Moat Iron Mike Pale Ale - Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Co.

Cavanaghty

Maine

3.03/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap in a sample glass.

Appearance: Copper color with a white head.

Smell: Flowery like smell with sweet citrus and hops.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Medium to light bodied. Taste was really just some bittersweet hops.

Overall: It was an ok beer, but nothing really special.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2012 22:36:51 | More by Cavanaghty

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the 1785 Inn—served into a pint glass

Appearance: 1 inch creamy head, moderate carbonation, gold in color, clear

Smell: piney hops and some citrus hops

Taste: piney hops with some sweet caramel malt—light citrus hops

Mouthfeel: sweetish start with a slightly bitter middle and a more bitter end, moderate-light carbonation, light bodied

Overall: A very good hoppy beer. This ranks right up there with the best pales coming out of New England. It certainly drinks more like an IPA. Not a hophead, but this is refreshing and well balanced. A hoppy beer that everyone can love.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2012 14:29:37 | More by tigg924

DrewKid4

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served: Sampler on tap from the New England BrewFest.

A: Copper in color, with a good white head.

S: Very hoppy and some citrus.

T: Coming from an APA lover, this is one of the best Pale Ale's I've ever had. Not as strong of hops as a Sierra Nevada or Smuttynose, but makes me "hoppy."

M: Great feel. One of the best of any beer I have had to date.

D: Easier to drink than the "best" APAs yet still quite strong and flavorful.

There are two sides for how great this brew is. One side is that it is superb and I would hope it would become more available not only around New Hampshire, but around the country. The other side is it is so good, I would rather it be a well kept secret in the White Mountains so that only few can appreciate it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2010 03:31:51 | More by DrewKid4

caseymconley

Maine

4.78/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Drank this beer on tap on Dec. 12 in the brew pub in North Conway, N.H. Used to live in town and sought out the pub while visiting. Iron Mike IPA is in my opinion their signature brew -- at times it's so popular the place runs out until a new batch is ready.

In any case, the beer is extremely smooth, but with a nice hoppy kick. It's well-balanced and not overwhelming and mildly citrusy.

On par, I believe with any of the big boys in the IPA market -- (Sierra Nevada nationally, Shipyard, Geary's, locally) but has a uniqueness that sets it apart.

Wish they were big enough to bottle it so I could buy it in Portland, Maine. I love this beer and strongly recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2009 17:51:33 | More by caseymconley

sethmeister

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Moat Mountain 10/04.

Appearance was orange gold with a sticky off white head and excellent lace retention.

Scent was grapefruit hops and fresh bread.

Taste was a dominant crisp citrus, primarily grapefruit, hop flavor on a fresh malty bread base. Hints of pine resin. Nice clean finish. Very well balanced.

Prickly on the tip of tongue; creamy medium mouthfeel. Nice bitter finish.

Very good drinkability.

This is a very tasty American Pale Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2008 23:14:31 | More by sethmeister

MrRetardedMonkey

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear golden amber with a thick and creamy two-finger off-white head that fades slowly. Great retention and beautiful lacing.

Smell is rather faint, but it is mostly a blend of floral and citrus hops with some toasted grains and a hint of caramel in the background.

Taste starts with some earthy floral hops with a slight bitterness, and a grainy, slightly sweet malt background. Toasted bread and caramel lead into some citrus flavors before a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Medium-bodied mouthfeel with a crisp level of carbonation.

The Moat is my local watering hole and this is the beer that I drink 90% of the time I stop in. Near perfect drinkability for me, and a great APA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2008 17:49:34 | More by MrRetardedMonkey

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Moat Mountain- Iron Mike Pale Ale

A- Very good bright cloudy orange with a thick head. Light lacing.
S- Iced Tea, Grapefruit, and lemon rind.
T- Sweet caramel malt with citrus rind and tea leaves.
M- Creamy malt hits you first with a slight intensifing bitter citrus finish.

Overall- Quite enjoyable and definitely recommended if you're ever up near Mt. Washington.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2008 20:25:59 | More by NJpadreFan

mschofield

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear copper-amber, topped with a one finger light tan head. Rings of lace left behind with wisps of webs connecting them.
Citrus and toffee aroma.
Nice hoppy taste, although the bittering hops aren't as strong as the taste would imply. Citrus - grapefruit, herbs, tea, toffee.
Medium bodied, easy drinking nicely balanced APA.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2004 21:07:32 | More by mschofield

Truh

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Smelted some ore with this one on 6/19/204 at the Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 16-oz. pour in a shaker glass.

