Mission St. Pale Ale - Steinhaus Brewing Co.

tr9871

Mississippi

3.6/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

This is a good pale ale. It is not world class by any means, but it is certainly drinkable. The flavors have been accurately described here, although I am detecting a bit more fruitiness than others I think, almost blueberry like in a way. It is smooth and tasty, and worth a try in my opinion. I
t is what it is, and is good because of what it is not. The bottle sums this beer up nicely, reading "Mission Street resides at the crossroads of quality and value." Accurate description and definitely a good pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 00:59:05 | More by tr9871

kristenspaintings

California

1.68/5  rDev -53.5%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.75

Unfortunately, this beer is not at all close to what I expected. I usually am pretty happy with the company’s product, but not this time. Starting off, it has a very odd color and smell for a Pale Ale. The aftertaste reminds me of soap, so much that I even tried some in a separate glass. To my dismay, the odd soapy flavor remained. And talk about hops!! Wow, way to bitter. Simple, pass on this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 18:59:54 | More by kristenspaintings

MeanMotaScootah

California

2.89/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A: light straw golden color - very little lacing, minimal foam

S: A very light citrusy malt aroma - definitely not dry hopped

T: Malty, refreshing, crisp – almost like a Pilsner but definitely not a pale ale (at least not a west coast pale ale.) That being said it is a nice refreshing summer brew. The taste is good but not for a pale ale category. I know this is made by the same brewery as Firestone so maybe this is a less hoppy Pale 31? Malty upfront, dry finish so it’s no overly sweet.

M: Light to medium body, with decent carbonation

O: Tasty beer for $5.99 a sixer. If I had paid more for this then I would have been disappointed. It’s actually a nice brew to have after a heavier IPA

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 23:03:18 | More by MeanMotaScootah

Dave1999

Virginia

3.66/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale amber with very little white head.

The smell is all about the citrus hops, grapfruit, lemon and some earthiness.

The taste doesn't live up to the smell, slightly hoppy with a malty backbone.

The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall a cheap pale ale which is better than $1 a bottle would suggest. Very much on the light side, would be good to take tailgating.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 02:33:19 | More by Dave1999

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A crystal clear yellow body with a thin white cap. A tiny layer of foam settles over the liquid with some clingy lace. A decent amount of visible carbonation.

The nose is of cereal graininess and a light floral and earthy hoppyness. Straightforward and simple....a little generic.

A mix of floral and earthy notes and sweet grains with building earthy bitterness in the finish. A touch of residual sweetness pokes through the noble hop bill.

Light bodied, clean, and crisp. Medium to high carbonation.

A pretty average pale ale that could almost pass as a pilsner. Easy drinking with a mild earthy bitterness that lingers for a decent while.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 21:06:35 | More by ColForbinBC

barczar

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a solid one inch cream head that dissipates slowly, leaving sticky lacing.

Fresh cut grass and resin mingle with biscuity malt and a floral hop finish in the aroma.

Flavor adds a citrus element, with grapefruit and lime lingering throughout the profile. There's a bready malt component that is fairly nondescript. The finish is slightly bitter and dry.

Body is moderate, with carbonation a touch on the high side, keeping the experience light.

Overall, more citrus flavor than anticipated. It's a bit one-note, but not bad. Fairly sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 21:56:40 | More by barczar

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Solid golden with ample carbonation and decent foam and lacing.

Smell: Cedar and some lemon. A hint of pine as well.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Very watery flavor. A hint of lemon hops, just barely... This really has nothing more than the consistency of water.

Overall Drinkability: Looks and smells nice, but flavor and consistency is extremely weak.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 00:40:11 | More by tjsdomer2

kojevergas

California

2.38/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Heard the rumors this was a Firestone Walker brewed ale and the price was right. I'm not a big fan of Firestone Walker, but I do quite like their unfiltered DBA and the price was indeed right, so I picked this one up. My expectations are high. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap acquired at Trader Joe's and served into a Uinta pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. 4.6% ABV confirmed. Bottled 08/29/12.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with pretzels.

A: Pours a three finger beige colour head of nice cream, fair thickness, and pretty good retention - though the ABV is rather low. Lacing is okay. Colour is a clear translucent pale yellow. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Not all that vibrant. Meh. Pretty standard appearance for the style.

Sm: Surprisingly hoppy. Fresh evocative floral hops are notable. It does flirt with soapiness, though. Clean malts. No yeast or alcohol is detectable. An average strength aroma.

