Drake's 1500 Pale Ale - Drake's Brewing Co.

HipHop5

California

4.38/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1 finger head that retain modestly. some lacing but nothing crazy.
Typical PA light golden color with great hops citrus nose.
Strong bite right up front. Quite enjoyable after taste on the back of the tongue. IBU don't hide a bit on this great PA. The malt caramely light to medium body help balance the hop bite that linger quite some times. The carbonation is pretty high but fine witch makes it pleasant and easy to drink.

I hope I can find more since it much harder to get some Moon
Man fro New Galarus in WI (witch is even better in this style of
dry hoped PA)

Enjoy, as this is an amazing brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2011 05:19:02 | More by HipHop5

DijonKetchup

California

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a 33 cl glass.

A nice caramel-y looking brew, shows that it has a bit of character from the get-go. Decent head build and retention. Smells piney and citusy, kind of wish it was either/or. Also has a bit of muskiness to it. Clearly dry-hopped and I am sure that this beer might have problems if it gets too old. Smell might be the weak point of this beer, although one would suspect otherwise. First sip shows that this pale ale has some oompf to it, as the label states 48 IBUs, which sounds about right. Some roastiness and caramel components give this beer a nice quality - definately not your average PA and it gets better as it warms. Mouthfeel is good for the nearly 6% ABV stated on the label.

Once again, I think I am drinking my beers too cold, but this is a very nice sessionable and hoppy brew. Make sure it's fresh, as the dry-hopping could be an issue with older samples.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 03:11:43 | More by DijonKetchup

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another new drakes ale for me to try. I actually started out my day with this one. Really wanted something not too heavy to get it going and this fit the bill quite well. Served cold and into a pint glass it was enjoyed on 11/01/2010.

The pour was a nice and light amber color with a smooth and even head of white lacing that reached a height of around two inches before settling back down and leaving a small head of lacing around the edges. Decent look for the style for sure.

Aroma was a little light and muddled if I am being honest. Small doses of piney hops coming through right away and followed closely by a light buttery malt profile that seems to start to bring some balance but becomes washed out half way through. Flavor is about the same as it really does not seem to have a firm direction in place and just has this light hop presence that is too balanced against the malt bill and cannot break out on its own. Odd. Nice feel and a fuller then I would have expected body seems to make it work, I was really just not feeling the flavor on this one.

Overall it was ok, but nothing to really right home about. Definitely a touch above average but that is about all I can say about it.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2010 01:14:01 | More by mikesgroove

beagle75

Iowa

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

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

A: Clear, light amber color with nearly continuous white foam residue. Minimal lacing remains on the glass.

S: Present in the smell is sweet tropical fruit, lime and grapefruit citrus, and a faint mineral edge. The lush hops fade quickly revealing some sharp toasty malt.

T: Begins with toast and delicate floral hops, son joined by bright lemon citrus. Grapefruit rind becomes more assertive as the astringent mineral finish approaches. Bitterness remains restrained, even at its peak.

M: Thin viscosity, a little watery, with moderate carbonation. There is no sense of sticky or oily resins usually associated with hop-forward beers.

D: Fine when enjoyed by itself, so that the nuanced flavor components featured in this beer do not become overpowered. There is clearly a limited ability to pair harmoniously with food here--volatile solvent qualities take the place of the more attractive hop aromatics when in the presence of assertive savory flavors. This beer is similar in many ways to the Stone collaboration San Diego session ale, but seems less worthy now when seen in the shadow of that new brew (which does what this beer attempts to do, but better.)

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 19:30:05 | More by beagle75

321jeff

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into my Troegs Pint glass.

Pours amber with golden edges and a finger's worth of white head. Head fades to a thin layer that lingers for awhile leaving some nice lacing.

Aroma is pretty potent with lots of citrus and bubblegum. Some dough is evident in the background as well. This is probably the best smelling pale I've had in awhile, but it may also be the freshest.

Taste is sweet right off the bat with more citrus, mostly orange and maybe some grapefruit as well. Finishes with a bready flavor that hangs on.

