Alpha Session - Drake's Brewing Co.

beagle75

Iowa

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a tulip pint glass.

A: Clear, medium golden color with less than one finger of white foam head. Moderate lacing remains on the glass and scattered solitary bubbles rise in the column.

S: Mostly hops of moderate intensity for style; floral and mixed citrus qualities dominate, but some green plant stem is also detectable.

T: Begins dry, with distinct English malt that is bready, ashy, and intensely toasty. Early hop aromatics are herbaceous and slightly dank. While acidity is very mild into the middle, sharp minerality is distinctive. Hop flavors yield some spicy herbaceous notes before the mildly bitter finish that is most affected by some crisp and dry pale malt. Echoes of Nelson Sauvin hops linger late, giving the aftertaste a bright vinous tint.

M: Thin viscosity, wet ans slightly acidic on the palate, with brisk carbonation.

D/O: Drake's has been quietly generating a buzz about their hoppy pale ales over the last few years, but this beer's most remarkable feature is is its standout Marris Otter malt quality. It reminds of how the malt bills of Founder's pale ales frequently outdo their fine hop qualities. If it were categorized as an APA then it would get a 4 in taste, but as an American interpretation of an English bitter, it rates higher.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 20:45:03 | More by beagle75

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

NWer

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

09-08-2012 20:15:00 | More by NWer

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