Dale's Pale Ale - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

keeganfrank

Ohio

4.19/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tea-colored ale with a thick, foamy head that retains well. Aromas of faint citrus and sweet bread with hints of berry. Flavors of sweet fruit and bread with a slight citrus rind tartness. Has a really complex and well-balanced profile. I can certainly understand all the hype behind this brew.

Serving type: can

04-28-2013 16:01:14 | More by keeganfrank

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Golden with good lacing.

Smell: Refreshing mown grass balanced with caramel malt.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Nice balance of grass and caramel. Very dry, but a bit too flat.

Overall Drinkabiity: Seems like this is a cult classic, so I was glad to find this. I would definitely drink this again.

Serving type: can

04-27-2013 23:59:49 | More by tjsdomer2

barnzy78

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz can, it's a deep golden ale topped with a frothy, ivory colored head holds great retention and leaves thick, chunky lacing. Aromas are floral hops, bready malt, citric, caramel, a bit tropical. Tastes are bready, caramel, pungent grapefruit, and pine. Nice mouth-feel here with a smooth creaminess, while being medium bodied. Overall, solid APA, and holds a bit of nostalgia for me as I highly sought after this beer a few years ago before it was available in IL.

Serving type: can

04-27-2013 01:21:09 | More by barnzy78

armiakhe

Michigan

3.03/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

The appearance was an amber/gold with a lot of bubbles with a foamy head when poured. The smell definitely had some hops to it and smelled of citrus with a touch of pine. The taste overall was OK to me it had a very strong hop taste so it was a little overwhelming to me.

Serving type: can

04-26-2013 12:46:42 | More by armiakhe

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.85/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Nice find for me at least being down here in DE:

Into a mug:

A: somewhat hazy yet clear orange/brown body with a one finger foamy white head, clingy foamy lacing

S: hops up front, light malts come through once it warms

T: mainly sweet becomes slightly bitter once it warms, sticky sweet aftertaste and finish

M: light to medium, sessionable, carbonated just right

O: glad I finally found it and tried it as this is good for its style and good for me

Serving type: can

04-24-2013 20:38:49 | More by kangarooAdam59

mjurney

Texas

4.46/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
Amber-gold color, touch of haze. Lots of small bubble rising up. Thick rocky head.

Aroma:
Citrus, piney, sweet caramel malts.

Taste:
Strong hop character, but not overwhelming, citrus, piney, grassy. Rich malty background, bready, caramel. There's some fruity ester. Bitter-crisp finish. Body is robust, crisp, semi-dry, very smooth.

Overall:
Taste more like an American IPA than American Pale Ale. Highly drinkable, 6.5% ABV is well hidden. Very delicious beer.

Serving type: can

04-21-2013 23:49:42 | More by mjurney

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.89/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Light copper, maybe a 1/2 finger's worth of head, with long retentin and a good amount of lacing.

S: A slight toasted, grainy maltiness on the nose, but the vast majority of the aroma comes from the grapefruit/citrus of the hops.

T: The taste doesn't deliver anything that isn't promised by the nose. The initial flavor is that of toasted cereal grains, a some biscuity notes. They are quickly swept away, though, by the aggressive hopping. The hops come through with grapefruit and an intense woody flavor. The finish is dry and crisp.

M: Fairly heavy body, bready and almost chewy in texture, with a decent amount of carbonation which brings a nice crispness.

O: A solid beer. It packs a lot of flavor, between the aggressive hopping and the intense bready malts. i would almost say that they over-did it if they really want to call this a "pale ale" Definitely a big beer, and it goes down easily.

Serving type: can

04-21-2013 18:08:51 | More by DaveBlack

KFBR392

Illinois

3.74/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Strong copper color with some slight orange tint. About a finger worth of head on the pour which stuck around very lightly overall. Heavy lacing on the glass which stuck with each drink. Below average carbonation throughout drinking.