The 1500 is medium in body with tons of prickly carbonation dancing across my tongue. A very enjoyable pale ale that I wish was available locally.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2010 22:31:09 | More by 321jeff

illidurit

California

3.18/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a pint glass. Gold with a tangerine center and a dense khaki-colored head. Pine forward aroma with notes of sap atop a foundation of slightly stale pale malts. Light candied citrus hops in the flavor with a soapy finish. Substantial bitterness but overall lacking in hop flavor. Pale and crystal malts balance evenly with the hops. Dry with a medium-light body. Similar to SNPA but better executed.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 05:30:41 | More by illidurit

jeffjeff1

California

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this on tap at Pete's Brass Rail and Car Wash.

Appearance- amber color, thin head

Smell- bready malt, citrus hops

Taste- citrus hops

Mouthfeel- medium bodied

Drinkability- It was really good. I will be having this one again. Nicely Balanced

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2010 13:48:33 | More by jeffjeff1

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy orange-gold with a white head that never leaves.

The hops have a decidedly orange character with bits of herb and pine supporting. Malt stands back to let the hops shine. Loads of juicy hop flavor for the style, but with the bitterness of a standard pale ale.

A pale ale hopped like an IPA I guess is the simplest and a fairly accurate descriptor. Based on that, I figured I would like this more than I do. It's certainly good as indicated by my rating, but something is keeping me from saying, "WOW."

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2010 15:43:14 | More by bump8628

Chizoad

California

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a bottle at a restaurant. A memorable orange with an off-white foam. Pretty good looking beer. First whiff, and I'm not going to mistake this for anything other than a pale ale. Big pine and citrus with malt undertones.

The evergreens dominate the palate, but what makes this stand out from the pack is the excellent grapefruit rind that sneaks in at the end, barely balancing the pine resin.

Thankfully the bitterness doesn't build up, and the carbonation keeps it working perfectly. Pretty drinkable for a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2010 16:14:06 | More by Chizoad

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to beachrez !!!

this pours a slightly murky dull orange with hints of brown. very light creamy head but retained rather well leaving light lacing.

they were not kidding on the dry hopping. huge citrus and sweetness. lots of tangerine, pineapple, and orange. light floral character.

wow.. again.. this is amazing. lots of bitterness kicks in from the beginning. light white grapefruit combined with a nice pine flavor. the grapefruit really comes through at the end. malt backbone is solid, flavorful, but lets the hops run this.

very full body with moderate carbonation. a slight dryness.

as soon as i smelled this, i knew it was going to be good stuff and it was. perfect flavors and a lower ABV = good drinking. i would love more of these. cali once again, does no wrong.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2010 00:10:15 | More by hooliganlife

pennywhistle

California

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Foggy dark yellow/amber, big fluffy head that lingers for awhile. Smells strongly of hops, bitter, refreshing. The hops are obvious when first sipped, but they mellow out nicely leaving behind a sweet maltiness that is very pleasant. Slightly citrusy. Very drinkable - low enough ABV that you could have a couple of them, and the hops are calm enough that it won't kill the palate. A very delicious pale ale - and I usually dislike this style. This is a good beer for people who avoid bitter/hoppy beers. Perfect for BBQs and sunny afternoons.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 06:11:01 | More by pennywhistle

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Guest tap at Magnolia. Yellow colour, lots of lace lines. Good c-hop flavour and aromas.Big IBU, later discovered to be SImcoe and Amarillo concentrated Very smooth drinkability, above-average mouthfeel.Great example for the style.Love to get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2010 04:36:08 | More by northyorksammy

Beerenauslese

California

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear amber gold with a huge head that lasts, leaving mounds of cappuccino foam and lacing on the glass.

Aromas of wet hay malt, brown sugar, and piney hops.

Sweet malts transition into an intense bitter piney hoppy taste.

Body is medium weight, and the refined carbonation produces a very creamy mouthfeel.

This is a very drinkable Imperial style American Pale Ale. With a 5.2% ABV, this beer is more about the malt and hops and is very sessionable for those who like hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2010 03:54:50 | More by Beerenauslese

callmescraps

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On a whim. Wanted an easy drinker.

Appearance- A deep gold, light copper color. Half an inch of white head. Laces ok. Darker than expected, less "pale" honestly.

Smell- A nice bready, biscuit smell. Some good grapefruit/citrus hops. Nicely balanced. Very appealing.

Taste- Starts off with a nice biscuit, or toasted bread, and follows with a strong hop bite. There is some burnt caramel action as well. The hops are more bitter than fruit-like. Plenty of grapefruit on that bitter end.

Mouthfeel- A tad syrupy. But nice.

