U.S. Pale Ale - Capital Brewery

MattyG85

Minnesota

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

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.

Appearance: Pours a bright and clear copper amber orange. Lots of rising bubbles and a solid three fingers of off white head with good retention. Leaves a lot of lacing sticking to the glass.

Smell: A fairly sweet aroma with some fruity citrus esters and malts. Hops upfront with some good hints of orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, and a slight hint of papaya. Also some herbal and piney hops. Mixed in is a quite noticeable malt balance with hints of bready biscuit, caramel, toffee, yeast, and crackers. A solid balance of hops and malts in the nose.

Taste: Like the aroma indicates, a balanced mix of citrus and earthy hops with sweet bready malts. Starts out with some herbal, earthy hops and citrus esters with notes of grapefruit, orange, lemon, tangerine, and a little bit of apricot and papaya. A strong malt balance comes in with notes of bready biscuit, yeast, caramel, toffee, and cracker. A nicely balanced and solid taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, crisp, and pretty smooth.

Overall: A pretty solid take on a American Pale Ale. Nice hop kick up front with a solid malt backbone. Its what you expect from the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 05:33:48 | More by MattyG85

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From: Friar Tuck in Savoy, IL
Date: "021112A12124" stamped on bottle
Glass: Tulip

Capital's Pale Ale seems to harken back to earlier days in the microbrew industry, when pale ales were fairly well-balanced affairs between malt and hops, each expressing themselves without dominating the other. While a return to this style is refreshing, it's not as deep, complex, or expressive as the style has become.

Pours a 2cm, off-white head of very small bubbles that are dense and compact atop the beer. Retention is very good, lasting several minutes before the head reduces to a thin cap atop the body, leaving substantial streaks and blotches of lacing while doing so. Body is a deep caramel brown color with modest orange highlights, light brightening up the tones significantly and revealing quite a bit of burnt orange-yellow color. Carbonation is visible through the transparent body, both in the center and along the sides of the glass.

Aroma is primarily of pale, toasted, and toffee-like malts, with some fruity esters reminiscent of pear or fruit cocktail syrup; very little hop character is noticeable, which is almost shocking these days for a "US pale ale."

Very modest fruit esters alongside some pale, toasted, and toffee-like malts, a bit of mineral character, and mild, fairly indistinct hop bitterness. Aftertaste is pleasant, a mix of mild hop bitterness, fruity esters, and pale malts.

Beer is medium to medium-light in body, with mid-level carbonation that foams this up slightly on the palate, resulting in a slightly creamy, but still smooth overall mouthfeel. Finish is mostly dry.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 01:54:30 | More by falloutsnow

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.33/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. There is a batch code printed on the neck but no freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is half copper, half straw; it is light amber, basically. Two fingers of eggshell-colored head dissipated quickly to leave a thin lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: A semi-sweet mixture of pale and lightly toasted malts. There is a lot of sweet caramel and a little cocoa. There may also be some adjunct grain in there, too, as well as a little grapefruit or tangerine citrus. It is definitely not a bombastic, hop bomb.

Taste: It is a weak and even balance between the sweet/pale malts and the hops I was expecting from the smell. Caramel and light grapefruit/tangerine citrus. It leaves a light, bitter aftertaste coating the mouth after each sip. As it continues to warm, though, the hops become much more prominent and drastically change my opinion of the beer.

Drinkability: It is a decent little brew. It is not big or bombastic, but adequate.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 04:16:52 | More by TheQuietMan22

warnerry

Michigan

3.05/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

No bottle date. And a twist-off, like going back in time...

A - Pours a semi-hazy light copper with a lot of fine suspended material and one finger of off-white head. Head dissipated quickly, but leaves some spotty lacing.

S - Smell is slightly floral and quite bitter. Decent biscuit malt presence. Quite subtle overall.

T - More malt in the taste than the smell, again quite biscuity. Mild hop bitterness and a floral aftertaste. Decent.

M - Medium mouthfeel with good carbonation and a pleasantly bitter finish. A bit watery.

O - Not sure if this was an old bottle, but it seemed a bit dead. Not offensive in any way, just not much going on. Considering the numerous very good APAs available, I can't see coming back to this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 00:11:53 | More by warnerry

beagle75

Iowa

3.45/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip pint glass.

A: Clear, light amber color with one finger of diminishing white foam head. Light lacing remains on the glass and diffuse bubbles rise in the column.