T: Floral hops, clean malts, and barley. A hint of soap. Some crispness there. It's a bit stale, actually. The aroma was fresh but the flavour is not. Simple, even a bit bland. Not real well balanced. No yeast or alcohol comes through.

Mf: Too dry, actually. A bit too thick for the lack of flavour as well. Weird coarsenesst that never quite feels right. A touch overcarbonated.

Dr: Pedestrian. Priced alright. I won't get it again. If you're buying cheap from Trader Joe's, go with the Stockyard Oatmeal Stout. This stuff is just plain mediocre. But what did I expect? After all, it is Firestone Walker. It's drinkable but rather mundane indeed.

D+

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 05:50:12 | More by kojevergas

TheSixthRing

California

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a crystal clear golden yellow with a white, fluffy head just over a finger thick. Decent retention. Leaves a nice, sticky lacing.

Smell - Mildly hoppy notes with floral and citrus character, very light pine note as well. Aroma also has a faint bready maltiness playing off in the background.

Taste - Follows the nose. Mild hop character upfront and throughout; floral and citrus notes play off each other nicely. Malts do well to give this brew a sweetness which provides nice balance, though any predominant character is hard to pinpoint... maybe a bit of bread as the finish nears. Just a minor touch of soapiness in the aftertaste I'm not fond of.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body with a fairly lively carbonation which tingles at the lips. Finishes clean and crisp. Smooth and drinkable.

Overall - Solid PA from Firesto.... er, "Mission St." I'm not usually too fond of pale ales that are similar in flavor profile (Stone PA comes to mind) but this one hits on the characters I like while the characters I don't like come across as more subdued. It's still not something I'm likely to buy, but I can appreciate the execution, and it's a great value beer from Trader Joe's.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 05:53:12 | More by TheSixthRing

steveh

Illinois

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another beer from Trader Joe's *secret* Steinhaus Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA.

I've heard good things about this beer, as I had about the IPA. 4.6 makes for a great session beer too. Bottled on 7/5/12.

A -- Clear, bright golden color with a frothy white head that holds up well.

S -- Big piny, herbal character up front. Mild fruit esters behind the piny hops.

T -- Herbal character mixed with citrus fruitiness and finishing with light graininess and mild biscuit malt sweetness. Some vague vegetal sourness in the finish, but not distracting -- fades with warming. Aftertaste of spicy hops and pleasing bitterness.

M -- Mouthfeel is soft to crisp with a medium light body.

O -- This reminds me of the sort of Pale Ale you would get at brew-pubs back in the early 90s. Not overbearing, allowing for more hops than the usual beer, but not assaulting your palate, with a light, graininess to counteract the hop character and bitterness. Worth a try for $7 a six pack.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 21:11:33 | More by steveh

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

A: Pours a lightly hazy medium to dark golden yellow in color with some hints of orange when held up to the light and a light amount of visible carbonation. The beer has a half finger tall foamy off-white head that reduces to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of caramel malts with a light amount of sweetness and citrus/floral hops.

T: There a light caramel malt body with some light amounts of sweetness along with a mild amount of non-lingering bitterness. There are flavors from the citrus/orange and floral hops

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Creamy with a lightly dry finish.

O: Easy to drink and enjoyable - there is a pleasant amount of flavor in this beer while still being very sessionable. Much better than I expected, considering the price (and what 2 buck Chuck tastes like)... I would pick this beer up again, especially for a outdoor summer food gathering - paired well with BBQ style pork.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 01:54:21 | More by dbrauneis

beertunes

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer may be brewed by a different brewery now, my bottle said it was brewed in Paso Robles CA, not Monrovia. Poured into 9oz Pilsener glass. Poured a lightly hazy golden straw color (much like a Pilsener, instead of a more typical "Ale" color) with about an inch of white head that had OK retention and no lacing.

The aroma had a good grainy malt scent, although a bit on the sweet side, and a solid dose of piney hops. The flavor was pretty similar, nice malts and lots of pine hops, that lingered on the back of the tongue.

The body was nice, crisp and clean, and not sticky at all. Drinkability is excellent, these guys go down smooth, clean and refreshingly easy. Overall, a pretty good beer on it's own, but when you consider the $6 a six pack price, it's a great value beer for those times you don't want think about your beer too much.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 19:47:04 | More by beertunes

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.05/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

For the conscious-minded consumer, this pick up of Mission St. Pale Ale at the local Trader Joe's delivers pleasant pale ale balances of hops to malt at a slightly lower cost than other retailers.