Drinkability- Goes down very, very easy.

This is a very enjoyable beverage. It's like an IPA, but goes down so smooth. I'll be having it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2010 05:25:02 | More by callmescraps

mactrail

California

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Hops are up front. Slow bitterness takes over the tongue and it does seem more and more bitter as you sip. Anybody know what kind of hops these are? Thin but decent hint of malt. Label claims 5.2% abv.

I find it pleasant and quite drinkable. Citrus flavors, tart, and aromatic. Not excessively hopped but definitely one for the pale ale drinker. On the cloudy side with lots of yeast in the bottom of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 06:11:04 | More by mactrail

vacax

California

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at The Factory in Long Beach. Pours orange gold in color with nice retention and lacing, highly bubbly. Aroma of extreme flora, geraniums, pine, and mango. Tastes of a possible excess in flowery flavors, like munching on flower petals nearly, spicy amounts of hops to a near warming level. The most sheer amount of hops thrown into a pale ale I have come across. Medium bodied with plenty of bubbles to make the hops pop on the palate. Tasty beer, though by the time half of my pint was gone I was beginning to wonder if this was hops overkill for a sessionable pale. Tasty stuff though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2010 00:25:44 | More by vacax

brentk56

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color; the frothy head holds its position and adds a nice swath of lace

Smell: Grapefruity pith with a lemony edge and a pale biscuit malt character underneath

Taste: The biscuity malt introduction is quickly subsumed by a load of grapefruit pith and an almost floral lemony character; after the swallow, the sweetness of the malt provides a subtle balance and lingers in the finish along with the pith flavors

Mouthfeel: Medium body with spritzy carbonation

Drinkability: More of an IPA than their IPA, this beer packs a wallop of flavor into a low abv level; very nice

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 01:05:44 | More by brentk56

womencantsail

California

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A very cloudy pour with a massive white head that leaves tons of lacing.

S: The nose is almost all hops. The primary scents I pick up are orange and a lot of resinous pine. There is an ever so slight bit of sweet malt sneaking through.

T: The taste is somewhat harsh. As with the aroma, there are a lot of orange and pine flavors, but the bitterness isn't quite as "clean" as many other IPAs and Pale Ales I have come across. The malt is very subdued here as well.

M: The beer is well carbonated and has a medium body. The beer might be a bit on the thin side, however.

D: This is not as drinkable as most APAs that I've had. The bitterness that I alluded to in the taste is welcomed, but it isn't well balanced, I feel.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 03:10:00 | More by womencantsail

berkey

California

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a stemmed pint glass. Pale amber body with a fairly strong haze. Forms a medium sized cream colored head with slightly above average retention. Once the head does start to fade it goes almost completely but leaves very nice sticky lacing on all sides of the glass.

Strong nose of citrus and pungent bitter hops with modest sweet and bready malts. Secondary floral hop aromas also come through. Drake's actually makes pretty consistently great smelling beers.

Taste isn't bad but not as good as the aroma. Malts don't stand up to the hops quite as well as I'd like. Flavor profile is somewhat thin on the entry, there's a slight citrus hoppyness and that's about it. Nice dry bitter hop aftertaste and subtle yeast presence on the finish though. Once it gets all the way to room temp there's an enjoyable, albeit very fleeting, honey and caramel malt character to accompany the hops.

This brew is medium bodied with nicely balanced carbonation. Interesting, slightly dry feel isn't bad. Easy enough to drink, I finished two bottles for this review but that's mostly because I know I'll be very busy the next few weeks and don't want to let this sit long in fear of the hops fading.

This beer drinks essentially as advertised on the bottle: A pale ale late hopped like an IIPA. Not 100% sure of that concept as this beer has some minor balance problems. I'm giving high marks overall but I have mixed feelings about this one, it's a nice, interesting pale and I wouldn't turn one down, but not really sure if I'll buy it again. There are too many better hoppy ales out there, including a few from this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2009 06:35:20 | More by berkey

juhl31

California

3.18/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

-the color is really nice to me. cloudy and a bit of sedi. the head poured a crazy tall. like 75% of the beer started as head but it calmed down and looked nice

-smelled like some cleaning agent off the bat for me. then some malt. not much else

-tastes palesque, but takes a bit to get there. some hops, some malt

-does the imperial mean a ton of carb for this beer? drinks like a seltzer which i dont like