S: Crackers and floral hops are balanced and fairly clean.

T: Begins dry, with restrained pale malt and herbaceous hop aromatics. Acidity is moderate for the style, mostly carbonic, into the middle where bitterness emerges alongside breadier malt and more floral hops. The finish is mild and clean, with earlier flavors generally diminishing.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, crisp and acidic on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: This is a predictable pale ale that is proficiently executed but unremarkable when compared to other Cascade-hopped APAs. Considering that it is an ale produced by a producer known for lagers, it should not surprise with its clean and careful sensory profile.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 22:22:56 | More by beagle75

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

Clear golden amber, one finger of retreating head without lacing. Has a nicely composed nose of orange peel and pine resin framing a nice biscuit / caramel malt aroma. Flavor follows the nose almost exactly, with the main difference being a stronger emphasis on the floral / noble spectrum of hopping with the pine resin coming up and saying hello on the crisp finish. Medium body, sparkling carbonation. Overall, a pleasant PA.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 20:52:57 | More by WastingFreetime

manitouman84

Wisconsin

3.43/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy golden amber with a 1 finger head, leaves small amount of lacing on glass. Malt forward aroma which fades to reveal dankish hop flavors, lemon, pine are prevalent. Nice hop bite to the start, grassy, herbal, floral, good amount of caramel, floral, lager like come through in the finish. After drinking the lager like characteristics come through in the aroma as well. Nice body, resinous but a bit cloying, but still balanced fairly well, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 03:33:28 | More by manitouman84

woosterbill

Connecticut

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

12oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: A fairly rough pour results in two inches of tight, creamy tan head atop a clear, orange-amber body. Terrific, rocky retention and plenty of lace. Gorgeous beer.

S: Standard, solid pale ale aroma: even mixture of caramel malt and floral, piney hops. Light fruitiness (grapefruit pith, apple). Enjoyable, but less than memorable.

T: Starts out with toasty, toffee-tinged malt and then turns bitter as the hops take over. Not too much in the way of real hop flavor (maybe a bit of pine), but plenty of straight bitterness. Fairly easy-drinking, but, like the nose, forgettable.

M: Medium body with lots of carbonation that starts slightly prickly but ends up nice and creamy. Pretty good.

O: This is an enjoyable, bitter APA, but I won’t be going out of my way to get more of it. I wish there were more influence from late hop additions: it would be nice if there were some assertive hop aromas and flavors to go along with the balancing bitterness.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 23:30:25 | More by woosterbill

Tballz420

Minnesota

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

Lighter copper/darker orange depending on your politics. Small white head doesnt last too long, but still provides lace. Sweet malt with a bit of bitter hops on the nose. Kinda interesting taste. You got your malt/hop that you would expect, but its pretty grassy or spicy or something i cant quite put my tongue on. Its certainly interesting, but im not really in love with it. Certainly isnt bad though.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 03:45:52 | More by Tballz420

BasementBer

Manitoba (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I havent had much luck with Capital, this being the nearest favorite style they brew im hoping for a big turn around as most are lagers and this pale ale may be the breakthrough.

A: Medium lacing with an off-white head of foam and generally good carbonation. A very light orange color.

S: Smells much of sweet malts and slightly floral hoppiness.

T: Very light. Nothing bitter about it. Very subtly sweet, almost caramel or toffee notes.

M: Its quite smooth. Nothing lingers but feels soft on the palate and really doest throw you for any loops, i kinda like that.

D: This is a very smooth beer that could go well with anything because it doesnt really have the quality of overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 22:21:14 | More by BasementBer

scaliasux

Wisconsin

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

Appearance - Light amber. Just a little haze. Short ivory head with some persistence.

Smell - Pretty balanced for an APA. Pale malt and light grassy hops.

Taste - Light sweet malt followed by noticeable, but hardly overwhelming grassy hops. Lingering aftertaste. Pretty light and refreshing for an APA. Quite a bit less hoppy than most in this category.

Mouthfeel - A little watery, but smooth.

Overall - It's probably because so many IPAs and APAs overdo the hops, that this beer seems a little indistinguishable. But there it is - I probably won't think twice about this one. Generic name doesn't help.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 04:12:04 | More by scaliasux

tikibeer

Illinois

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

Pours a copper amber with very little head leaving a spotty lacing.

Aroma gives me a caramel malt mixed with a floral hop and a bit of spice.

