Berkshire Ale Traditional Pale Ale - Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

glid02

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Cambridge Common, in Cambridge, MA.

Pours a slightly hazy deep copper color with a white head that leaves solid lacing.

Smells of muted pale malts with hints of deeper caramel malts and floral hops. Also present are mild amounts of earthy and lightly herbal hops.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though more robust. Smooth pale malts up front are joined quickly by deeper caramel malts and hints of herbal hops. Midway through the hop influence turns more bitter with the addition of earthy and slightly leafy hops that carry through to a moderately bitter ending. Mouthfeel is good, with decent carbonation.

Overall I thought this was a solid enough beer, but it wasn’t quite clean enough to be one that I’d try again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2011 23:52:03 | More by glid02

rdpoint

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A nice dark copper color, translucent, with a nice head that quickly fades.

A nice hoppy fruit smell is present.

Taste is like candy in a bottle, I love this beer. Slight taste of hops right off the bat fading to a nice sweet caramel after taste, almost creamy tasting.

This beer looks good and tastes good, excellent for an all day session or an after work beer, either way its worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2011 19:01:14 | More by rdpoint

Homebrew35

Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Has a nice hazy pale body. Creamy thick one and a half finger off white head.

Smells of some citrus hops, sweet malt, maybe some lemon grass.

Tastes of lemony citrus, some caramel, a touch of grass and lingering earthy hops on the finish.

Mouth feel is medium bodied, medium carbonation, medium dry finish.

Quite drinkable and delicious. I'd get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 00:02:48 | More by Homebrew35

PowerSeed

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Since this is my first review, I'll leave the nuanced, flowery prose to the real aficionados. Suffice it to say that I met this darkish, strawberry blond at the Flat Street Pub in Brattleboro, VT and it was love at first sip. This babe has it all, a beautiful head, a smooth, full body, a yeasty aroma, and a delightfully balanced taste with just the right amount of carbonation. All in all, wonderful, easy-drinking session brew!

I recently moved out of the Berkshire Brewing distribution area and am experiencing TPA withdrawal big time. If anyone can suggest a replacement ale of similar character (I'm in the Philly area now), I love to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2010 01:12:32 | More by PowerSeed

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Time for a quick pint on a Saturday afternoon. BBC Pale Ale seems to fit the bill perfectly.
The pint came with a finger of tan head. Slightly hazy burgendy shoe polish color. Soapy lacing everywhere.

Aroma is toasty, caramel cinnamon. Needless to say, leans malt vs. hop

Very nice flavor. Bready, cinnamon, caramel
Follows the aroma and is more on the malt side of the spectrum for an APA, but still nice. Reminded me a bit of a scotch ale, believe it or not.

Almost creamy, fairly full bodied, just a touch of carbonation.

Very drinkable and a nice choice for a cold winter day.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2009 20:37:22 | More by Reagan1984

thespaceman

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Ordinary Joe's, pours a nice amber color, off white head with nice lacing and retention. Aromas up front was a strong presence of some apple, wheat and caramel from the maltiness. Taste was sweet for an APA, a dry fruit taste first hits the palete, followed by a significant malt sweetness, very biscuity. Mouthfeel has medium carbonation, a bit chewy, got a bit wet on the tongue nonetheless. Overall, a very good offering from Berkshire, a nice pairing of hops and maltiness.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2009 15:35:35 | More by thespaceman

aerozeppl

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Was poured with a finger and a half of white head with excellent lacing. A nice deep copper color. Tons of carbonation keeping the head fluffy till the end of the glass.

S: Big malt nose on this beer. Just a very nice crisp smell. There were some hops but they were definitely taking a backseat here.

T: Like the nose this is a malt forward pale ale. Fresh as part of the taste. Had the taste of straight up diesel homebrew. Really just well balanced.

M: A little bit heavier than most pale ales but I enjoyed that.

D: Had two pints and enjoyed both of them greatly. Went really well with a plate of wings. Just a really solid pale ale. If I lived in Mass I would seek this beer out.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2009 20:38:24 | More by aerozeppl

Applesauce1

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at The Independent in Somerville, MA.

Appearance: copper-amber color with a nice 1/2" white head off the tap

Smell: hops and floral notes....citrus too

Taste: light hoppiness, some citrus, and a little bit of sweet pale malt....nice, overall, on the hoppier side

Mouthfeel: light to medium body...seemed a tad watered down

Drinkability: threw this one down pretty fast...could do a few in a night

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2008 13:02:42 | More by Applesauce1

Patrick

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A dark amber with an white head. Not that much lacing, but the head was nice and rocky.

S: Lot of caramel, maybe a bit of darker sugar, a hint of hops, very nice.

T: Lots of sweetness and a mild bitterness. Very well balanced. I am surprised this brew doesn't get much mention.

M: Crisp, refreshing, well carbonated.

