Pintail Pale Ale - Karl Strauss Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ferric oxide orange with honeybee highlights and crystalline clarity throughout. The head is equal parts eggshell and ecru and melts in fine fashion. BB-shot lace isn't extensive, but there's enough of it present to result in the above score.

For a spring seasonal, PPA is still pretty hoppy with respect to the aroma. Cascade and Newport were used, with Amarillo for dry-hopping. Tangerine and grapefruit zest on a primarily pale malt base is right up my APA alley.

Pintail Pale Ale is a solid version of the style without a doubt. That's no surprise since the only other Karl Strauss beer that I've reviewed to date (Big Barrel Double IPA) is an underappreciated hoppy humdinger. Little brother is tasty and drinkable as well.

The malts are sufficient in amount and seem very slightly toasted and earthy, as if a small percentage of Munich or Vienna is present. The top notes are all bright citrus peel of the sort described above. It tastes and feels like most of the original 47 IBUs are still kickin'. The finish is lingeringly hoppy-bitter and semi-crisp.

The body/mouthfeel is the only (teensy weensy) fly in the ointment. It's a little bit thin and slightly too harshly bubbled. Things improve in the bottom half, just not enough to make a difference where score is concerned.

It's difficult to say after only two of their offerings, but it appears as though Karl Strauss doesn't get enough love. Maybe it's different out there in California, who knows? This is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a well-hopped American pale ale that doesn't allow its malts to be backseat drivers.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 12:31:43 | More by BuckeyeNation

velosuds

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

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

A-Pours an amber-orange with a one and a quarter finger, off-white head with average retention and nice, even lacing.

S-Very fragrant, citrusy hops and caramel malt.

T-A full flavored light ale. Nice blend of bitterness and tropical fruit notes with a balanced malt presence.

M-Very smooth. Good carbonation.

D-This is very drinkable and a decent ale.

O- Good, but not great, at regular prices. However, I would buy this for $5.99 a sixer, whenever available. A good APA.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 06:41:04 | More by velosuds

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Part of the Summer Brews pack from Cost Plus World Market.

Pours a clear orange with a 1 inch whitish-orange head that fades to a thin cap. Random foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and citrus zest. Taste is of grapefruit and it’s juice, citrus zests, and slight malt. Medium bitterness lingers on the palate after each sip. Good carbonation makes for a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a solid pale ale with some nice citrus aromas and flavors and an excellent choice for a Summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 16:58:01 | More by UCLABrewN84

armock

New York

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

A - Poured a copper color with a white head that leaves some lacing behind

S - Is mostly of citrus hops on caramel malt

T - Starts off with grapefruit hops finishes with a touch of caramel malt

M - This beer has a medium body with higher carbonation to it

D - This was a pretty good pale thats easy to drink with its good taste I could probably drink a few of these in a sitting worth picking up sometime to give it a try

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2010 20:57:23 | More by armock

BucannonXC5

California

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

Poured from a bottle into a pilsner glass. Just over an inch of head. Color was caramel. Plenty of lacing on top with some film on the sides. The film stayed throughout the pour.

Initial whiff was pine and grapefruit, followed by hops.

Initial taste was a pleasant balance of hops, pine and grapefruit, followed by a small hint of bitterness. Even some lemon wafer cookies in there as well.

Moderate on the carbonation. Flavor stayed consistent throughout. Pine and hops rule the day.

I thought this beer was going to be good and it didn’t disappoint. Heavy on the hops, but smooth. Great combination.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 07:55:42 | More by BucannonXC5

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice strong copper color with a 1 inch soapy off-white head that has some good retention. Active carbonation rise form the bottom of the glass.

S - Malty goodness is present with some underlying and delicious grassy hops. Some citrus grapefruit notes are present but the bready grain backbone is definitely dominant.

T & M - Taste starts off with some nice bready grain notes. Freshly baked and toasty. Delicious malt backbone to this brew. There is some nice grapefruit and slightly grassy hop notes to balance the malt backbone. There si some slight malt sweetness to the beer as well. With some slight carmel notes mixed in with the grain. Good light mouthfeel with great overall flavors.

O - I was pleasantly surprised byt his beer. It is up there with some of the more known Cali Pale Ales. In fact to me it trumps SNPA. Good malt backbone with nice hop hints.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 05:05:31 | More by JoEBoBpr

beagle75

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Draft service into a shaker pint glass at Karl Strauss in Costa Mesa.

A: Clear, medium amber color with less than one finger of diminishing white foam head. Moderate lacing remains on the glass.

S: Citrus and floral hops are pungent anf focused early, but diminish quickly in intensity. Toasted grain is predictably more evident as hops fade, but otherwise the smell is very clean.