Light body medium carbonation.

Taste is a mix of spice and hops. Malts are well balanced and give it a bit of sweetness.

Overall a nice beer with some character. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 23:41:22 | More by tikibeer

deereless

Colorado

3.13/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Light amber in color, minor spotting along the interior of the glass, medium head with decent retention - 3.50, S: Soft bubble gum nose - similar to Hubba Bubba with a mild citrus perhaps a tangerine aroma, malts provide a light toastiness to the smell - 3.75, T: Mild but noticeable hop bite, very slight grapefruit flavors, some clean malt flavors, pretty standard APA - 3.00, M: Light bodied and kind of thin mouth feel - 2.75, D: A basic APA that would benefit from an additional dose of hops, quite drinkable but doesn't really stand out - 3.00

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2010 00:38:01 | More by deereless

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into my pint glass the beer is crystal clear golden yellow. About a finger of stark white head. A modest ring of lace is left behind.

The aroma is lifht citrus fruit and a heavy dose of pale malt. The malt is a bit stronger than the hops. A touch skunky.

The flavor is tame citrus hops and loads of malt. A wheat cracker finish ronds things out.

Medium to light body. Average carbonation.

Overall a decent pale ale that is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2010 21:26:08 | More by beerwolf77

Ottertude

Kentucky

3.6/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

The bottle of U.S. Pale Ale poured a golden yellow into my pint glass with a 1/2 inch white head that left lots of lacing in my glass. I would have been more impressed with the looks of this if it were a lager. This seems to be too light of a color for a pale ale.

The smell was of citrus fruit and some caramel. the taste has some citrus hops and a bit of biscuity malt in the background for balance. All of the flavors, the hops in particular, are mild and mellow. Some of the right flavors are there, they aren't nearly as assertive as in most other pale ales that I have tried.

The mouthfeel was rather thin for a pale ale. Rather watery. Thaat being said, this ale is pretty easygoing and drinking a few of these would be no problem as long as I am in the mood for something that seems to be a cross between a pale ale and a lager. Those looking for hoppy pale ales need to look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 00:35:08 | More by Ottertude

association330

Michigan

2.83/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle, no freshness date

A - Slightly hazy medium-gold. A hard pour forms a fleeting half-finger of eggshell head. Lace starts to form, but is pretty much stillborn after a few sips.

S - Vague hops that lean citrusy. Bare hint of dried apricot. Severely toned down.

T - Terse citrus hop note with a bit of watered down malt. Bitterness in the swallow hardly even qualifies as modest. Finishes dry, with ghostlike dried apricot.

M - Leans watery, with moderate carbonation.

D - A generic, lawnmower "pale ale" that is obviously aimed at converting the Leinenkugel's crowd. Palatable, but not something I would seek out again unless it was cheap.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2010 06:15:35 | More by association330

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

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

The beer pours an amber tinged golden hue with a wispy head and decent retention. Fruit, apricot among others, in the nose along with a distinct citrus character from the hops.

A strong presence of the fruit in the flavor. There is nothing special about, it just happens to be there. The fruit pervades the entire experience, leaving an overall sweetness. Toward the end, citrus from the hops begins to mix in.

This beer is a bit rough around the edges. I would like to see less apricot in the malt, and a little boost to hops.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2010 00:52:47 | More by BeardedBoffin

Metalmonk

North Carolina

2.95/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for mnwags for hookin' a brutha up!

Big bountiful head, bone-white and holding steady while lots of bubbles rush to it. Lace clings like sea foam to the sides. Color is sunny copper. It's nice and looks the part.

Aroma features hops that lean very much on the fruity side, some citrus zest but also apple and a distinct peach smell. Almost like Magic Hat's #9 in the nose. Not a lot of malt backup detected on the sniff, just a mild doughy scent, like shortbread.

Flavor is simplicity incarnate: fruity hops; kiss of doughy malt; light mineral flash. Adequate hop bitterness in the finish, nothing blaring or over-the-top. There's nothing at all wrong with simplicity of course--this just doesn't impress and I can't find much more to say about the flavor.

Mouthfeel is about as ho-hum as the flavor. Remarkably thin, bordering on watery. Not even the ample carbonation can save it.

