bodega on 12/26/11.

Served in a shaker pint.

Short creamy white head. Nice shiny bronze color. Provides an excellent wall of total lace.

The aroma is full of bright citrus - orange and sweet grapefruit.

The taste is also quite fruity. Citrusy grapefruit and bitter orange pith. There are also some spicy/peppery notes in there. I found this to be a bit boozy too - which was odd and unwelcome in the style (especially at a mere 6%).

Lingering bitterness and a slight numbing effect from the hops comes into play mid-glass. The spiciness coupled with the alcohol winds up being distracting and bothersome.

This started out being a great pale, but it winds up harsh and a chore to finish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 07:03:47 | More by Spider889

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glass on tap during Green Flash's tap takeover night at Crescent Moon in Omaha, NE
Served in a Green Flash pint glass
Review from notes

Green Flash's 30th street pale ale is a delicious, highly hopped, almost to the point of being an IPA in a pale ale body, beer. Out of the four Green Flash beers I tried during the evening, it was the standout due to its unexpected excellence and overall drinkability. Wish it was in bottles.

The glass arrives at my table with a 1cm head of off-white foam, which dissipates in a minute, leaving a ring around the glass and some spotty lacing. Beer's body is a deep copper color, with orange highlights when held to the light. Active carbonation is visible.

Aroma is fantastic, very prominent citrus hop usage. I noticed some grapefruit, tangerine, orange rind, slight lemon, even a hint of peach. Because I like hops, the aroma is good; for a pale ale, this may be a bit too hoppy and not enough malt presence, so I deducted a point.

Taste follows scent (bright citrus, particularly grapefruit, orange, and tangerine), but also allows for some pine hop usage to be noticed. The malt is much more noticeable, biscuit and caramel flavors, though still taking a backseat to the hops. Aftertaste is bitter and citrus-hoppy. Delicious, could drink several glasses of this.

Body is medium to medium-light, with robust carbonation that is fitting for the style and weight of the beer. Mouthfeel is crisp and clean, refreshing. Finishes dry.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2012 19:42:15 | More by falloutsnow

CEnterPound

California

3.93/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into Bruery tulip.

A - Pours a slightly hazy off orange/copper. A solid inch of fluffy white head dies down to a thin cap.

S - Holy hop heaven! Grapefruit, honeydew, orange peel. Slight biscuity malt in the background, but this is incredibly hop-forward.

T - Follows the nose pretty well with lots of hop bitterness up front. Mango, grapefruit and other tropical fruit shine. Much more malt in the taste, with a good amount of biscuit and a touch of caramel on the back end. I'm wondering if this growler has been sitting around too long.

M - On the lighter side of medium bodied, and good carb.

O - Of the many times I've had this beer, this is probably my least favorite. It is a damn good beer, but I'm wondering if my growler was past it's life.

Serving type: growler

02-09-2012 00:26:18 | More by CEnterPound

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on tap at the Stone Bistro. Hoppy aroma. The IBU is right there, almost an IPA, what would be conceivably an IPA years ago. Very decent drinkability. Crisp. Some grapefruit, citrus, pineapple, bold flavours, smoothly dry hopped. Quality and satisfying.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 20:57:55 | More by northyorksammy

Philousa

California

3.35/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Green Flash taproom 12/30/12.

Sits a pale gold, sparkly and clear in the glass. Good amount of head laces well as you drink. Light barley aroma, there but not overpowering. Sweet, floral hops. Bitterness starts and ends the flavor category. Bitter, salted caramel, semi sweet hops, piney and bitter flavor lingers. Very well balanced initially, the bitterness wears on me after a half pint.

This reminded me of the Drifter Pale Ale with its bright hop characteristics, but it proved to be much more bitter. The bitterness snuck up on me. I like the piney flavor and the aroma proves the beer to be more complex than most Pale Ales.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2011 05:45:19 | More by Philousa

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Slightly hazy copper color. Nice looking white head that seems to last forever. When it does fade, the sheets of lace are quite impressive. Great looking beer.

Caramel malt is in the background, but is an afterthought. Grapefruit and piney hop aroma is very nice.

Nice malt backbone, some caramel with just a bit of sweetness. Juicy grapefruit and piney hop bitterness balances things out very well.

Medium body, great carbonation. Almost a creamy feel. Alcohol is hidden. This is a very solid pale ale.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2011 23:12:18 | More by Bierguy5

ArrogantB

Colorado

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Fresh Craft, I was surprised to see it and knew I better order it because I don't think it is bottled. Light yellow orange color, good head. Smells like lemon oil to me, citrus hops. Taste is hoppy and yet is unmistakeable as a pale ale, the slight biscuit flavor from the malt lets me know. I liked this and it was clearly differentiated from an IPA to my taste buds.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2011 04:46:40 | More by ArrogantB

Kshock

California

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- copper in color, good clarity. Very nice sticky lacing on the glass.

S- smells like an ipa. Tons of hops in the nose, very good nose.

T- great hop character, lots of bite. Really clean on the finish. Really like this one.

M- light to med body with good carb, and a little bit of a dry finish.

O- San Diego pale ale at it's best

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 21:40:58 | More by Kshock

HopHead84

California

4.38/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

8/10/2011

On tap at Tap Room.

A: Burnished gold with a big creamy white head that leaves a coating of foam on the glass as it recedes. Clarity is good.

S: Bright and aromatic grapefruit accompanies orange and tangerine. Malt is redolent of biscuit and cracker. No alcohol is evident.

T: Light crackery malt with a dash of biscuit. The hop flavor is great, reminiscent of orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and peach flesh. The beer is moderately bitter. The finish is crisp, clean, and pleasantly bitter with much hop flavor.

M: Lower medium body with a higher level of carbonation. The mouthfeel is dry, sticky, and crisp.

Overall: This beer is excellent, and I drink it far too infrequently. Light on the palate and highly drinkable with a very good hop profile. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2011 21:00:05 | More by HopHead84

ThreeWiseMen

California

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

Ordered a pint of this at El Take It Easy in San Diego's North Park neighborhood last night.

Served in a nonic.

Appearance: An inch of thick, off-white fluff sits atop a lightly hazed, golden body. Head retention proved to be pretty spectacular, and the lacing looked great to boot: sticky, cobweb-like lace all the way down.

Smell: Mango, pineapple, and tangerine all come to mind immediately; this has a really floral, fruity nose. Dry pine, dirt, and faint caramel play secondary roles. I don't think I've ever detected so much late-addition hopping in a pale.

Taste: Pine resin and caramel are easy to pick out, and the same goes for pineapple. Tangy citrus and bread dough are more subtle. Bitterness is off the charts for a pale: strong and lingering; I'd assume this is right around 60 IBUs.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, aggressively bitter, and prickly with tons of mouth coating. Moderate carbonation. Feels a lot more like an IPA - very similar to GF West Coast IPA, in fact - than a pale ale.

Overall: If you like Green Flash's West Coast IPA, you'll love this one - it seemed like the same beer with extra late hop additions. Big and bold for a pale but certainly enjoyable, especially if you're on a hop kick.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2011 15:34:25 | More by ThreeWiseMen

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very hazy gold with white head. For some reason there was a lottt of yeast chunks in suspension which wasn't the best for appearance.

The smell was great with mostly citrus hops with a decent amount of malt as well.

The taste was very hoppy. Sweet tangerine and citrus with a good amount of bitterness especially for a pale ale. Pretty much no malt on the taste.

I really enjoyed this beer and would get it again for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2011 05:34:34 | More by Eriktheipaman