India Pale Ale - Bass Brewers Limited

PhillyStyle

Georgia

3.28/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

I had this on-tap at probably one of the least expected places while in Indiana for the holidays. Unfortunately they served all of their beers in chilled glasses, but I will do my best.

The beer appeared a darker copper color with a nice off-white head that had decent retention. The aroma was light, but malty with a slight hint of earthiness to it. The taste followed the nose nicely, more malty than hoppy, but with a nice earthiness to it. The beer had a lighter feel to it, a little creamy and crisp. Overall, not the best, but certainly not the worst...at this point, I still prefer Meantime's IPA or Mikkeller's East Kent Golding Single Hop IPA for an English IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 00:09:15 | More by PhillyStyle

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

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

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

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

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

chinchill

South Carolina

3.7/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Undated 12 oz. bottle served in a goblet.

A: Has a markedly orange-tinted amber color. Crystal clear with a small, moderately durable, white head. Some visible carbonation and a little lacing.

Aroma: Earthy, English hops dominate; hints of caramel and grapefruit.

T: Similar to aroma but a bit more earthy and hop-forward.

M: Medium-thin bodied; quite crisp and dry, especially the finish.

O: Well crafted English style IPA made in NY, USA. A pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 02:02:39 | More by chinchill

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Pours a decent creamy fizzy 1.5 finger head that fizzy fades at a fair rate but leaves nice pillowy lacing, over mostly clear slight hazy auburn amber reddish color.

Nose brings some light grassy leafy hops, lightly floral too, and a bit of candied citrus. Malts bring some caramel, biscuit, sweet malty base, and there is a hint of fruity aroma almost like a lager but it's not.

Taste starts malty and a bit sweet, caramel toasty malts, nice malty flavor, little toasty grainy. Then hops come in, fair bitterness with hops bringing grassy again, quite leafy and touch herbal, light noble grassy floral flavors, some light citrus and faint pine, and a juicy fruity hop character. Then they get spicy as it dries on the finish, fairly long bitter finish, nice bitter bite leaves earthy hops and on the way to astringent but doesn't get there, little sticky malt there too. However, the more I sip and the more it warms, I get some of that slightly skunky Bass Ale kinda flavor that detracts from it a bit.

Mouth is med bodied, fluffy carb.

Overall not bad, decent hop base that brings some noble grassy leafy hops, then a fairly spicy earthy bitter hip finish, and decent malt base to balance.impressed that this is from bass. It would be that much better if not for that last second skunky like flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 22:47:46 | More by jlindros

beergoot

Colorado

3.44/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark amber body with a thin, white and somewhat sticky head. Soft cereal grain nose with a light floral hop aroma. The taste comes across with a bright sweetness and a spiffy hop bittering sting; caramel and crystal malt character. The mouthfeel is medium and smooth with a semi-dry finish.

A nicely done IPA featuring more of a malt character rather than focusing on the hops like its American-styled cousins. This isn't to say that there isn't a nice hop profile working with this beer. Nicely balanced and easy drinking...

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 01:01:47 | More by beergoot

plaid75

New York

3.91/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a clear amber hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured leafy hops, clean caramel and a slight diactyl.

The taste was well balanced with a dry cracker like malt highlighted by a vibrant leafy hop medley. As advertised, both English and American hops detected.

The was clean with a dry finish.

Overall a very impressive suprise here. Very quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 18:52:34 | More by plaid75

zeff80

Missouri

3.46/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A - Copper color with a one-finger, off-white head of foam. It left minimal lacing.

S - Floral with bread crust and caramel malt.

T - Fairly malty with some toffee and caramel sweetness. Light grassy bitterness.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is an okay English IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:02:40 | More by zeff80

AlTrombley

Connecticut

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

I liked this beer. It has a feel of a real English I.P.A. I think some of the micro breweries just throw in hops just to say "we have the most hops". When they do that they really lose the overall balance of the beer. Good job Bass!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 01:24:53 | More by AlTrombley

Flightoficarus

Washington

3.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I believe this is my first time trying a true English IPA, after plenty of west coast US IPA hop bombs. Let's see how they differ!

A - Pours a crystal clear copper hue, with a nice, persisting off-white/tan head.

S - Smell is of a biscuit-like caramel malt backbone, with lots of floral notes. Not as much citrus and pine as I'm used to for sure, but a nice scent nonetheless.

T - Taste is mildly malty up front, with very slight hints of caramel/toffee. The malt backbone is immediately subdued by lots of floral flavors - It's grassy, leafy, and grainy tasting. Finishes crisp and clean, with a somewhat dry finish, and a slight lingering bitterness.

M - Body is on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation is crisp and lively. It's very much sessionable.

O - Overall, this is indeed a different beast than what I'm used to. I like the flavors going on here, and the bitterness profile is spot-on, but still feel I would enjoy this one more if it had a bit more malt backbone/flavor complexity going on. I certainly wouldn't turn one of these down though. It's pretty cheap, so it's worth a try if you come across this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 08:58:59 | More by Flightoficarus

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

2.65/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Into a pint glass:

A: light amber colored body yielding a soft foamy hilly one finger head . Though a clear body, no carbonation was seen rising. Lacing was left in rings around the pint glass.