I had Capital's Autumnal Fire on tap at Chicago's Map Room a couple years back and it was exceptional. This is not. It's not even "disarmingly drinkable," as the label claims, as it falls short where it matters most (taste/flavor). Here's another label claim: "Hops with an American accent." That would be a neutral midwest accent (I can say that, I'm from the midwest and have a neutral accent). Yet another label claim: "America's #1 Rated Brewery," which begs the question "Rated by Whom?" Of course, I would jump at any chance to have their Autumnal Fire again.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 23:49:07 | More by Metalmonk

gmfessen

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, beer is a slightly hazy, pale golden color with a pillowy, frothy, off-white head. The nose is a mixture of malty notes - light caramel and subtle toasted malt - as well as hints of citric hops. The taste is similar with the toasty caramel malt taking center stage and the citrus hops playing backup. Pretty well balanced, starts out slightly malty sweet and finishes with just a touch of hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is on the light side and the carbonation while not aggressive, adds to the overall thickness of the brew. Overall a drinkable beer, sessionable for sure but not really memorable.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2009 22:37:30 | More by gmfessen

bruachan

Rhode Island

3.03/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

my first capital brew (well...had the rest of the six pack the other night). i realize that i haven't consumed an APA in awhile, so i am fearful that my standards thereof might have been skewed by heartier drink

very light in color--amber-hued gold--with HUGE bubbles (never seen 'em like this) that reinforce a strong head

cascade aromas with a touch of sweetness

really not all that flavorful. water and hop, with a touch of malt. bitterness is shortlived. mouthfeel is ok

a somewhat average APA

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2009 03:54:06 | More by bruachan

danielharper

Michigan

3.45/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Slightly hazy yellow body (a tinge of orange) with a thin white bubbly head that sticks around for a bit. Not bad for an APA, but I usually expect a bit more red.

Smell: Pale maltiness, piney citrus hops.

Taste: Much like the aroma, a strong citrus flavor with a hint of dry piney hops on the finish and a dry aftertaste. This is better when it's a bit colder. Almost reminds me of a lager at times.

Mouthfeel: Thin body, heavy hops, moderate carbonation. Actually quite pleasant.

Drinkability: This is a bog-standard APA. Worth drinking, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 04:39:45 | More by danielharper

WakeandBake

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A clear pale golden color pour with a small white head that quickly fades, medium carbonation . Aroma is light floral hops and a hint of citrus . Flavor is much the same as the aroma , a little malt up front with a citrusy hop profile, lightly yeasty , well balanced for a APA but lite on the bittreness . Light body with a clean , but slightly oily mouthfeel . A slightly hoppy peppery finish . Quite sessionable and a pretty good try .

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2009 21:59:12 | More by WakeandBake

Tone

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, golden/copper color. 1/2 inch head of a white color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of hop, pale malt, and pine. Fits the style of an American Pale Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of hops, pine, and slight sweet malt. Overall, a decent brew with a decent aroma, but slightly watery mouth feel.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 05:38:17 | More by Tone

chetripley

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a glass stein, with a wide mouth to enjoy the aroma.
A: The head erupted and remained for an extended period of time. The beer was a light amber color, but the lacing was minimal.

S: There was an malt and fruit smell, with a definite grainy presence that I was not expecting. It was almost spicy too.

T: The sharp bite of the hops was the most noticeable feature, leaving behind a dry sensation that left very little aftertaste. After the smell of the fruit I was expecting a sweetness that never showed itself.

M: Smooth at first but the dryness was unmistakeable, plus I don't think there was enough carbonation by the end of the tasting.

D: The bitterness surprised me when I was looking for a balance of sweetness that never occurred.
The description on the bottle says "Disarmingly Drinkable" but I would have to disagree. The dryness whould be reserved for a beverage more suited for sipping instead of this brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2009 04:21:17 | More by chetripley

DeeMented

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a glass beer mug.

The beer poured a clear, medium amber color with a thick white head. The head was slow to recede, and swirling produced a moderate amount of soapy-looking lacing.

The aroma was a very citrus, lemony smell with some underlying malts. There was also something vaguely flowery there, but I found the lemony smell was the strongest.

The mouthfeel was a little thin, almost to the point of feeling like a light beer.

The taste started vaguely sweet, but that was immediately lost to a minor hops presence. It finished with a taste that reminded me of eating orange rinds. The lemony flavor lasted for a while after the hops bitterness faded.

A decent summer beer. An easily drinkable, refreshing kind of beer, but I can see it disappointing the hop heads out there.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2009 02:31:06 | More by DeeMented