Small, creamy initial head which set up with huge craters which recessed to a stringy chain as the offer’s level grew increasingly shorter. Mellow gold hue with a slight haze, but mostly clear when held up to the afternoon’s fading sun. Plentiful, strong hop character is pronounced in the bouquet, with some clover aspects slipping their way through the voluminous hop trellises. On taste, this was even-handed in all respects for the profile – not overly hopped and at the same time a fine balance of malt. This is one I would definitely consider for sessioning with friends.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2004 20:52:10 | More by Truh

goz

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery: A good pale ale. Deep golden pour, small white head that laces a little. Aroma is a little citrus, pine, and hops. A well balanced drink, with an initial malty goodness, followed by a nice hop bitterness that lingers on for a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2003 06:40:43 | More by goz

BillyBrew

Maine

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A very solid pale. Deep golden colour with a sticky, tight head that laces and swirls throughout. Strong hop oil nose and lesser citrus-fruit scents. Strong oily hops with balancing crystal malts. Great bite and body combination. Also a bit o' citrus. Solid medium body with a rough carbonated edge and dry hopping.

A great American plae with its bite and body matchup. Dry, clean finish. Very solid. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2002 17:48:44 | More by BillyBrew

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #63 (Apr 2012):

LOOK: Pale amber, thick suds

SMELL: Orange zest, mild caramel, leafy hops, bready, dried grass, faint peppercorn, kumquats

TASTE: Smooth, assertive hop bitterness, citric rind, toasted grain, dusty hay, yeast, faint esters, pear juice, faint mint, crackers; dry, hoppy finish

A solid go at the crowded APA style, and a few steps ahead of the middle of the pack. The 24-ounce can format sets its self apart from all other canned craft beers we know of. A good quaff—pull the big mugs out for this one.

Serving type: can

02-14-2013 00:44:48 | More by BeerAdvocate

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.58/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Into a pint glass:

A: golden colored body that leaves a two finger foamy white head, there is a nice spider webbed lacing speckling the pint glass. Some light carbonation is seen slowly rising.

S: a good combination between the malts and the hops.

T: balanced between the malts and hops.

M: light to medium with a good crispness lingering about it. There is nothing harsh on the tongue.

O: this is a decent brew, standard and solid, but for the price, I'm not sure if I would have come back to it.

Serving type: can

09-11-2012 14:29:00 | More by kangarooAdam59

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Fresh can from Maine trip. Golden appearance,with some lasting foam. Neutral at best aroma. The taste a little metallic, minimal hops detected.Average mouthfeel, fair drinkability. A rather plain beer.
I did have this at almost room temperature, but still.

Serving type: can

08-26-2012 02:09:22 | More by northyorksammy

Brad007

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a decent golden color with a one finger head into my glass. Huge fucking can too!

The aroma is about more malt, less hops. The quintessential pale ale.

Grassy hops with an emphasis on the malt. More of a traditional pale ale? The taste reflects the aroma. An easygoing pale ale.

Not much in the aftertaste. Light and crisp.

Nothing bad to say about this. Check it

Serving type: can

06-17-2012 23:20:40 | More by Brad007

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Iron Mike Pale Ale poured from the 20oz can is amber in the glass with a small, frothy white head on top. as the foam fades spots and lines of lace remain on the glass. a flurry of tiny bubbles rise to the surface from the bottom.

The aroma is malty and sweet with some floral notes blended in. caramel and toasted malt, tropical fruit, grass and a touch of citrus are all present.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is slightly creamy, dry with moderate carbonation. The flavor is much like the aroma. Bready, caramel malt and toast are balanced with tangerine citrus, a touch of mango and grass. It finishes dry and mildly bitter. Once gone the toasted malt and citrus flavors linger on the palate.

This is a very drinkable, well balanced beer is a huge can. I brought another can on a kayak trip recently and sipped on it a couple miles down the river.

Serving type: can

06-10-2012 19:43:03 | More by WanderingFool

Etan

Illinois

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a big-ass 24oz can into a 23oz weizen glass, for shits and giggles. Thanks to Valdieu2 for sending this to me.

