Alpha Session - Drake's Brewing Co.

NWer

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

09-08-2012 20:15:00 | More by NWer

GregoryMo

California

4/5  rDev -1%

05-18-2013 03:22:56 | More by GregoryMo

mhaugo

California

5/5  rDev +23.8%

05-09-2013 21:10:50 | More by mhaugo

gpogo

California

3.51/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A- Lightly hazed clear deep yellow body with a small white head.

A- Fruity hop aroma. Grapefruit and peach and an enjoyable sweetness.

T- Moderate bitterness throughout, but not overpowering. That same aroma is present in the flavor with a nice slight sweetness. At first I was concerned it was a tad on the light side, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

M- Very light body and light to medium carbonation.

D- This beer is great for those warm days where you want to have a few beers, but don't want to spend the day drunk.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 00:56:24 | More by gpogo

Indian0

California

4/5  rDev -1%

04-02-2013 05:41:56 | More by Indian0

kmoen

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-02-2013 05:37:56 | More by kmoen

BAsbill

California

4/5  rDev -1%

04-02-2013 05:35:45 | More by BAsbill

cestlavie

Yukon (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

03-31-2013 17:58:52 | More by cestlavie

Beerrenda

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

03-07-2013 03:45:00 | More by Beerrenda

beerme411

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

02-14-2013 19:23:31 | More by beerme411

WestCoastBrew2

California

4/5  rDev -1%

02-06-2013 20:28:14 | More by WestCoastBrew2

laymansbeerfan

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -1%

01-17-2013 05:40:26 | More by laymansbeerfan

Offa

California

3.53/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a fairly good bitter, unusually good character for an American beer at this low abv, but not up to great English bitters.

Gold, slightly hazy, it has a medium off-white head soon thinning to ring.

Aroma is grapefruit, peach, hay.

Taste is light mineral, grapefruit, bread dough, light juicy sweetness with balancing grapefruit-rind bitterness. Aftertaste is a little too bitter, but not heavily so.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 19:19:09 | More by Offa

gueuzegossage

California

4/5  rDev -1%

01-02-2013 16:26:36 | More by gueuzegossage

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4/5  rDev -1%

12-02-2012 04:03:52 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

Hugonaut13

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

12-02-2012 03:30:17 | More by Hugonaut13

mattdbh

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

10-08-2012 22:37:01 | More by mattdbh

BeerHunter76

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

10-07-2012 23:45:51 | More by BeerHunter76

Texasfan549

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

10-05-2012 13:51:12 | More by Texasfan549

kjkinsey

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

10-03-2012 16:18:47 | More by kjkinsey

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

09-22-2012 20:31:13 | More by t0rin0

Soneast

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

08-19-2012 17:08:14 | More by Soneast

seeswo

Ohio

3/5  rDev -25.7%

08-17-2012 01:27:29 | More by seeswo

kaseydad

California

3.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked this bomber up for $6.99 at Whole Foods. Let's see...

Pours a pretty clear straw yellow pour with a decent amount of white foam on the top. Just sitting there staring back at me.

The aroma is light pineapple, nectarine, a touch of malt and sweet grapefruit. Really likeing this.

Guess I now know why they call this a bitter Nor Cal ale. Huge carbonated sip with a bubbly sensation bursting in the mouth. Bready, malty and yes...bitter. Hops are definitely generous and there is an overwhelming feeling that I am sucking on a grapefruit rind every sip. Well done.

Overall the price is a little steep for my liking but this a monster flavored ale for 3.8%. If you like a bitter , lightly malty ale then this is for you. Would like to see this in six packs...or hell...even four packs.

Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 00:46:45 | More by kaseydad

Arbitrator

California

3.33/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Chilled bottle into a glass. From notes.

A: Pours a golden-copper body. It looks similar to their IPAs, but with less head retention.

S: This reminds me of some cask ales I had in London; they seem to have nailed the aroma. Dry grains and crackers make up the malt backbone; hops show a decidely West Coast influence of pine and citrus.

T: Bread and toasted malt; they are taken over by pine and a mild citrus flavor. Solid, but nothing that blows me out of the water. I'd classify this as an American Pale Ale (due to the hops used) rather than an English Bitter, but that's probably a handwavy argument.

M: Light-bodied. This hides the alcohol well. Nice and refreshing.

O: What kills this beer for me is the price. We're conditioned to expect ingredients to cost more for higher-gravity beers; they should, therefore, cost less for lower-gravity beers. And if Hermitage can release a sour for $3 / bomber, Drake's can surely do better than the $7 they're asking for this. Count me out.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 07:23:43 | More by Arbitrator