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

patpbr

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

New packaging since my original experence with the beer. Hazy golden color and a grainy aroma? A bit of malt character that finishes with a bitter bite. Grainy malt and some sweetness. Not one of the better bells offerings and maybe priced higher because of the bells name? Worth a try, goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 23:05:14 | More by patpbr

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very hazy medium to dark golden yellow in color with some light amounts of orange highlights, a light to moderate amount of small light yeast particles in suspension, and light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a almost two finger tall creamy off-white head that slowly reduces to a medium thick patch, a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer, and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light aroms of bready and grainy malts with just a touch of citrus/orange rind hops.

T: Upfront there are light to moderate flavors of bready and grainy malts with just a touch of sweetness. There is a a light presence of citrus/orange rind hops that contribute very little bitterness.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: This is a very sessionable APA that I would be happy to put down all evening long, enjoyable but not overly complex and the hops are not as big as in some other offerings in the style. Easy to drink with the less intense flavors/aromas and well hidden alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 02:22:44 | More by dbrauneis

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pale gold. Perfectly clear. Head is small, bright-white and drops to a super thin cap in short order. Some minor lacing. Moderate carbonation pulls for the duration.

Smell: Super pale malts. Vaguely bready and biscuity. Some cracker like malts as well. Dustings of citrus with a minor earthy element. Orange rind. Slightly grassy. Very mild. Runs closer to my idea of a blonde than an American pale.

Taste: Pale, pale malts. Mild white bread and snappy cracker. Nice backing of citrus rind, again mainly orange, with some herbal undertones. Vaguely grassy and some mild spice. Incredibly mellow. Some raw grain and huskiness as well. Floral.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Lingering dryness that pushes close to aspirin. Moderate carbonation.

Overall: It's pale and it's an ale.

A rather unexciting take from Bell's. Pale and pushes toward a typical APA, but ultimately falls a little short. It's still decent to drink, but there are better options for the same price.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 22:08:49 | More by Goblinmunkey7

nUgZ

North Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a hazy yellow color with a 1 finger head and decent lacing.

S: Very light aromas of hops and malts. Not a whole lot going on here.

T: The flavors are just as light as the aromas. Faint hops and malts...grainy for the most part.

M: Medium bodied with too much carbonation.

O: I have to say I'm quite disappointed. I expected much more from Bell's. It's not a bad beer, but there's nothing impressive about it. Bland smell, bland taste, and too much carbonation. I won't be buying this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 00:36:32 | More by nUgZ

Mavigo

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint, let's see how this goes.

A: Pours a cloudy, honey yellow color, with a short off white head that lasts a while along with good amounts of lacing.

S: Smells grainy, like wheat, bit of malts and hops, very light aroma, really have to sniff around

T: Light flavor, basically grains, bread, wheat, that's about it

M: Over carbonated, not a fan of carbonation, its pretty crisp and refreshing but too much carbonation, just too much for me

O: It's pretty decent, I'd opt for this over almost all mainstream beers, but from what I've experienced from Bell's, I expected much more, but not terrible, not at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 01:55:19 | More by Mavigo

tronester

Oklahoma

3.28/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden orange with a creamy, thick, off-white head. Aroma is quite bad, skunky smelling. Taste is much better, a light cracker malt, followed by some pine and citrus hops. Mouthfeel is good. Overall a decent beer, that would be much better without the bad aroma.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 00:04:09 | More by tronester

AmitC

Indiana

3.28/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Fairly average stuff.

Pours a pale golden color. Little head, less than a finger thick. A good amount of carbonation. Not to my liking. Yeast clouds throughout, especially at the bottom.

Smell : Pretty average pale ale stuff. In fact much lighter on the hops. Little floral and a lot of grains.

Taste : Very much the same as smell. Nothing great to write about. Not very bitter. Regular grain stuff. Decent amount of hops for a ale ale. But then, there are much better beers in the same style.

Mouth feel : Medium bodied feel. Carbonation kills the likability.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 01:52:40 | More by AmitC

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Hazy golden yellow with lots of small particles and three-finger, off-white, creamy, foamy head that lasted many minutes. Excellent lacing.