A: Pours a nice burnt orange with a spongy off-white head. Nasty lacing and retention.

S: Really nice mellow nose of floral yeast, citrus and grassy hops, a bit of perfumy spiciness.

T: Pleasing bready caramel malt infused with mellow floral and piney hops. Mild citrus (lemon, orange) and apricot shows in the middle, with a bit of an herbal note on the end from the yeast and hops. A hint of bitterness lingers.

M: Creamy, nice carbonation.

O: This is a pretty tasty APA - mellow, but interesting.

Serving type: can

04-19-2012 22:34:02 | More by Etan

Thingus

California

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Massive can into .75L stein thanks to caguiar (Thanks Chris!!)

Appearance; pours a slightly hazy orange copper color, with three fingers of straw colored head... Retention is good, taking several minutes to fall, and lacing is outstanding.

Smell; Peaches, honey and hints of grapefruit

Taste; quite similar to the smell with a bit of a bready quality to balance everything out, just a slight amount of bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel; on the full side of light bodied, with mellow carbonation, goes down fairly smooth, this is a very easy drinkin beer...

Overall; this is an exceptionally easy drinkin beer, i can definitely envision myself drinking this one all day at a party or some similar event, and the low ABV makes it a perfect candidate for doing so. Absolutely would seek this one out again!!

Serving type: can

03-04-2012 06:01:22 | More by Thingus

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A big thanks to Chris (caguiar) for this beer. Cheers!

Appearance – Pours into my tulip from a massive can with a semi-cloudy dark amber color and over two fingers of massive head that leaves great looking chunky lacing.

Smell – Toasted grainy malts, caramel, slight floral hops, hints of citrus and lemon zest.

Taste – Actually less sweet and abrasive than I was expecting from the nose. Begins a hint caramel sweet mixed with lots of bready and biscuity toasted malts. A small punch of floral and citrus hops shine through in the middle along with pine resin and the sip ends with a slight bitterness though the sweetness almost takes over.

Mouthfeel – Medium bodied, quite creamy actually, solid mouthfeel, good carbonation.

Overall – A solid APA and one I am glad to try. Extremely quaffable and not overly “grainy” if you know what I mean.

Serving type: can

03-03-2012 02:35:20 | More by SpdKilz

smakawhat

Maryland

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from the gigantic can into a nonic pint glass. Fark is this can huge! Much thanks to Toasterchef! Big enough to share, hell no it's all MINE! (hope it's good).

The head forms off white, foamy, but very large off the pour. Some large bubbles in the head. Body color is a very nice copper and metallic rust brown. Pretty solid looking brew.

Great nose. Faint hop and mild rich malt, biscuity, gharam cracker chewy. Smells like a good baked whole wheat bread. Great stuff!

I grab the glass, take a good sip, and boy I am happy, until the finish. THere's no lasting power, but the mid palate brings all the richness backed from the nose. Soft malts and chew, good mild hop oil sense, but a little weak on the finish, sadly too light on the swallow. Dry biscuit cracker rolls nicely

Overall though it's still very enjoyable and has a great aroma. I would have again.

Serving type: can

02-17-2012 00:29:15 | More by smakawhat

dasenebler

Maine

3.1/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

24oz can, no dates.

Pours a hazy amber with a thick off-white head. Great lacing, solid retention.

The aroma is somewhat fruity, though not in a hoppy way. More of a yeasty thing. Otherwise very clean.

Flavor is on the maltier side for an APA, needs more hops. I don't think I'm drinking this beer at its peak, but there's no way of knowing without a date code on the can. Some slightly spicy and fruity hop flavor, but not much. Clean and drinkable, and not terribly exciting. Moutfeel is natural and smooth, medium-low carbonation.

As far as Pale Ales go, this beer is slightly above-average, but I can't really give it above a 3.0 overall. Probably better fresh.

Serving type: can

02-04-2012 23:54:12 | More by dasenebler

ggilman

Maine

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

24oz Iron Mike can poured into a Sebago Tulip.

Pristine honey auburn ale with a frothy off white head that leaves moderate lace. Earthy, herbal hop nose, followed by a similar hop bitterness. Grainy and dry, soft mouthfeel with medium carbonation. Lingering vegetable aftertaste, with a powdery malt finish.