T: Begins dry, with aromatic hops that match the smell closely and bright acidity that is strong but welcome. Pale malt emerges in the middle, husky and robust. Bitterness develops gradually, becoming nearly bracing at its peak during the finish.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, wet and balanced featuring an acidic edge, with moderate carbonation.

D: Not only is Pintail one of the best beers Karl Strauss brews, it may also be one of the best APAs brewed in Southern California. One has to consider some other much more poorly-distributed beers--Alpine Hoppy Birthday, Strand 24th Street pale--to find one that is both local and is able to exceed this beer in its masterful approach to the style. While off-flavors are virtually non-existent here, one could potentially criticize the acidity present and the speed at which the hop aromas seem to fade from the smell. That said, even they are small transgressions that should not prevent this beer from rising to the top of the Karl Strauss stable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2011 06:00:17 | More by beagle75

Jason

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz brown bottle with a code on the neck.

Clear and brassy, thin but impressive lacing. APA nose with floral and citric hop notes with bready and biscuity malt. Somewhat deep smoothness develops into a quick snap of crispness. Medium body. Citric hop flavor runs from pulp to zest to a little bit of rind with a bitterness that sticks. Maltiness holds together well, a good base with biscuity and bread flavors that meld with yeasty undertones. Finishes malt and bitter at the same time, semi-dry though.

A stellar example of the APA style, nothing crazy ... to style.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2010 01:55:27 | More by Jason

DoubleJ

California

4.18/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at OC Brewhouse, on to the beer:

A little paler than copper, this beer has very good head retention and leaves a lot of lacing around the glass. Nose is pleasant, giving off grapefruit and piney aromas. A clean pale ale, leans towards the hoppy side, though never bitter or rough at any moment. The grapefruit seems sweeter in the taste. Piney and limey as well. Gentle and medium-light in mouthfeel, and very easy to quaff.

Refreshing and appetizing beer from Karl Strauss. This would be ideal for lazy summer days.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2011 06:01:16 | More by DoubleJ

srandycarter

California

4.33/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pretty burnt orange, nice near white head, leaves to ring fast. Plenty cling lace.

S - Almost solid malt center nose. Bitter circling main focus.

T - Nice sweet malt controlled very well by the hops. This is great for a pale ale. Within style, but so much flavor.

M - Medium body, creamy and carbed, finished clean after sweet and bitter blend.

D - Not overpowering, not high abv. It's a keeper.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 20:41:44 | More by srandycarter

jjh19

California

4.35/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: My bottle of Pintail Pale Ale poured a rich golden amber color. Decent head. Had a really clean look.

Smell: A pleasant aroma, hints of citrus (maybe grapefruit?)

Taste: Wow - this ale delivers big on the citrus with the first sip. Pretty cool. I think my favorite thing about the Pintail is the malts I get mid-sip. Creates a nice balance with the vibrant hops.

Mouthfeel: My bottle had a fairly ale-standard medium body. Nothing crazy.

Drinkability: This is a smooth pale ale with an interesting hoppiness. I'd totally recommend this. Can't wait for a hot San Diego day to enjoy a couple more.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2010 04:00:13 | More by jjh19

crvcac

California

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours with a nice golden amber hue

Smell: smells absolutely wonderful. Clearly dry-hopped, this beer runs a fine line between pale ale and ipa.

Taste: taste very similar to its smell. Again, a very hopped pale ale. Copious amounts of citrus and pine like flavors. Sits very nicely on the palate.

Drink ability: very drinkable. Moderate abv makes for a great session beer. Hop linger on the tongue makes me want more

Overall: solid

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2010 15:16:06 | More by crvcac

Beerocrat69

California

4.43/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer was copper-colored with a nice white head and great lace on the glass. It smelled like grapefruit juice mingled with a little bit of pine. Great aroma! It tasted dry - which is good - with slight notes of caramel. The beer was super hoppy without being very bitter. The mouthfeel was light to medium-bodied. This is definitely a sessionable pale ale. I could drink alot of this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 21:57:46 | More by Beerocrat69

hoptrip619

California

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Not sure if there was a reformulation to this recipe because there is no way this beer deserves anything less than a solid A. I sampled Pintail several times last night at a charity event for the San Diego History Center and was very very impressed. Ryan, the KS rep, mentioned it will be available in six-packs here in a few weeks and I definitely plan to pick some up when that become a reality.

A- Poured a clear bright golden orange with a 1/2" white head.

S- Prominent clean floral citrus aroma of grapefruit zest with some fruity notes.

T- Lots of hop flavor of grapfruit, orange, and meyer lemon. Some caramel malt contrasts nicely with the forward hoppiness.

M- Medium bodied and very very easy to drink.

D- This PA is clean, super flavorful, and incredibly easy to drink. This may very well become my go-to beer. I am seriously impressed by the new beers KS has been putting out lately.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2010 20:16:59 | More by hoptrip619