Bass Pale Ale - Bass Brewers Limited

ebraun

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a 6 pack on sale for $4.99. I don't know that I would be whatever the full price is, but it was just about right at the price. It's a pretty good easy drinker ... although not easy enough for my neighbor who didn't seem to take to it. I found everything to be sort of muted in this brew compared to the finer versions. The hops were mellow, the citrus notes were pretty easy-going. The head topping the dark gold brew had a lot of staying power providing nice lace all the way down the glass. The finish was pretty dry but with a bit of a lemon-y zing.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2002 09:46:34 | More by ebraun

stoutman

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Medium to full body with balance of medium bitterness. An unusual palate almost like a blend of banana, citrus, toasty grain, hoppy flavors. Nice hoppy finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2002 17:20:52 | More by stoutman

psugrad98

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice appearance. Full thick head. Pleasant floral aroma. Creamy taste, with a malt sweetness. Somewhat chewey but flat tasting. Goes good with a Guiness to make a Black and Tan.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2002 20:19:39 | More by psugrad98

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber body, big fluffy white head. Tiny bubbles rising. Good malty nose. Excellent balance of malt and hops in taste and aftertaste. Mouthfeel has nice full, rounded sensation. The classic English Pale Ale retains far more of its character than its American and German lager cousins even at macro production levels. Often available at pubs and restaurants with limited beer lists, its a good beer to have around for both advocates and the budmillercoors crowd.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2002 19:36:42 | More by RonfromJersey

inebrius

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Top of the line at many chain restaurants and definitely better than most American macro offerings. DO NOT allow them to serve it in a frosted mug as you will be drinking what amounts to amber hop water. Bass Ale will be a much better beer if the malt end is allowed to show at proper serving temp. Also benefits from a cap of Guinness.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2002 10:37:19 | More by inebrius

mickeymac

California

3.95/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a good fallback beer that can be found in many decent bars and restaurants. We used to order a keg of Bass at almost every party we had at ASU and were never disappointed. It's a nice amber color with a head that fades quickly. Toffe/caramel flavors are noticeable but it's not overly sweet.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2002 23:56:12 | More by mickeymac

mophie

Delaware

3.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

First off, I have to admit I had long ago dismissed this beer as yet another macro with a British accent. When a friend handed me a bottle this weekend, though, I was reminded that this really is not a bad beer at all. Typical pale-ale amber color with a billowy white head. Slightly herbal hop aroma, a bit tangy, with a barely-perceptible malty sweetness. Starts with a tangy, almost metallic taste that gives way to a barely noticeable sweetness. Finish is pleasantly bitter. Overall, more balanced than I recall, and not a bad example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2002 06:42:37 | More by mophie

frank4sail

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A staple and or conversion beer for lots of people. Amber color wih a rich head. Sweet nose. Hoppy bitter taste with a slight sourness. I would like a little more on the malt side to increase the body. Great lace on the glass.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2002 08:03:32 | More by frank4sail

marc77

California

3.85/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thick, persistent, billowy off - white head. Amber and very clear in color; there's no haze whatsoever. It's very appealing in appearance. Fruity yeast esters in aroma, but the perfumey and grassy (perhaps Challenger?) hop nose provide for a complex, yet clean aroma profile. Mild diacetyl butterscotch becomes noticeable as the hop oils dissipate. The carbonation is perfect and results in a very smooth mouthfeel. The body is fairly light, but there are enough malt and hop flavors to make this quite a tasty British pale. This brew is well balanced-- the crystal malt sweetness and residual sugars are well balanced by the moderate hop bitterness. Bass finishes with slight biscuit malt flavors and a touch of sweetness. This pale ale is very clean and enjoyable all around. It's more estery and fruity (and much less assertive hopwise) than the typical American pale, and is a fine example of an English pale ale. Highly quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2002 20:05:28 | More by marc77

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

This is the first time that I've had Bass in several years. I seem to remember it as being more complex and enjoyable. The beer is very carbonated, slightly bitter, has virtually no sweetness, and no real aftertaste. Pours to form a small white head that quickly dissipates. Inoffensive and common.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2002 12:58:43 | More by Suds

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

OK...I am altering my entire review based on this one bottle. I used to hate this stuff more than anything, and even after I had some more advanced taste buds, I still couldnt handle the aftertaste of Bass. However, this one isn't terrible. It's drinkable. I am almost embarrassed that I am drinking this after all the Bass-bashing I have done over the years. But I do this to myself every now and then, I get a bottle of Bass to see if I can handle it. This is the first time I can. I dont really feel like commenting much on the beer, as this is a very awkward moment for me. Its appearance is nice, always has been. Citrusy hoppy aroma. Somewhat metallic aftertaste still, but tolerable. This is very awkward. I dont know if I will be able to sleep tonight.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2002 14:16:44 | More by IrishRedRock