D: This would make a great session beer if the alcohol was a bit lower.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2008 23:18:07 | More by Patrick

Durge

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cloudy amber colored brew with a thin off-white head and fair lacing. It has only a vague aroma of wheat and malt, hard to discern. Peppery wheat flavor with earthy malt background and a tangy carbonation. There is a very mild grapefruit hop finish and more of this bitterness is obvious as you go. It works out to be a pretty nice blend with an accent on citrus that is very drinkable. Definitely worth a try and I would gladly drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2007 04:17:45 | More by Durge

cdmastro

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The BBC Traditional Pale Ale is my "go to" or "stranded on a desert island" beer. If I could only drink one type of beer for the rest of my life, this would be it.

The great color, head, lacing makes you want to jump in and pour it down. It's usually serverd a bit cold, so letting it find it's optimum temp is suggested. I've had it enough that I swear the I can tell the top of the keg taste from the bottom.

The taste is balanced and the mouthfeel works in both hot and cold weather. My only gripe is that it does not appear at that many places and is elbowed off taps by the BBC Steel Rail.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2007 16:21:02 | More by cdmastro

DSmith24

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I ordered this beer while waiting for food at a pub/restaurant, so I didn't get to see the head...There was none left when it was served to me. The color was a medium dark brown with some amber tint. The beer initially has a nutty malty taste which fades away into a nice hoppiness. It also has a very creamy feel with little carbonation. I've also had the hefeweizen offering of Berkshire and it is also has a very creamy feel, so perhaps it is typical of their brews. Drinkability is good, though it seems a bit heavy/thick to drink continuously if drinking for a long period of time. Overall this is a fantastic beer, I don't remember a pale ale, or a beer in general, that I was this enthused about.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2007 01:01:33 | More by DSmith24

Damian

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Drank on-tap at The Independent, Somerville, MA

Poured a beautiful, hazy, dark copper with a light tan, two-finger head that remained throughout the drink. A blanket of lacing covered the entire inside of the glass and stuck long after the beer was finished.

Smell was comprised of an equal mix of hops, some fruity esters and sweet malts.

The taste was rather hoppy, citrusy and somewhat punchy up front. Sweet caramel malts and a fruitiness were noticeable mid-palate before the tastes trailed off markedly. Dank on the back of the palate with a short-lived, bitter finish.

Full bodied with a rich, creamy and smooth mouthfeel.

Overall, this beer was well balanced and fairly drinkable. If the flavors could have been as good on the back end as they were on the front end, this beer would have been much better.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2007 17:55:48 | More by Damian

FLAbeergutinMASS

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This review has been a long time coming. I reviewed this beer about a year ago, and I must say my affinity and appreciation for the beer have increased immeasurably, well actually .8 points. Simply put, this is one of this finest beers made in America or for that matter the world. It all started on a brewery tour, where I was privy to several hundred gallons of this juice of the gods in its full maturation before the next step of casking, or bottling. Just completely overwhelming on the olfactory sences.

Deep ruby, slight tint of orange and caramel. Depending on how aggressively poured, you can end up with a monster of a head. Frothy or wispy, depending on my mood.

Exceptionally complex malts and only the slightest tinge of bitterness. This beer is wild on the tongue. It really can take whatever form you want. If you’re in the mood for some hops, you got it, malts, you got it! It's that complex.

When I first started reviewing beer, I thought that I'd never give a beer "fives" across the board. Considering how much of this beer I've consumed in the past six months says volumes about its drinkabilty.

This is one of my all time favorites.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2006 02:54:30 | More by FLAbeergutinMASS

bjohnson

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Buff's Pub in Newton Corner.

A: Pours a copper dark amberish color with about a one finger white head that leaves a small amount of lace.

S: A little bit of a citrus fruit aroma, but not too much. Fresh smelling.

T: Tastes of a blend of citrus hops and malt, not too much of each, just enough, but suprisingly well balanced.

M & D: Mouthfeel is pretty good on this offering from Berkshire. Smooth wtih a nice crisp feeling as it goes down the gullet. Drinkability is also good--I had another after my first one. Good carbonation levels are present--shown with the nice one finger head.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2006 19:15:10 | More by bjohnson

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap in Pittsfield Mass. It was a pretty good session-type beer. It had a little more fruity component to the flavor than most pale ales I've tried, and I could taste hops mainly in the after-taste.