S: Citrus hops.

T: Light sweetness and moderate to solid bitterness. Other than that, a mild taste.

M: Medium bodied with soft carbonation. Super smooth, probably from all those particles.

O: I thought this was a pretty good pale ale. I like how there were so many particles and the head was excellent. The taste was a little dull though.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 23:25:46 | More by SolipsismalCat

obywan59

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dirty yello with a receding, but nicely chunky head, and substantial carbonation. and lacing

The aroma is sweet and toasted grain. Simple, but nice.

Mostly bitter in the taste, with bare hints of citric hops, and sweet malt.

The beer seems medium to medium light in body, and gives a light carbonation burn in the fhroat. Fairly drying in the mouth.

This beers not all that complex, but it's a decent session brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 01:41:39 | More by obywan59

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Into a pint glass:

A: golden amber colored body and left a one finger white head that left in about thirty seconds. Some spotty lacing was left behind.

S: some floral hops and a bit of citrus in the front and a bit of bready maltiness coming in slightly in the back, more so as the beer warms.

T: basically the same with an added herbal-ness to it.

M: medium with nothing harsh on the tongue. There is a dry aftertaste.

O: its just as I remember it when I lived in Michigan. I'm glad to have sampled/re-reviewed an old favorite. This is solid in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 03:21:49 | More by kangarooAdam59

claspada

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Lost Dog in Virginia.

Pours a golden amber color with a finger of white head that dissipates leaving some spotty lacing.

Aromas begin with some floral hops and a little bit of citrus. As it warms you also get some sweet notes, primarily in the form of bready maltiness.

The tastes begin with mainly generic bitterness without much hop (or malt) flavor to balance it out. As it warms you get quite a strong herbal hoppiness as well as some floral notes. A little bit of bread and malt come through as well.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is mainly dry and generically bitter.

Overall this is just too generically bitter without any of the good hop flavors that make pale ales enjoyable. Fine to have on draft with lunch for $5 but nothing I would want in a 6 pack amount.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2012 16:49:30 | More by claspada

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.13/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for giving me a bottle

Consumed 9/14/12

Appearance: Mostly gold, with some light amber - mostly clear, slightly hazy - pours with a bubbly white head, leaves a bunch of spots

Smell: Pale, pale malts and some grass - malt profile smells like a blonde ale - herbal, grassy hops, with some touches of light citrus, mostly orange rind

Taste: Very pale malts - raw grains with some undercooked crackers - some bitterness from a less than endearing hop profile - herbal, grassy, lightly spicy - some touches of light citrus, but mostly just spicy, lightly sweet grass - slightly watery and seltzer-like

Mouthfeel: On the heavier side of light, a touch overcarbonated, kind of a weird grassy aftertaste

Overall: Good, but I'd call this a blonde

While I would like to pretend to myself that I don't frequently whine about styles, this has some style issues. This smells and tastes like an American Blonde Ale. And it's not great, even for that style. It isn't bad, though, but typically when I drink a beer from Bell's, I start to feel sad that I can't get it on the East Coast. I won't be sad to not drink this again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 20:01:41 | More by angrybabboon

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: 1 inch head, gold in color, clear, high carbonation

Smell: honey, grass, and sweet malt

Taste: toasted pale malt, sweet meadow, caramel, and grass

Mouthfeel: moderate-high carbonation, light bodied, sweet start that goes bitter fairly quickly

Overall: A solid, clean, and enjoyable pale ale. One at a session is good for me, however if you are looking for a pale, this is certainly worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 17:57:10 | More by tigg924

Alextricity

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: For aggressive pourers, beware -- this thing forms a gigantic creamy looking head you wouldn't believe. It also has some really nice lacing. The beer itself is a cloudy yellow/orange color.

Smell: Very faint... just very slight floral notes as well as spice.

Taste: Much like the smell, but heavier on the spice. The best part about it is the aftertaste. Overall though, it tastes a bit watered down.

Mouthfeel: As I just said, feels a little watered down. Leaves me wanting more, even from a pale ale. As a pale ale, it's an average one at best.

