India Pale Ale - Bass Brewers Limited

rcatalano

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +7%

12-23-2012 20:13:25 | More by rcatalano

acurtis

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -8.3%

05-18-2013 19:42:20 | More by acurtis

djrn2

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -8.3%

05-18-2013 19:41:06 | More by djrn2

Chegui

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%

05-14-2013 20:31:15 | More by Chegui

Offa

California

2.2/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.75

This is a rough, very sub-par IPA that actually leans towards an American IPA in its very dominant bitterness, even though the hop character is more in the English style. I have always found Bass Pale Ale to be a pretty good beer and was hoping that this would be at least a decent English-style IPA, rather like the Newcastle IPA. I was sorely disappointed, however. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but the example I had was apparently brewed by Anheuser-Busch in Baldwinsville, NY.

Copper, it has a smallish off-white head soon thinning to a foamy ring and wisps, no lace.

Aroma is earthy-pithy-herb-ine hop, with some bread and hint of caramelised crust. The aroma is pretty good and fairly promising to be a reasonable English IPA.

However, the taste and feel are rough and a great disappointment. It is dominated from the start by a sharp, vaguely resiny-woody hop bitterness that hits up front and lingers long after. The bitterness sticks roughly and aggressively and despite the vague resiny-woody flavour, it is lacking in hop character. There is almost no sweetness to balance and very little toasty malt character only. Feel is ok, but thin. Overall, this is a rough, harsh, one-dimensional beer lacking in the character or sweetness to support the bitterness. With some mild food, it might be all right, but alone it is pointless and rapidly becomes so tiresome that I could not even bring myself to finish a 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 18:43:15 | More by Offa

Bear1964

Nebraska

3/5  rDev -8.3%

05-08-2013 21:49:22 | More by Bear1964

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.8/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Caramel clear body with a light off white head, fine speckled lacing scattered. Aroma a bit metallic like pennies in a wishing well, somewhat mild tame citrus and caramel if I have to get serious. Flavors muted sweetness mild bready caramel notes with a muddled hop character that really comes off as a bitter muddled mess with copper pennies floating in it. Mouthfeel is lighter with ample carbonation just that linger metallic hop combo lasts between sips, my cousin refers to some hoppy beers of this caliber as rusty. That seems appropriate as my overall interpretation not bad just a little rusty tasting that is, like why does it taste like rusted copper pennies?

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 00:46:51 | More by WVbeergeek

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.28/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a clear deep golden color with a decent sized white head that persists. Smells of earthy hops and aged malts. The flavor holds caramel and brown sugar mixed with a hints of dark fruits a bit of earth and sulfur. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a slick somewhat bitter mouthfeel. Pedestrian IPA even for an English version. I could drink this, but with so many better choices, why would I?

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:55:40 | More by johnnnniee

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -38.8%

05-01-2013 15:37:24 | More by JohnK17

WesWes

New York

3.58/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

The beer pours a deep golden/amber color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a complex mix of pale and caramel malts along with a mild noble hop bitterness and a dry, fruity yeast scent. The taste is decent as well. It's smooth and easy drinking with a solid pale and caramel malt flavor. It well balanced with a moderate hop bitterness; noble hops of course. It finishes very dry with a touch of English ale yeast esters. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium/full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a pretty good beer. I like the balance and hop character; definitely a beer I'd have again.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:05:09 | More by WesWes

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%

04-28-2013 22:48:28 | More by jfcaa193

Kunstman

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%

04-28-2013 03:48:16 | More by Kunstman

grimey68

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -15.9%

04-21-2013 02:39:03 | More by grimey68

jkermitj

Mississippi

3.75/5  rDev +14.7%

04-18-2013 22:14:52 | More by jkermitj

NinetyNineBottles

Florida

2/5  rDev -38.8%

04-11-2013 21:13:44 | More by NinetyNineBottles

crobinso

Colorado

3/5  rDev -8.3%

04-07-2013 00:43:51 | More by crobinso

BuddyE

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev +14.7%

03-26-2013 03:40:20 | More by BuddyE

jkrich

Indiana

3.66/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from an undated 12 oz. bottle: very nice, clear and bright copper with sustained, off-white head.
The label states this was dry-hopped, but the aroma is rather disappointing with some faint hop aroma but mainly a whiff of muddled malt.
The flavor begins with a somewhat sweet malt flavor with some earthiness. There is a faint hop bite that gives the ale a bittersweet aftertaste. This is a good example of an English ale - well rounded with nuanced flavors.
This medium bodied ale has a very satisfying dryness and crispness that lingers on the palate. The carbonation is restrained and mouthfeel is soft and creamy.
By American standards this is hardly an IPA, but by modern English standards is right on style. Regardless of what it is called, it is very sessionable and refreshing. I noticed on the label that this English Bass is brewed in Baldwinsville, NY.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 23:08:58 | More by jkrich

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 11/22/12.

Pours a clear dark orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, tea leaves, and some mild citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same with malt and tea-like flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some solid aromas and flavors that make it easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 04:54:49 | More by UCLABrewN84

Billolick

New York

3.5/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ouncer, w/o freshness info

Pours almond amber, with bubbles rapidly on the rise. Near clear, under a moderate khaki cap. Leaves almost respectable low sheting and middle of the road spots of lace.

Malt on the nose, with a hint of leafy hop.

Bready malts up front, along with some fresh tasting and quite drying hops. Balanced and pleasant enough. British all the way. Decent everyday kinda British style hoppy ale. Nice long finish. Works for me

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 21:27:47 | More by Billolick

Chucker17

South Dakota

3.75/5  rDev +14.7%

03-04-2013 03:30:52 | More by Chucker17

tbryan5

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev +14.7%

03-03-2013 20:15:29 | More by tbryan5

pkalix

California

4.21/5  rDev +28.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

exploded upon popping the cap.... lots of lacing, lots of creamy yopping, orang-ish transparent color.
smells malty, with hops.... slight citrus aroma... smells like candy.
taste is... citrus, slight grapefruit, sweet malts, very nice. dont see where the lower marks come in from other reviewers...
overall, hey! it's pretty decent! didnt know what to think of a BASS ipa.... i miss the BASS cream ale from LONG yesteryears ago.... wasnt sure what to think of this before i sniffed it. is why i bought it! i think it's good! i mean, the americans have the renegade, lawless heaping of the hops thing down to a science; the brits have done a decent job of trying to keep up, no?

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 02:32:10 | More by pkalix

mrjbrown27

South Dakota

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%

03-03-2013 02:11:05 | More by mrjbrown27

Trent

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%

02-21-2013 01:55:58 | More by Trent