I really like this pale ale, but they're $5/can. I think $15 a six pack is overpriced. I'll stick to filling growlers in the future, but the big cans are cool.

Serving type: can

01-16-2012 22:36:20 | More by ggilman

jsanford

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

OK that;s a big can. 24oz can poured into a Pint Glass.

A - Pours a clear orange-copper with a dense, creamy white head that settles to a soapy haze, leaving lots of sticky lacing clinging to the glass.
S - Sweet grainy caramel malt with some grassy hops, orange peel, and a touch of pineapple. Reminds me quite a bit of Dale's Pale Ale, and not just because of the can.
T - More sweet caramel malt and toasted grains with pine resin, orange peel, and a bit of pineapple from the hops. Very drinkable, with a smooth finish.
M - Medium-thin bodied with a good, refreshing mouthfeel and crisp carbonation.
O - A really solid Pale Ale that I could drink quite a bit of. Love seeing the monster 24oz can, too!

Serving type: can

01-05-2012 04:00:38 | More by jsanford

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A tip o' the wood to rudzud for coming through on a CAN of one of my longtime wants in support of The CANQuest (TM)! I am always up for a trade involving new CANs and he was a solid trader.

From the CAN: "PaLe AlE iN, PaLe YellOw OuT"; "EverYoNe LoVes BiG CaNs"; "All HaiL tHe PaLe aLe"; "CaN You DiG tHe HoPPY New BeeR?"; "An AmeriCan Pale Ale tHat's aLL HoPPed Up and ReaDy To Go."; "FoR 10+ YeARs We'Ve BeeN BriNGing You Handcarfted BeeR aNd BoLd HoMe CooKinG fRom tHe MouNt WasHinGton VaLLey's 1st BrEw PuB and Inn. CoMe in and VisiT Us! BreweD & CaNNed At Moat Mountain SmoKe HouSe & BrewinG Co."; "WHY CANS?: BeCauSe SomeTiMes a Nice CaN is BetteR tHaN Big JuGs; PRoTectS tHe BreW fRoM LiGht DeGradAtioN - GlaSS DoeSn't.; LeSS WeiGht and TwiCe tHe RecYcliNG = LoWer CarBon FootPrint; JuSt DaMn GooD for THe EaRth and tHe Beer"; "BiG EnouGh To SHaRe".

Well, I applaud their use of upper- and lower-case lettering, but I take exception to their use as it applies to the word "CaN" as it should ALWAYS be "CAN". Ya hear me, ya buncha ... ?!?

I know, I know, the usual hue & cry - "CAN we have a review sometime today, ya jagov?" Here goes:

The Crack revealed a CAN filled to the brim and the Glug produced two dense fingers of bubbly tawny head with good retention, as well as releasing some nice aromatics. Nose had the scent of a snowy evening in a pine forest and if they could ever really capture that smell in incense or a candle, I'd have some burning all the time. In the meantime, my mouth began to water and I was slavering like a dog. Color was an oh-so-slightly hazy orangish-amber. The first sip was pure bliss as my sinuses filled with the scent of minty, piney hops and those selfsame hops acted like a scrub brush on my AAL-deadened palate. I was starting to feel better about myself as a result. CANfound the prevalence of AALs in CANs! Finish was bold and pungent with hops and veddy, veddy dry. My, my, my. I did get a kind of slight sourness in terms of taste which do not know whether or not it was intentional, but it added a citric lemony aspect that I could have done without. Even so, it was enjoyable enough that I would make cooler space for it, especially as Hula in the Coola Day (01 February, annually) approaches.

Serving type: can

12-18-2011 18:56:20 | More by woodychandler

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.85/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

24oz can purchased at Trader Joe's in Portland, ME. Pours a slightly hazy amber body with a good inch or so of off-white head that persists and leaves great lacing. Smells herbal, minty, with hints of orange and lemon. Tastes malty with a good dose of hops for balance - caramel, butterscotch, apple, mint, graham cracker... Medium in body and carbonation. Balanced and pleasant. The flavors mesh well with each other and the beer's mouth feel. All in all a pretty solid APA.

Serving type: can

12-04-2011 02:35:40 | More by MrHurmateeowish