If someone were to tell me this were Bell's, I wouldn't have guessed it, based on some of their others beers I've had. Regardless of that, it's still a solid beer I'd very gladly have again.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 00:01:03 | More by Alextricity

VoodooBear

Puerto Rico

2.78/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: 12 oz. brown bottle, bottling date on the back label. Served in a seidel.

Appearance: Rich gold color, fairly cloudy, but not too much. One finger of head that leaves strong thick lacing all over the glass even at the bottom when you finish up, it's beautiful. Very much alive, when swirled it brings up the aromas and a strong amount of foam to the top.The strongest point of this beer.

Smell: Not much smell from this one. Just a plain scent, mostly of grain with a bit of hops and a floral hint.

Taste: Very strong in the hop department. Some floral taste can be perceived and a certain spiciness as well. It's quite bitter, a bit too much from what I've perceived in this style (APA). It leaves a spicy taste in the back of the tongue after every sip.

Mouthfeel: It's full and strong, not what I've grown accustomed to with Pale Ales. I wish I could say it's a "nice" surprise but it's not. There's a good amount of carbonation and the finish is smooth.

Overall: It's a decent beer, but not a very good American Pale Ale. I can't say I disliked it, but it didn't blow me away either. I'd recommend this to people that find most Pale Ales lacking a certain "kick", but not to the average beer drinker.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 06:05:14 | More by VoodooBear

clemtiger8202

2.8/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle to glass. Poured a great gold color, slightly cloudy with a solid white head. Good lacing with some head remaining throughout the drink. Good hop aroma, slight grainy smell as well, but had my mouth watering! The taste wasn’t as good as the smell, malty, bitter, but nothing special. Body was good and finished quickly. Not a first choice, but definitely will drink again!

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 02:13:41 | More by clemtiger8202

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

3.33/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a amber color which is a right in the middle in terms of lightness. Little head.

S: Light yeasty with some citrus notes. A little lemon, a little orange.

T: A big yeast after taste, goes down light with a little bitterness that seems slightly out of place and not very sharp. Some citrus notes but nothing spectacular.

M: Sits pretty good with a nice medium body and the carbonation is very smooth. Some of the nice citrus notes develop here. Certainly the best aspect of this beer.

A pretty nice beer but nothing spectacular. That bitterness really it what brings it down as it is dull and a little musty. It's not bad.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 21:14:05 | More by Jamesthebrit

rlee1390

Indiana

3.45/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Cloudy yellow orange, one finger head.

S-Bread/biscuit malt/ Almost skunky (but it is two months old) and it is lacking a hop profile.

T-More bread notes, some slight grass along with a little citrus. Not much bitterness.

M-Light to medium bodied, some carbonation but easy drinking.

O-I didn't think Bell's could make a beer this more, it doesn't have the malt or hop profile of an APA. It is an ok beer but fell very short for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 14:19:22 | More by rlee1390

schoolboy

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I am pretty sure that this APA has been around a while and may be one of the pioneers of the style. As such, it doesn't have to taste like all the others and it does't. It is one of the easiest drinking, smoothest APA's.

It's like a regular pale but with less dark hops. I has a creamy mouthfeel that is great but not what I expect. Overall, it's a good brew that everyone should try and should not be refused, but it is a bit understated.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 23:17:50 | More by schoolboy

TheCondor

Missouri

3.03/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up at world market the other day while buying a we computer desk. Side poured from the Bottle into a Boulevard pint glass. Bottled in February 2012.

Appearance - pours a pretty standard, golden color with a pretty puny, one finger soapy whitehead that quickly dissipates, but does leave good lacing. Normal Bells packaging for the bottle, nothing fancy. One side note, there is an extraordinary amount of sediment inside the glass, I seriously thought there was something amiss. There may be. It looks like someone ashed a whole cigar into the beer.

Smell - Pretty standard pale ale aroma, although I was somewhat take aback by the skunkiness of the smell. Not very inviting. I could smell it as I poured it. Other than that, a little Hoppiness, a little grainy backbone. Not much going on here.