Pouring with a burnish golden honey color, the beer carries the haze that's classic of unfiltered and well hopped ales. The beer's carbonation releases a frothy head of whitish sheets. Solid lacing as random islands of lace adorn the glass- its appearance is what's asked of a pale ale.

Earth, malt and fruit swirl in the nose and captures a blend of American and British style pale ales. Firmly malted with notes of caramel, biscuit, and grain; the beer balances with hop notes of citrus pith, moist soil, and grassy/piney aromas. Added aromas of over ripened apples, pears, and apricots give a glimpse into the estery profile.

Flavors follow with a bready-sweet taste of barley malt with spicy snap of raw grain, maybe even rye. The forward taste of caramel and honey is short lived as the hops rise at mid palate to balance. Dried oranges, pithy grapefruit, fresh cut grass, mild pine, wood, and earthen ginger root provide a counterpart in flavor before turning slightly resinous bitter to finish. ...all reinforcing the notion of English pale ales as much as American varieties.

Medium bodied throughout, the beer sheds its early creaminess in favor of a dry lemon-mint finish that reminds me of sassafras. This dryness exposes elements of grassy, astringent, and wood-oriented bite that accompanies the hop bitterness with a touch of unsettlement.

All in all, the Mission St. pale ale satisfies the taste for pale ale, but does little to charm the palate with finesse, brightness, freshness, or premiere quality.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 03:04:55 | More by BEERchitect

Cresant

Kentucky

2.78/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured this 12 oz. bottle into a shaker pint glass. Dated: 11/15/11. The body was medium gold with a light haze. The head was white with fine bubbles. Clots of foam remain on the cap.

The smell was citrus. Spices and lemon.

The taste was balanced. Spicy hops and mild pithy bitterness. Jammy marmalade and apples. Maybe a bit too much apple.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied with good carbonation. Nothing worth revisiting here.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 14:56:47 | More by Cresant

TriggerFingers

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What is so funny about this beer is that it has taken medals at GABF as the quintessential American Pale Ale but done on a minor TJ's label out of Paso Robles, CA (brewed by Firestone Walker).

Personally, I like the Firestone Walker Pale 31 slightly more than this, but that is due to the blending with DBA and MS Pale Ale.

I won't say what has already been said on flavor- its nice, subtle, and appealing!

At $5.99 a six pack at TJ's get in there and get you some! My only complaint is that they don't do bombers. Being on the Central Coast, I am pleased to get it F-R-E-S-H....your mileage may vary.

Love it!

Grade: A/A-

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 23:30:41 | More by TriggerFingers

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

pours a slightly cloudy, bright golden-yellow tone with a solid finger of a foamy off-white head... fair to poor retention; no real lacing to speak of.

the first thing i get from the aroma is a floral hoppiness, followed by some bready malts and the faint suggestion of pine; taste mostly follows the nose with a bready malt/floral hop profile which carries through to a slightly bitter finish... pretty nice balance, if nothing too mind-blowing. relatively refreshing. quaffable.

lighter-bodied mouthfeel with style appropriate carbonation; pretty drinkable, something easily sessioned.

original review on: 10-13-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 01:14:56 | More by BostonHops

DocJitsu

California

4.4/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a crystal clear light golden color. White head of 3/4 of and inch. Poor head retention. Wonderful bouquet of grapefruit and candied fruit. Average mouthfeel. Nice, clean grapefruit that yields to pine and finishes with candied fruit. Overtones of lemon citrus throughout. Very nice APA. A cheap beer from Trader Joe's you say? Maybe, but Firestone Walker is responsible for this inexpensive gem.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 03:37:22 | More by DocJitsu

UCLABrewN84

California

3.45/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear light gold with a 2 inch foamy off-white head that settles to a thin cap. Broken rings of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt and herbal and citrus zest hops. A bit of onion and vegetables as the beer warms. Taste is of citrus zest up front with a malt backbone. A very mild bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good pale ale but not something I would probably get again.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 04:38:22 | More by UCLABrewN84

GossageBrewery

Missouri

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

Poured a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, it poured a clear yellow color, produced a average white head with average retention. Decent amount of lacing left on the glass. Aroma of pale malt and a decent citrus hop aroma. Medium in body, taste of pale malt, overly sweet, piney hop flavor some hints of citrus. Very average pale ale, excellent value- nothing special. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 02:29:20 | More by GossageBrewery

rodney45

New York

4.03/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark yellow and with a quickly fleeing paper white head that leaves little to no lacing.