-it is okay, wouldnt go for another too quick

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 01:51:54 | More by juhl31

EliottJW

California

3.28/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I don't know about this beer... I feel as though it peaks when it's poured and only tails off afterwards... to the point that I thought I might have gotten a bad bottle, but looking back on some other reviews, everything seems to be in line.

it pours nice enough, a deep, murky amber, almost approaching brownish. TONS of head that actually makes it tough to pour, but ends up retaining quite nicely once the beer is being consumed. soapy, spotty lacing rides down the sides of my glass as I take this one in.

smell is off a bit... fruity? hoppy?... almost tropical fruits come to the front. not a whole lot of malt character necessarily, just sweet.

this is a new taste for me. a blast of citrusy sugar on the tongue that actually turns a bit funky... almost sour, becomes pine almost exclusively after swallowing. I was surprised how long the pine lingers before giving way to a citrusy aftertaste maybe 2 minutes down the road.

all I can say about the mouth is that its WAY too over carbonated. it was clear this would be the case right from the pour, but wow... it's almost painful how carbonated this beer is.

I'm gonna call this one average as far as drinkability goes... I'm really not interested in another.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 01:40:53 | More by EliottJW

tpd975

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed while watching the Notre Dame game. Bottle from FreightTrain.

A: Pours a nice shade of orange. Very tall foamy almost dessert like head. Stupid retention with huge chunks of lace. Almost too much head to be honest. The beer was a pain the in the ass to pour.

S: Very hoppy right from the start. Loads of resinous pine, hints of grass and citrus. Ample amounts of caramel and bready malt beneath, but hops dominate.

T: You can pick up hints of the malt at the front, more bready than sweet. It is quite hoppy for an APA. Citrus dominates, but there are some green herbal hops as well.

M: Medium in body, smooth, wonderful carbonation.

D: Pretty good. Not world class, but tasty and drinkable. Nice session APA.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2009 21:20:50 | More by tpd975

cptierney

California

3.7/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a North Coast Nonic Pint glass.
Let me start by saying that Drake's should really re-think their bottles. The whole plastic wrap thing not only looks tacky, but it also smacks of needless extra expense. Now, to the beer itself.

Massive carbonation on the pour! It took me nearly five pours, waiting for the head to recede, before I even took one sip of the brew. Translucent, deep honey color to this beer, more reminiscent of an English ESB than a pale.

There is one hoppy nose to this pour. Not much citrus but tons of pine. There is a rich malt character hidden in there too somewhere, but I fear I don't have the capacity to place it.

Lower marks for the mouthfeel. I want a more substantial presence on the palate that this beer is too over-carbonated to provide.

Interesting hop profile to this beer, not in a bad way either. It almost has a juniper quality to it that makes me think of gin. Again, not too much citrus in the hopping, which I think is a fault, but the beer maintains a powerful bitter profile.

Good drinkability, especially if one is partial to the piny effervescence this brew provides.

This is really a unique beer. Nearly impossible to qualify, it certainly will satisfy.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2009 01:35:33 | More by cptierney

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a light golden amber/orange color with a massive 3 finger bubbly frothy head and lots of visible carbonation bubbles rising to the top of the glass. The carbonation makes it look almost soda like. Frothy pillowy head has great retention with large chunks of soapy lacing coating the glass.

Sweet light crisp fruit aroma with hints of apple and pear. There is also an earthy pilsner malt presence that balances out the citrus hop notes. Slight hint of alcohol as well.

Very fizzy overcarbonated mouthfeel. Very earthy piney dry finish. None of the light fruit and citrus notes from the aroma are evident at all. Caramel malt backbone is minimal not providing enough of a balance to the aggressively hoopy bite. The mouthful and taste make it seem kind of oxidized but it's not quite that bad. I would like to try another bottle and revisit.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2009 03:19:16 | More by corby112

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at Meridian in Berkeley. Poured with a cascading head from the nitro tap that settles to a medium cap of about 1/2 inch and leaves some slight lacing. Smells a bit nutty and bready to start, followed by citrus, and especially pine, from the hops becoming prominent. Strange how differently this tastes on nitro with those nutty and creamy notes before t6he pine and citrus bitterness kick in. Very smooth in the mouth, this was pleasant, even though its hard for me to take nitro taps all that seriously.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-06-2009 05:40:11 | More by Georgiabeer