Bell's Pale Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

cratez

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fresh 12oz bottle purchased at International Beverage in Grand Rapids.

Pours a light golden hue with one finger of white foam, lots of bubbly carbonation in the body, some chill haze, and strands of stringy lacing on the pint glass.

Smell is grainy pale malt, lemon zest, orange jujube and marmalade, toasted wheat, floral, earthy and herbal hops, and bread dough.

Flavour is citric, zesty and floral hops, grainy-bready malts, toasted wheat, faint mineral note, spicy, prickly and astringent bitterness with lemon juice on the cough. A strange little pale, as the IBUs seem pretty high for the style, and yet this tastes more like a blonde or wheat ale than an APA. Either way, it's a delicious session beer.

Mouthfeel is smooth, medium-bodied, slightly creamy, juicy and citric lemon peel bitterness lingers in the long, drying finish. A great, refreshing thirst quencher.

Overall, I could crush a sixer of this bright sunny brew in no time. I suspect it's underrated because it doesn't conform to the APA style guidelines. If they called it a blonde or "golden" ale, the reviews would probably skyrocket. In any case, Bell's Pale Ale is a scrumptious beer with eminent drinkability, and I'll be seeking it out in future.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 20:01:49 | More by cratez

cfrances33

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

06-18-2013 17:32:36 | More by cfrances33

Axnjxn

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

on tap at bottle revolution in raleigh.

pale yellow color...big head. not much of a nose at all. taste is incredibly boring and plain. not much to write home about. medium bodied with medium carbonation.

overall a bland pale that I wouldn't recommend. I had it free, so I can't complain, but I wouldn't return to this.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2013 22:53:08 | More by Axnjxn

PopnLoads

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

06-17-2013 00:18:50 | More by PopnLoads

I_BYE_MI_BEER

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

06-11-2013 17:27:46 | More by I_BYE_MI_BEER

JRdaSconnie

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -27.1%

06-08-2013 02:11:28 | More by JRdaSconnie

savagepm

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

06-06-2013 00:53:28 | More by savagepm

CCutch

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

06-04-2013 21:09:15 | More by CCutch

carolinared

North Carolina

2.96/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

First impressions was positive with a thick, creamy head and very nice malty aroma.

But, taste was only OK. To me, not well balanced between malt and hops - on the bitter side, and nothing complex to enjoy. Seemed a bit astringent and even metallic. Hazy, darkish color in glass again pretty ordinary.

OK beer, but nothing really good I could say about it.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 14:09:11 | More by carolinared

jaxon53

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

06-01-2013 12:36:43 | More by jaxon53

TriageStat

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -12.5%

06-01-2013 12:27:15 | More by TriageStat

Jas45678

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

06-01-2013 01:00:50 | More by Jas45678

Plonk

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

05-29-2013 18:01:17 | More by Plonk

JVoyager

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

05-29-2013 00:37:01 | More by JVoyager

ManIam

Illinois

3/5  rDev -12.5%

05-27-2013 22:56:51 | More by ManIam

mikerap100

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

05-25-2013 06:07:03 | More by mikerap100

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-20-2013 14:14:45 | More by InspectorBob

NJB145

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-19-2013 01:01:49 | More by NJB145

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

05-17-2013 01:29:25 | More by SmellsofMahagony

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

05-15-2013 18:35:21 | More by Slatetank

vrbulldog22

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

05-13-2013 18:27:42 | More by vrbulldog22

jkball01

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -12.5%

05-13-2013 16:02:58 | More by jkball01

IPAFan521

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +31.2%

05-13-2013 13:06:24 | More by IPAFan521

jokulhaps

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-13-2013 02:48:28 | More by jokulhaps

Slay40

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-10-2013 21:32:08 | More by Slay40