Midwestern Pale Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

schoolboy

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +30.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I saw this at Save On and it looked new-to-me so I grabbed one. I'll cut to the conclusion - I would gladly grab some any time.

This pale ale comes out mirky. Very mirky, in fact. That was unexpected and interesting. It has great head and lace. The aroma hits you pretty quickly after opening - great finishing hops. Truly a first rate aroma for the style.

Next you taste it and you are treated to a dry, hoppy, mildly bitter (not over the top). It is extremely well balanced - perfect for the style. The aftertaste is pleasantly bitter but fresh.

I could see this as an outstanding session beer. I want more!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 23:16:18 | More by schoolboy

miwestcoaster

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-20-2013 02:38:24 | More by miwestcoaster

Hairrrrrrrr

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-19-2013 00:26:17 | More by Hairrrrrrrr

cfrances33

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

06-18-2013 17:33:07 | More by cfrances33

Jas45678

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-18-2013 02:08:03 | More by Jas45678

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

3.31/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip.

Midwestern Pale Ale comes out of the bottle a full, mostly transparent golden color. A frothy off-white head forms about an inch high initially, but it fades quickly to a few wisps on top of the beer.

The aroma is fairly light. There is a biscuity malt presence for sure. Grassy, slightly floral, with a little bit of lemongrass in the hop aroma. Overall the nose is pretty light, though.

Unfortunately the flavor really follows the nose. There is a bit of malt sweetness up front with a biscuity tone to it. A rising bitterness has a mostly grassy character, with a little bit of citrus and lemongrass as well. The finish is lemony and bitter, with a rather unpleasant aftertaste. There is not that much here, and what is here is not that good.

The mouthfeel is within the normal range for this style. Smooth, filtered, with a lightly crisp and moderately creamy carbonation. The body is a little bit lighter than medium for what I would expect.

I am rather let down by this offering from Bell's. I can usually pick something up from them and feel confident knowing that it will be a solid beer. While there is not anything technically wrong with this beer, I feel they are insulting the great beers that come out of the Midwest.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 07:19:52 | More by KickInTheChalice

dbert21

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%

06-16-2013 14:38:44 | More by dbert21

das_Bier

Alabama

3/5  rDev -10.7%

06-15-2013 20:50:59 | More by das_Bier

Morey

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

06-14-2013 00:33:35 | More by Morey

Nolen12

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -10.7%

06-13-2013 00:04:00 | More by Nolen12

JMUbrewz

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

06-12-2013 16:52:20 | More by JMUbrewz

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

06-12-2013 02:20:08 | More by ColdWaffles

Oldkentman

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%

06-11-2013 22:23:45 | More by Oldkentman

EdTheEdge

California

3/5  rDev -10.7%

06-10-2013 12:39:29 | More by EdTheEdge

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-10-2013 02:00:07 | More by onix1agr

fdig23

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-09-2013 23:03:47 | More by fdig23

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -10.7%

06-09-2013 02:51:30 | More by oglmcdgl

Nyskizy

Ohio

3/5  rDev -10.7%

06-08-2013 21:56:16 | More by Nyskizy

nitter

Ohio

3/5  rDev -10.7%

06-08-2013 21:54:13 | More by nitter

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Great looking beer creamy textured soft off white cream colored head settles on a semi clouded amber copper colored body, with thick creamy bands of chunky lacing left sporadically not in any ornate patterns. Aromatics contain pleasant bready malts, a hint of earthiness, toasted nuts with a simple single dimensioned mild citrus hop edge. Pretty pleasant straight forward mildly hopped pale ale, this is trying to showcase their Michigan grown malt and it's tasty no complaints filed here. Bready grains hints of caramel and ample bitterness in the backend to balance it out, earthy herbal flavors from the hops not much else going on here. Mouthfeel is medium to lighter bodied with natural flowing carbonation each sip is inoffensive on the palate as the next. Overall a nice session beer, one meant to be enjoyed more than one at a time and still not exhaust your live or palate.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 02:50:41 | More by WVbeergeek

savagepm

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-06-2013 00:55:08 | More by savagepm

cackalacky

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +11.6%

06-05-2013 21:34:23 | More by cackalacky

cjac

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +11.6%

06-04-2013 21:37:07 | More by cjac

tjsmith910

Florida

3/5  rDev -10.7%

06-03-2013 01:15:04 | More by tjsmith910

HardyA

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

06-03-2013 01:06:26 | More by HardyA