Taste - Much the same as the nose. underwhelming, with a definite funk. A little hops, a little chewy grains, other than that, not much going on at all.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, high carbonation level. Finished fairly clean.

Overall - This is the same brewery that made Two Hearted and Kalamzoo Stout? I never would have guessed. This beer is a miss on a lot of levels. I thought it may have been because of the ge, but it isn't that old, five months. I see a lot of BA's are disappointed. Not a good APA at all, not a good beer. Kinda reminds me of Corona, seriously. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 02:43:00 | More by TheCondor

AleWatcher

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle dated 05.04.12
Served in tulip pint.

Pale golden color. Very clear and fizzy. White head of 2 fingers settled quickly to a thin cap of white foam. Spotty lace.
Smells of a lightly toasted grainy malt with a little grassy and lemony hop note.
The flavor is dry and grainy malt with a little earthy character. Lemony hop note on the back end are the most prominent. Very mild bitterness.
Good carbonation level, medium-light body.
Overall-- APA is my favorite style... And this is a pretty average take on the style. Surprising disappointment from such a great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 02:34:21 | More by AleWatcher

Beer_Runner

4.18/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

packaged on 05/04/12
Slowly poured into a standard pint glass.

A: Poured to about two fingers of rich, thick, foamy, off-white head that was robust and long-lasting. The brew is a gloden straw color and cloudy.

S: The aroma is mild and consists of a sweet caramel malt and floral hops.

T: The taste is a very pleasant blend of malt sweetness, some floral hops, and just enough bitterness. Each flavor is mild and they fit together well.

M: This beer has a very light body and is very smooth with a clean finish.

O: This is a simple and basic Pale Ale. It is a great representation of the style. The mild flavors blend together to create a pleasant and pleasing beer. No frills, no twists, and nothing hitting you over the head. This is just a classic, simple Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 00:16:54 | More by Beer_Runner

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of hops, citrus. Taste is different, spicy, hops ,bitter, lemon. not really what I was expecting. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a mediocre beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 19:57:27 | More by tone77

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.38/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another Bell’s session offerring: their Pale Ale. Low alcohol, but I’m guessing it isn’t low flavor.

Brewed three weeks before the date of this tasting (“PKGD 05/04/12”).

A: Is that some chill haze I see? Odd, since this beer is so fresh. Anyway, it pours a cloudy golden-yellow, pale like fruit juice but with a decent shine to it. Bright, smooth head, an array of white cream that you’d expect on top of any nice pub beer. Delicate lacing climbs the side of the glass.

S: Quite mild: not overtly hopped, but with a spicy, floral buzz of airy bitterness. There a prominent earthy presence to the whole nose, as the relaxed hops open up to a husky grain tone of pale malts. It’s a nice pilsner-esque aroma.

T: Nothing special here: an easy-drinking mouthful of chunky grains and honey oat cereal. It’s husk and straight up raw, grassy pilsner malt, backed up by an herbal hop kick – piney and herbal, and even with a citrus kick to it. Moderate bitterness to the palate, with that full-on husk chewiness, making the aftertaste a slight, grainy experience. Very mild in the finish, and overall.

M: Fizzy yet smooth, a refreshing blend of the two extremes that works wonders on a hot summer day.

O: A good summer brew; I’m getting essentially the same enjoyment out of this beer that I did from their Amber Ale. At any rate, if you like raw, chewy grains, then you’ll get a kick out of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 22:24:14 | More by BarryMFBurton

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Single bottle from Knightly Spirits in Orlando. Bit of an old bottle - dated in September. We'll see what happens.

Poured into a nonic. Pale straw in colour, hazy and with some visible sediment - a lot of it.

Nose is bread, citrus, some funkiness I can't identify that places this beer in a witbier category or something markedly in pale ale.

The pale ale finally arrives in the taste, which is okay but nothing special. Citrus, bread, crispness, hop bitterness to the finish. Grainy.

Assertive carbonation, moderate body.

It may be the age of the brew, but judging from other reviews I'm not alone in this regard. A miss for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 04:17:56 | More by JohnnyBarman