I've never seen this in stores back in Ohio so maybe it's not distributed too far west. Really pretty good every-day beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2006 10:34:51 | More by TurdFurgison

apintofknowledge

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Arrived at my table with a decent foamy white head that lingered for far longer than I would expect. Lace stuck to the sides of the glass. The hue seemed a little "paler" than most pale ales... more golden than coppery. The aroma was of mildly floral hops. Overall, a very smooth taste, with floral , grassy, and mildly citrusy hops coming through, but with relatively low bitterness. Very drinkable and enjoyable... pairs well with salads and robust cheeses.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2005 18:55:10 | More by apintofknowledge

Billolick

New York

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled a pint or two from a fresh growler, Pours dark honey amber, cloudy, leaving real nice soft, loose,fine lacing. fruity, malty nose.. this is a fairly malty brew for the style, hops are somewhat subdued. Some earthy spicing thing going on. Resulting in a nicely balanced, malty, medium bodied ale. Sturdy/worthy sessioner.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2004 11:49:17 | More by Billolick

Boto

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draught (growler): There is a rich, copper/amber color to the beer. Not much head, but it took a couple of days for my friend to drop it off. There is a decent citrus hop aroma. Good malty body (slightly sweet), with a bit of a hop bite at the end. A good, solid beer. Not bad!

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2003 13:36:24 | More by Boto

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

(4.0) A: Mahogany amber when held up to light with a fingers worth of creamy head. Commendable retention and very good lacing.

(4.0) S: Sweet dark fruits including ripe plum and cherries, slight balsamic quality, underlying citrus tones, and hints of maple syrup. Fruity and sweet. Different than what I was expecting from the style, and it’s a very good type of different.

(3.5) T: Dark fruits of plum and cherries, maple syrup, solid caramel backbone, hint of smoke, and some citrus. Very similar to the aroma. The taste steers towards the darker and maltier side of things (albeit in a lighter bodied way), and is well composed and full of flavour.

(3.5) M: Medium bodied with a moderate carbonation. Enough oily texture with a bit of chewiness.

(4.0) D: Overall very satisfying and flavourful. Aroma and appearance really stand out in this.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 01:43:19 | More by Digimaika2

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bomber into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a wonderful deep amber color with a big off white colored head. The head has fantastic retention and retains its strength for quite some time but it eventually fades over time to give a decent amount of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is on the lighter side with hints of roasted malt some caramel smells as well as some floral and citrus hop aroma.

Taste – A sweeter bready malt flavor with hints dark fruit are the first to meet the tongue. As the taste moves on light hop flavor of a floral and very light citrus flavor come to the tongue. The beer seems to bitter more toward the middle with the advent of the hop, but then again seems to sweeten toward the end where flavors of a caramel nature meet the tongue Where a slightly bitter caramel and malty flavor is left on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the average side with the carbonation level being the same.

Overall - A pretty good “not so” pale ale with nicer roasted grainy flavors. While it has god flavors it is nothing to really go out of the way for.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 00:46:14 | More by Darkmagus82

shivtim

Georgia

3.13/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Found a bottle at a liquor shop while visiting Connecticut.
Murky brown with slight red hints. Lots of visible carbonation. Half inch of beige/white head.
Nose is great. Sweet grassy hops and a nice balancing biscuit malt. Slightly nutty.
Hops don't come through as much in the taste. It's mostly cloying malts. Flowery and an odd chemical taste.
Decent mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 00:11:35 | More by shivtim

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler - liquors inc on dalton ave. you can guess the city.

A - cloudy copper, with some orange and brown highlights. On the third pour there was a one finger head ( it was fluffier on earlier pours) that dissapates to a thin lace.

S - malts, caramel and chocolate, some crisp hops

T -more of the same. Has the character of an amber and hints of brown ale mixed with a pale. Sone dark fruit and bitterness.

M - mouthfeel is good, balanced. Tad on the watery side.

O - recommended, has a malty tang to it. Used to some more hops in a pale ale, and more citrus qualities, but being a "traditional" pale ale, this may be right on point.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 01:20:37 | More by Apellonious

davey101

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber into a snifter. Best by: 08/28/2012

A - Dark amber body with a red tint. Off-white soapy head. Really solid lacing and retention.

S - Sweet caramel malts and english style hops. A bit piney and grassy.

T - A bit subdued. Caramel and bready malts with a touch of clean grass. Simple and tasty. Medium body with low carbonation.

O - A simple and clean APA. Hops are light but it has a great bready malt backbone.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 21:11:23 | More by davey101

tylerprince

Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Split a fresh bottle with my dad. Poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a nice chill-hazed ruby red with virtually no head. Lacing is clingy, and lasted long enough to prove I was taking some big swigs from the glass.

S: Mild but rich. Nutty malt with some fruity esters. Not a ton of hop presence save for a little spicy aroma. Awesome malt presence made me excited for the first sip.

T: Rich, nutty malt with a little bit of butter. Rolls off the tongue with some hop spice, butterscotch, and earthy nut. Very, very good.

M: Ever so slightly undercarbonated, with a slight syrupy quality. Doesn't foam in the mouth, just goes straight down. Alcohol has a very mild presence. Approaches 4.0, but it might be tricky to pull off this maltbill with so little carbonation.

O: A great PA, and, even though I am a major hophead, a welcome departure from the hopcentric American pale to which I'm accustomed.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 00:56:57 | More by tylerprince