S: Blown away. Centennial or cascade hop dominant. Crazy nice aroma that just hits the nose with a vibrant blend of citrus, graprfruit, melon, cantaloupe and beautiful hop blend.

T: First notes are only of the hop profile which consist of grapefruit, lemon and orange. I can definitively taste cascade hop in this beer from my home brewing experience. Malt character is there primarily for balance, but it lends itself in very toasty and doughy ways, once this beer warms up. After taste is dry and the beer seems a little bit diluted.

M: Light to medium body, with decent carbonation, and only slightly bitter.

O: Good example for the style, I'd call it a little bit under malted, and less bitter than the aroma would have lead on, but... i'd say this is a very accurate demonstration of the style, even if a little bit watered down. Sessionable and absolutely affordable for a buck a 12 oz.

I'd pair this with grilled pork roast or maybe venison chops.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 09:11:36 | More by rodney45

Halcyondays

California

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours gold with a medium full white head, good retention, spotty lace.

S: As with the IPA, very vibrant. Citrus with a hint of mango.

T: Some bready malt with a nice hop backbone. Grapefruit, some melon rind. Piney in the finish.

M: Medium-bodied, frothy, light aftertaste for the style.

O: Quite similar to SNPA, a good budget pale ale 6er choice.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 06:22:55 | More by Halcyondays

gc4hokies

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden hue with a slight hint of red. Very clear with nice foamy white head that laces the glass all the way down.

For the aroma, I'm getting brown sugar, bisquit, slightly grassy. Nice

Taste sweet at first. same brown sugar notes. Finishes with a nice slight bitterness of the hops.

Mouthfeel is crisp and light.

This is a good session beer and represents the style nicely. A lot of the aromas and flavors are the same ones found in the IPA, just understated.

I think that this beer is being reviewed at a lower score by some because it is so light and low in abv. If you don't compare this to something 6+ abv, like some in this category?, you realize that this is a very nicely done, light, pale ale.

Very good for the style and a great bargain at Trader Joe's.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 01:49:57 | More by gc4hokies

litheum94

California

3.38/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 11/15/10. Reviewed 2/6/11.

Clear, golden body. Active, slightly off-white head that bubbles up to a one-finger head. Settles out to a patchy cover.

Peachy hops. Very floral. Honey sweetness. Tones of brown sugar. Malt forward, with biscuit and caramel aromas.

Faintly citrusy hops at first. Crisp mouthfeel. Strong malt base of honey covered biscuits and caramel. Leads into a dry, hoppy finish. Citrus and pine. Restrained bitterness.

A fairly cheap, easy drinking and refreshing pale ale. Can't complain about any of that.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 23:20:22 | More by litheum94

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

3.05/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Into a pint glass:

A: glowing yellow body, slightly amber at the edges, light foamy head

S: slight flowery, lemon, grapefruit, pine, light grass in the background

T: roasted caramel up front, yet fades as the beer warms, previously mentioned flavors show up as the beer warms

M: light, pretty sessionable, dry bitter aftertaste and finish

O: best thing about this is the price, other than that, just an average American Pale Ale

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 19:42:16 | More by kangarooAdam59

AwYeh

California

3.1/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into shaker pint.

A: Clear golden-amber with two fingers of frothy white head; quickly subsides but nice looking while it lasts.

S: Good balance, a lot of citrus hops, particularly pineapple, are upfront. Biscuity malts come through shortly thereafter, unfortunately they're a bit mustier than would be totally pleasant, and there's something in there that's a bit similar to spilled beer at a football stadium. Still, not a bad smell all around. Less intensive sniffs, later into a beer drinking session, would probably have this around a 4.0.

T: Hops are the first thing I pick up here, a lot of pine unlike the aroma, though some citrus is still bouncing around. Hops overpower most of the sweetness that I was expecting from the malts, so instead they're limited to contributing more of the biscuity flavor from the smell. I'm surprised that this one is as bitter as it is (in an enjoyable way) for being just 4.6% ABV, though I'd be cheating if I bumped its score up just for having a strong flavor at that level.

M: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, creamy and frothy on the way down. This beer goes quite a bit beyond its ABV range, and is sticky enough to keep the flavor around for a while.

O: Average pale ale, though there's certainly nothing wrong with it. For the price point, it's still heavy on the flavor (though in my opinion the Mission St. IPA is several degrees better). Pick it up if you're at Trader Joe's and are a fan of APAs; it's easily worth the cost of admission.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 07:58:35 | More by AwYeh