Smell: Light citrus front on this brew. Kind of a sticky malt body in the aroma. Some cinnamon sugary spices in the aroma. But overall pretty subdued.

Taste: A ton of malt. Some APA go on the hop side, this is not one of those. Very sweet molasses front which transitions into a syrupy malty body. The hops are felt on the finish, a heavily dry hop finish.

Mouthfeel: Dry, but at the same time some sugary sweetness going on here.

Overall: A decent APA. Goes hard on the side of malt for an APA but is a very solid representation of the style.

Serving type: can

04-16-2013 03:24:08 | More by KFBR392

matjack85

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked this up at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL as part of a build-your-own six pack for $9.99, making them $1.67 each for a 12oz can. No freshness date.

The beer poured a cloudy apricot color with a big 4-finger white head that lasted a long time and left tons of good lacing.

Big fruity and hoppy aroma. Mostly getting orange with a touch of pine.

Big orange citrus hop flavor with a touch of orange rind and mild pine hop bitterness. PPenty of caramel malt sweetness for balance.

Medium bodied, just short of creamy with medium carbonation.

This is a very good canned beer.

Serving type: can

04-15-2013 07:18:22 | More by matjack85

Hendry

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Heady Topper hath taught me that canned beer is not sacrilege! Dale's APA is simple, unpretentious, and hits all the right notes, particularly at the price point.

Unlike the BA photo of the can, mine says "Brevard, North Carolina" at the bottom.Pours a clear amber/off orange with a medium white head, and has an appealing no-nonsense nose: plenty of naval orange and pink grapefruit citrus, plus piney with a well balanced mix of sweet caramel maltiness. Medium bodied and mouthfeel, well carbonated for the style.

Flavors are a straightforward good, really good. The delicate balance of hops and malt backbone are nicely achieved, and the citrus/piney characteristics are certainly present in both the initial flavors and the aftertaste. Dale's Pale Ale should satisfy APA fans that appreciate a snappy hop presence, and at the $10 six pack price point, it is a solid value well worthy of trying.

Serving type: can

04-14-2013 05:39:58 | More by Hendry

Dave_in_GR

Michigan

4.24/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours a beautiful light orange color with a good finger-width of head that hangs around. Great lacing on the side of the glass as well. The smell is very gentle, just a hint of citrus and hops. Taste is much more assertive, great citrus flavors and a decent hit of hops, really nice and balanced. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a nice amount of carbonation - very easy to drink. One of the best pale ales I've had, so glad Michigan has this now

Serving type: can

04-13-2013 21:46:58 | More by Dave_in_GR

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Consumed 4/12/13

Note: Poured from the rather odd 19.2oz "imperial pint" can

Appearance: Clear, medium orange in color with some gold highlights - average size, off-white cap, fades to some wisps, leaves some decent lacing

Smell: Nice citrus and pine aromas - moderately hoppy in a juicy way, with fleshy orange and grapefruit - some peel as well - herbal, earthy notes and some pine - somewhat balanced with a pale malt background, with some caramel - bready, with a sweetness that reminds me of honey

Taste: More or less matches the smell, perhaps a little less hoppy - wet, juicy oranges, with some orange and grapefruit zest - some pine - pale, bready malts with some caramel - earthy and herbal, with a light spiciness - some sweetness, perhaps crystal malts - somewhat balanced, would go well with food, kind of becomes watery over time

Mouthfeel: Medium body, very smooth, nicely carbonated, notably quaffable

Overall: I'm glad we finally met, Dale

This is the first can of this I have ever had. I've had samples on numerous occasions, and I never got around to reviewing it. It's a solid APA. It slowly loses some of its charm over the course of 19.2 ounces, but I still think it would be good with food. Worth a try, for sure.

Serving type: can

04-12-2013 05:44:38 | More by angrybabboon

hossua34

California

4.69/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A - Deep, rich amber color. A respectable head that leaves lots of lacing.

S - Sweet honey and floral notes. Delicious.