S: malts up front, hops very subdued in a slightly soapy bland sort of sens

T: the same as above smells and coming across in the same bland sort of way

M: light with some mediocre sharpness around the tongue, and a bland stickiness, extremely drinkable

O: it was very bland all around and pretty much almost too drinkable for 6%. I really don't see myself coming back to this.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 06:13:43 | More by kangarooAdam59

Zorro

California

3.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very dark amber colored beer with a small light tan colored head. This shade of amber is nearing red or brown but not quite.

Smell is lightly malty with English style hops. Herbal and leafy with a green edge to it. Slight butter with leather and the scent of tobacco. Strong tea and a hint of mint, not super hopped.

Starts out with a slight butter and woody hop flavor. Mineral water flavor. Herbal bitterness but it is mild. Bitterness is a notch above ESB but no where near an AIPA.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall it is good. Tastes distinctly English.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 01:00:40 | More by Zorro

Halcyondays

California

3.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a nice amber with a medium white head, good retention, some lace.

S: Very earthy hop character, weeds, dandelion greens, hint of grapefruit.

T: Earthy floral mix hopwise, which balances well with a biscuity malt profile.

M: Medium-bodied, crisp, clean, easy drinking.

O: For those that want to a change of pace in their IPA drinking, this is somwhere to go. Well made and to style. Just strange to see a Bass bottle have Product of the USA written on it.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 08:53:14 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber with a thin white head that lasts and leaves some lacing.

The smell is of mild Fuggle hops - earthy and herbal with a bit of yeast.

The taste is of Fuggle hops - earthy and bitter with a touch of butter and caramel in the back. Some alcohol shows.

It is somewhat creamy and the bitterness lingers a bit.

More of an American IPA with English hops than a modern English IPA. It is brewed in New York. It is like the Bass Pale with Fuggle hops that stand out. Bitterness is a bit green, slightly raw. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 18:49:55 | More by jwc215

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A-Pours a dark gold with an off-white head that lasts a long time and leaves some good lacing.

S-hoppy, slightly floral with some butterscotch and caramel notes. It smells very similar to other versions of the style but with an American IPA hint to it.

T-Very similar to the nose. Hoppy and slightly floral as expected given the style with a nice touch of caramel and butterscotch. It tastes like an American and English IPA hybrid. I believe the bottle says it was dry-hopped. Good flavor, but not as traditional as say Samuel Smith's IPA.

M-Somewhat carbonated and definitely not as smooth and buttery as other versions of the style like Samuel Smith's and Newcastle IPA (one of the worst tasting beers I have ever had). I think this is the beers weakest aspect.

D-Very drinkable and I plan on drinking more of these in the future.

Overall, I enjoyed this beer I just wish it had a better mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 17:37:43 | More by thegodfather2701

barczar

Kentucky

3.43/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a brilliant deep copper color with a foamy one inch cream head that lingers, eventually dissipating and leaving thick lacing.

Light citrus notes of orange and tangerine dominate the aroma, with grassy and floral hops ushering in lightly bready malt. The balance definitely favors citrus hops.

Bready, toasted malt is more assertive in the flavor, with citrus a bit more subdued, playing an underlying role. The finish is decidedly sudden and bitter. Fairly short flavor profile. Floral hops are more prevalent. Metallic notes emerge as it warms.

Body is on the full side, a touch creamy, with moderate carbonation and a bit of alcohol warmth.

The aroma was more American inn character than expected, and the flavor more bitter and short. Seems more if a compromise than an English ipa. Too bitter and lacking in malt support for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 05:12:45 | More by barczar

hosehead83

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a standard pint glass.
Brassy gold in color, with a moderate head of off-white foam.
Aroma-Fruity hop notes
Taste-Toasted malt, Earthy, herbal hops and underlying hop bitterness that carries to the finish. Very nice balance and pleasant drinkability. Nothing over-the-top here, just subtle, understated hops that play nicely with the toasted malts. Very English, and a nice match for spicy cuisine. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 23:08:01 | More by hosehead83

fx20736

New York

3.93/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a nonic at fridge temp.

Dark orange amber, thick tan battered head, nice lacing.

aroma of faint grapefruit citrus over a bed of pale malt.

mouthfeel is average.

taste; seville orange marmalade on thick white bread, bitter finish.

priced right. I'm in

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 17:46:15 | More by fx20736

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on November 19, 2012.

The pour is medium amber, copper, with decent carbonation and a small head.

The aroma is of bready malts, pine, but also clean and crisp on the nose.

The body falls into the medium range but it is also creamy and smooth.

Sweet caramel leads the flavor with a pretty bitter, floral hop note too. The finish lingers a few seconds. This is actually brewed in the USA now and it tends to have more US-IPA characteristics than UK-IPA characteristics, which IMO are more subtle.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 02:25:13 | More by puboflyons