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bass Pale Ale, like Sammy Boston Lager, is a great fall-back bier, especially when AB, Coors, etc are the alternatives. Light copper color, with a small head; leaves a bit of lacing down the glass. Nose was mildly hoppy, with a hint of malt. Mouthfeel/body were medium...middle of the road. Starts out with a touch of malty sweetness....ends with a bitter hoppiness... A good choice when swill is the only other option...

overall: 3.5
appearance: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | mouthfeel: 3.5 | drinkability: 3.5

85

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2002 11:18:59 | More by Bierman9

StevieW

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I think a bottle of bass, is an old reliable beer. I will always order it at retaurant or pub where the only other choices are buds, millers, coors, etc. Nice inviting brown color, head quickly disappears but always tastes great. Compliments many meals, and I find it always refreshing. I try to keep some always in my supply at home, but last night drank my last one. Always will be a winner to me.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2002 09:10:28 | More by StevieW

budgood1

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

dark amber in color, a moderate head that quickly subsides to almost nothing. smell is of sweet malts...sort of candy like...perhaps butterscotch? medium body with the sweet malts dominating the soft hops. anybody that slams this ale is stupid. there is a reason why Bass is perfect in black and tans with Guiness or any other dry stout. i can detect the uniqueness of the water used, which imparts a delightful dance on palate along with the hops. this is a difficult ale to review...there is a lot going on here. there must be some reason why Bass is a world renowned english ale. a classic.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2002 02:25:11 | More by budgood1

proc

Michigan

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am a big fan of Bass Ale. This was one of the beers that introduced me to the world of brew outside of U.S. macros. It was my breakout brew. This beer pours to a nice light amber color, has a slight metallic (in a good way) taste, and has a nice hop presence on the finish. A quality fall-back beer for me. Many times, this is the best beer available in the bar.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2002 14:48:21 | More by proc

Reverand

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber in color and a decent head. Out of the tap is the best. One of the great session beers for me.It's even better with Guinness.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2002 05:45:01 | More by Reverand

nklatt

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Medium amber color, medium sized head. Crisp, light smell only of hops; the taste is mostly the same, you feel it on the back of your throat and sides of your tongue, with a little nuttiness going on. Could use some more character, but very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2002 20:28:38 | More by nklatt

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

1.98/5  rDev -41.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Not good, another one of these English ales which gets a huge wrap, but it is quite overrated, don't like it.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2002 19:41:34 | More by rastaman

bmills1608

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Of the widely distributed, world wide beers, this is one of the best. Deep reddish-amber color, slightly creamy mouthfeel. Has a slight fruity character, but not overly so which balances nicely with the malt and hops. I slight toasty flavor (toasted grains/malt) is also prevalent but has a small say. The hops are there, but not overpowering by any means (which appeals to me). All flavors seem to be in perfect balance with one another. This beer is complex, not as complex as many, but has more then enough complexity to keep you taste buds interested. A great drinking beer, tough to have just one, and one of my standbys.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2002 12:47:49 | More by bmills1608

AaronRed

New York

3.23/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On occasion, I will have a Bass if nothing else is available or I am just not going to have a Sam Adams Lager. I find Bass a very drinkable mass-produced beer. Always has a nice color with faint bitterness and a moderate malty grain flavor. It is very average compared to most good beers, but I find it acceptable, espcially if it is not my main focus of the evening.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2001 00:08:18 | More by AaronRed

geckointhebox

United States

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Better on tap, but a solid choice. This beer isn't going to overwhelm you with any one quality, but you buy it because you know what you are getting.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2001 21:41:37 | More by geckointhebox

gwfrankpsu

California

3.05/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

While this is the "standard" for Pale Ale, I think it has become more mainstream (Bud like) over the years. I can remember how wonderful this was 15 to 20 years ago, maybe my tastes have changed, it just doesn't seem the same. This is a very drinkable beer, but there is so much better and made right here in the good old USA.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2001 11:57:10 | More by gwfrankpsu

John

New York

3.8/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottom line, this is good beer. Not great but good. Are there better beers out there...of course. In terms of mass produced beer (so is Guinness), it'll do better than many others in a pinch.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2001 10:17:15 | More by John

bk3nj

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Good bang for your buck, but don't expect anything spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2001 01:27:14 | More by bk3nj

Brent

Kentucky

3.8/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An essential component for a classic black & tan.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2001 13:05:42 | More by Brent