Raleigh Tavern Williamsburg Pale Ale - Old Dominion Brewing Company

mcslain

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Received as a gift from a visit to Colonial Williamsburg. Pretty cool that this historic colonial site has made an attempt to offer a tavern style ale. What would be cooler though is if they actually made a tavern style ale on site, rather than going through Old Dominion brewing. (of which i am not a huge fan)

Appearance is a murky orange gold, and fizzy like a home brew. Decent head with minimal lacing.
Smell is grass and straw. Not great.
Taste is more grass and straw. Light on hops w a strong malt presence.
Mouth is little thin and maybe a little over carbonated.

Overall, drinkable but not great. If I was in Colonial Williamsburg I could drink them. But as a sixer to take home, there is no need.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 22:48:42 | More by mcslain

pburland23

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up a single bottle while in Williamsburg for a wedding.

Pours a light, fluffy head that hangs around longer than I thought it would. Nice reddish amber color.

The smell is nothing memorable. It's fruity and grassy. Not much malt scent available.

It tastes like a pretty run of the mill APA. If this is what they were drinking in colonial Williamsburg then life was pretty good. It's a little sweet around the edges but otherwise a passable version of the style. The mouthfeel is average as is the drinkability. You could definitely sit in the tavern with a few mugs and plot against the British crown.

I'd be curious to see if any of the taverns in Williamsburg have it on tap. I'd be more than happy to give it a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 22:54:47 | More by pburland23

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From a bottle to a pint glass. Indeed, the ABV is unknown. This is an obviously obscure beer and, as expected, no bottling date in sight. Thanks to the in-laws...

A: Large off-white foamy head. Diminished rather quickly but left a nice collar and a thin creamy film. The lacing was good. The body has a medium saturation of orange/brown/amber color and is particularly clear.

S: Pale, biscuity malts of sweet bread and toast, caramelly. Light grassy hops.

T: There is a noticeable lack of particular flavor. The flavors are comprised of clove, plum, date and miscellaneous fruity esters. It is a bit watery for my taste but it does improve, as always, as the temperature increases. The flavor duration is short and it is lightly bitter. Still, not good.

M: Eh. Light to medium body, thin, oily texture that is slick on the tongue. To save itself from a complete disaster, the mouthfeel remains average by having the right amount of carbomation.

D: Coming in with low expectations (this beer is more of a touristy thing, and it is a contract brewed beer), I wasn't surprised that this beer wasn't that great. The aromas were very nice, the flavor was just verrrryyy weak. Definitely not for a serious beer drinker. It also seems that the role of the hops and malts were switched. Did Tobias Funke direct this recipe? (Reference for Arrested Development fans only! If you don't already know about this cancelled show...shame on you and get on it!)

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 19:46:55 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

6470zzy

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bought this one at one of the shops in Colonial Williamsburg.

A- Pretty clear amber with a 1/2 head of white foam.

S- I am getting fresh cut flowers and an elusive caramel aroma

M- Medium carbonation with a not too assertive body, definitely a session style ale with just the right amount of hop bitterness.

D- Bring on the six pack, you can knock these back and not burn out your taste buds

Bottle is CLEARLY marked with the date of 031109 although not with ABV

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2009 20:46:07 | More by 6470zzy

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Purchased at Colonial Williamsburg.
Poured a medium amber color wuth massive white puffy head. Good rentention.
Smell is pleasant, being a nice combination of grassy hops and subtle malt.
Taste also combines the malt and hops in good proportions, forming a nice refreshing easy drinking beer.
Try one if you are at Colonial Williamsburg. You will not be sorry.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2006 19:27:47 | More by tgbljb

JohnnyM2002

Maryland

3.1/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked up at Kings Arms Tavern in Williamsburg. Note - Old Dominion has listed a Williamsburg Pale Ale, so I was going to file a review under that. The beer-man of the tavern (not sure if they called them bartenders in Colonial days!) spoke to me about it and said this is a different brew and not the other Pale Ale listed here. Sorry if I received wrong information, but I figured I'd rather be safe and add a new beer.

A - Pours an amber brown with a small, short-lasting head.

S - A roasted, slightly hoppy aroma with grassy highlights.

T - Initial detection of roasted malt with an addition of dry hops. A little floral activity in the aftertaste.

M - A light-to-medium body with little carbonation; despite the smaller ABV, a slight warming sensation going down.

D - This goes down well and is refreshing, but there's nothing very unique about this selection...the coolest part is the bottle and the face that it's offered in the Coloinal Williamsburg taverns. If eating a meal down there, pick one up.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2006 22:10:09 | More by JohnnyM2002