T - A hoppy, but well-balanced, candied floral taste that just explodes in your mouth.

M - What can I say? Full and smooth without being overly carbonated or any other such negative characteristics. Pretty much perfect.

O - Maybe I just got an incredibly fresh batch of this, but my god. This is one of the ten best beers I've ever tasted. I drank this after a large bottle of Hennepin (another personal favorite) and this beer blew it out of the water... Let me just put it this way: I stopped posting on BA about 2.5 years ago because I just kinda got bored of it. This beer inspired me to come back and post a review. Between this and the also-exceptional Fat Tire Shift Pale Lager, I am quickly becoming a canned beer convert. If you see it, try it.

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 23:38:53 | More by hossua34

andrewjraab

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a dark and golden tone with good clarity and forms a soft pillow of head. Good retention and nice lacing.

S - Citrus, orange peel, some malts, caramel.

T - Not a hop bomb, but a nice snappy crisp hop balanced with some malts. Easy to drink.

O - Very solid APA that I could drink all day. This is a nice one to keep in the fridge.

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 00:04:54 | More by andrewjraab

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

355ml can poured into tulip 8/4/13

A clear golden yellow with a few streams of slow bubbles with a few big speedy ones, thumbs width of off white foam quickly falls to a thick film and leaves a few thick squiggly rings of lace

S orange and tangerine peel, a little pine, some sweet toffee and slight floral notes, some lemony citrus and orange sherbert with a very faint hint of soap but it somehow works well

T more rind then flesh, slightly more toffee and pine, a faint metallic aspect I couldn't place, not sure why but I get just a little bubblegum but everything works just not quite as nice as the nose

M medium bodied and stops just short of creamy, a little gritty on the gums and a mild bitter bite, lingering rind finish

O I'd never guess it's 6.5%, drinks like a session ale and its very well rounded, I'd get buzzed before I got board of this one, pretty solid brew

I like it and I'm stoked that Oskar Blues has entered our market but I'd have a hard time buying this again when its 17$ a 6er, I'm grooving on it but I'd take Red Racer or Lagunitas Sucks for the same price

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 06:04:58 | More by wordemupg

DAllspaw

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pint at Owen and Engine in Chicago. Deep apricot color, a bit hazy with average head and lacing. Aroma was more orange, citrusy than pine for me, with some malty sweetness.

Taste was better than aroma led me to believe. Very nice body, with slight caramel sweetness, but not too much and not in the finish. Wish I could get in Indy.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2013 00:27:37 | More by DAllspaw

jhutch31

California

3.74/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I might have to drink this Pale Ale again. I love Oscar Blues, however this beer wasn't one of my favorites from them.

Appearance: Beer was quite hazy. Almost looks as if it's unfiltered. Doesn't have the polished, beautiful appearance of a large brewing companies beer. Amber in color with good carbonation and head retention. Left some good lacing in the glass.

Smell: Not a whole lot of aroma. Pale and crystal malts, with maybe some munich? I gathered a lot of piney hops with peppery spices and some subtle grapefruit and citrus.

Taste: A good malt backbone with a strong flavor of piney and spicy hops. Very little citrus flavor.

Mouthfeel: A little bitter on the finish, but not bad. A medium bodied beer with a decent mouthfeel.

Overall: Again, I love Oscar Blues so I think i'm going to try this one again. I really got a bit of a different flavor profile than some of the other reviews that I saw on here. It is a good beer, but there are other pale ales I enjoy more.

Serving type: can

04-08-2013 21:54:31 | More by jhutch31

donmonkey1

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Nice frothy white head, good carbonation, cloudy golden color, much like a yeasty beer. Decent lacing too.

Smell: Grapefruit, citrus hops

Taste: Lemon-grapefruit mix with a touch of plum.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body, ok carbonation

This is a very flavorful beer. The first sip is almost overbearing because it shocked me with all the citrus flavor. After that I knew what to expect and it was really good. Although not a session beer, I'm going to love drinking this occasionally.

