Paddling Out Pale Ale - Rip Current Brewing

UCLABrewN84

California

3.44/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

On tap at Rip Current Brewing in San Marcos, CA.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is much the same with a herbal hop flavor on the finish. There is a medium 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 an above average beer that seems to be unbalanced with the hop aromas and flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2013 18:19:08 | More by UCLABrewN84

ehammond1

California

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Clear light amber and golden with a thin off-white head atop of creamy, small bubbles. Leaves the glass dotted and lined with irregular lacing. Pretty and appropriate.

The aroma of this beer was quite something. If I had to guess, I'd say this beer was brewed using a lot of Nelson hops. It smells like a combination of fresh grapefruit and orange juices, along with a floral note, especially as the beer warms. Really impressive for a pale ale.

The flavor isn't quite as in-your-face special as the aroma, as a fairly high level of bitterness covers up perhaps some interesting hop elements, but it's still darn good and incredibly hoppy, especially for the style and the ABV. Liked it a lot, but came away just a bit disappointed only because the aroma was so special.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Crisp. Refreshing. Very drinkable, even with the fairly high level of bitterness.

I could definitely put away a couple pints of this, and will hopefully be getting a growler of this soon.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 03:42:11 | More by ehammond1