Serving type: can

04-07-2013 20:14:20 | More by donmonkey1

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: a yellowish orange with perfect clarity. small off-white head that left a lacing

Smell: pale malts and hops

Taste: piney hops, hint of floral hops, pale malts, breadiness, maybe some toasted malts.

Mouthfeel: nice and light, but not nearly as refreshing as I look for in a pale ale

Overall: I had to at least welcome oskar blues to michigan, it was decent beer not gonna be my go to though. I will surely try another oskar blues but i am not going out of my way for it.

Serving type: can

04-04-2013 22:12:04 | More by SportsandJorts

BigRedGator

Georgia

3.99/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Full bodied and smooth, concealing the strength and kick. Very hoppy, so very hoppy. A very good and enjoyable drink for really kicking back year round. Cans keep it cold and it is best served very cold. Red IPA's seem the best in my experience and this one embodies that rule. Love it.

Serving type: can

04-04-2013 01:25:46 | More by BigRedGator

ckollias

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this 12oz can out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a semi-cloudy copper hue with a thick fluffy white head that leaves a 360 trail all the way down ending in a solid lace.

S: Surprisingly strong hoppy aroma with solid bread and piney citrus scent.

T: Equal mix of bread, caramel and hops.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: This is one of the more tasty pale ale’s I’ve had in awhile. Nice bready- malt character with a decent hop profile.

Serving type: can

03-31-2013 00:00:37 | More by ckollias

AC-Mivsek

Ohio

4.61/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a can into a pint glass.

A- Pours a hazy orange with a 1-finger white head.

S- Slightly citrusy and fruity. Grapefruit, orange and lemon mostly. Pine hops and a malt sweetness.

T- Pine hops up front, which cling to the palate. Followed by orange and grapefruit tartness, as well as, some bready malt.

M- Medium carbonation, well-balanced, slightly resiny body. Not heavy but not light or watery at all. Perfect for a pale ale.

O- Very well-rounded brew. Looks great, smells great, tastes great, and feels great going down. A must try, especially for fans of APAs.

Serving type: can

03-29-2013 23:11:14 | More by AC-Mivsek

WunderLlama

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Can poured into a pub glass

Reddish amber, not opaque but not entirely clear either, no visible carbonation, thick 2 finger foam that settles into a frothy lid with nice lacings.

Hoppy with fresh grass. Fresh beer aroma.

Hops, malt and sharp hop bitterness in the finish. The bitterness lingers on the tongue. Medium , medium heavy mouthfeel.

Nice beer, strong hoppy finish.

Serving type: can

03-29-2013 00:29:35 | More by WunderLlama

danieelol

Australia

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear golden. Great head/lacing.

Smell is melon, papaya, green jungle. Very fresh and aromatic. Malty goodness.

Taste gives more melony hops. Very strongly bittered. Good stuff..

Mouthfeel is smooth, creamy, and bitter.

This stuff is way too easy to drink, even though it could have been served a smidgeon colder (my mistake). Very good.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 11:33:15 | More by danieelol

Rizalini

Nevada

4.23/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12oz can, canned on 01/10/13, and poured into my Deschutes tulip...

A - Pours a crystal clear amberish/orange color, with 2 fingers of cream color head. A little darker than I'm used to seeing a pale ale. Nice strands of lacing when the head falls.

S - Juicy hop aroma, and a honey carmel malt backbone.

T/M - Very balanced malt and citrus hop profile. Starts off with the carmel malts and then the great hop bitterness, followed by a resinous hop bitterness. I feel like it's slightly under carbonated, leanding it a smooth/creamy medium mouthfeel.

O - This is a really solid pale. As opposed to other pales that are bland and unremarkable, this one has character. Great malt profile, bolder that normal hops, somewhat slick mouthfeel, and very drinkable. If this was readily available to me, I think it would be my go to session brew.

Serving type: can

03-25-2013 21:24:41 | More by Rizalini