Schlafly American Pale Ale (APA) / Expedition Reserve - Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room

Wegomlegging

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this on cask, since I'm eternally searching for a beer that's great served via this method. I'm still searching. Not to say this wasn't good, just not something that I'd pick over the rest of the offerings on the chalkboard. The golden-orange, slightly cloudy appearance was nice, as was the hoppy-fresh smell. The head certainly held its own, and given the simple, clean slate aromas, there wasn't much else going on there. Taste was also quite good, slight bitterness and a fresh straw and pine follow-through. It was incredibly smooth, however what didn't work for or me was the hoppiness combined with the soft, watery texture of the cask. The combination of the two left me feeling like I just drank hop water. Overall I'd say this is a good beer, but I can't help but wonder why anyone would want it via cask.

Serving type: cask

07-06-2011 02:38:05 | More by Wegomlegging

emerge077

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On cask at Schlafly tap room, sampled twice over the weekend.

Fluffy dome of eggshell foam on this imperial pint drawn from the cask. Hazy orange juice, golden where the light passes through. The head dissipates after a few sips, but not a dealbreaker. Aroma is stellar, probably it's best aspect. Very citrusy tangerine, sweet and citric. Juicy Simcoe with a bit of the dankness. Leafy, resiny hop bitterness with a strong dose of orange. Moderately bitter, almost an IPA, not quite. Very smooth and supple on the cask. It goes down almost too easy, had to slow the roll and appreciate it.

Serving type: cask

10-19-2009 02:32:44 | More by emerge077

ryanismean

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Was fortunate enough to get this cask-conditioned at the Schlafly Tap Room last weekend. This review is from notes.

I love cask brews, and this APA proved to be no exception. Bartender hand-pumped this pale golden nectar into an imperial pint glass. A perfect finger-and-a-half head tells the story of this beer to my waiting nostrils: hops, hops, and more hops. There's so much hoppy goodness that I think I can identify them as cascades, so I ask the bartender. "Yep, pretty sure they're cascades," he says. Aww yeah. Nothing like drinking in an empty bar with a bartender who is also a beer geek! But I digress.

Despite the aroma being almost all bitter citrus, the flavor is actually fairly balanced, with a nice sweet malt lingering alongside the massive hop profile. I comment to my wife that this could just as easily be called an IPA. As we drain our glasses, the brews leave an impressive amount of lace.

Mouthfeel is about as close to perfect as you can get, with the cask imparting that almost-but-not-quite creamy quality that makes cask-conditioned reign supreme above all else, in my opinion. Fantastic. I could sit and drink these all night...which is exactly what we did, until they began closing up and we stumbled back to the hotel.

Serving type: cask

07-24-2006 00:07:04 | More by ryanismean

carln26

Missouri

3.83/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured from the hand pump a dark copper/amber with a mild haze. It was topped by a thick fluffy head that receded quickly into the glass. The aro,a had alot more hop than you usually get froma Schlafly beer. It had a pronounced grapefruit rind smell along with hop flower (you don't get that from the bottle). It's finished by a light caramel aroma. The flavor has a nice sharp bitterness up front, and more orange than grapefruit. The malt comes next in the form of caramle and dates, and it's finished by a light bite on the tongue with a little pineapple. Good, robust mouth feel, good drinkability.

Serving type: cask

07-03-2005 21:12:55 | More by carln26

maxpower

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy and hazy amber-copper in color, thick and creamy off-white head, fresh citrus-pine hoppy aroma. Nice juicy hoppy citrusy flavors with a solid malt backbone, medium to full bodied with a with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Be careful very easy to down a few pints, good stuff here.

Serving type: cask

08-23-2003 22:52:29 | More by maxpower

champ103

Texas

3.84/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pour a clear orange/reddish color. A two finger white head forms with good retention. Rings of lace are left behind.
S: Piny, grassy, floral hops with a bot of a grapefruit kick up front. Bread and biscuit malts along with a caramel sweetness. Enjoyable.
T: Follows the nose with a fairly large hop flavor up front. Pine, grassy, floral flavors. Citrus and grapefruit rind. There is a sharp contrast between the hops and malt. As soon as the hops fade to nothing, a caramel malt sweetness shows up. Along with a bread an biscuit malt flavor. Again, enjoyable.
M/D: A medium body with moderate carbonation. Crisp, clean, and refreshing. Very easy and enjoyable to drink. I can quaff a few without a problem.

Like I have said several times, this is enjoyable. That is it, something that is very good and easy to drink. It goes good with food, and just an all around enjoyable (there it is again) drink. Recommended and well done.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2013 01:42:10 | More by champ103

patpbr

Ohio

3.91/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The pour amber and copper with a nice white head. Citrus and hoppy nose with hints of fruit. Taste follows the smell with citrus and floral hops and a little pine. Malt presents is nice. A bitterness that balances it all out. The mouth is mild and has a dry finish. Overall a easy drinking APA that has enough going on to keep me intrigued.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 01:10:42 | More by patpbr

Redrover

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this one at the Flying Saucer. I like Schafly beer but rarely get to try them.

As with most beers at this bar, this one was served in standard pint. The beer is bright gold with a dense white head.

Fresh grainy nose, don't get much hops.

Taste is fresh and grainy. There is a bit of backend bitterness that intensifies as you work your way through the beer. Bits of apricot, cracker and a touch of something sour at the finish.

Mouth has nice crisp carbonation.

It drinks easy and went well with my beer cheese soup.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2013 16:36:28 | More by Redrover

rundocrun

Iowa

3.93/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Body is orange-yellow with bright, coppery highlights. Slightly cloudy. 2 fingers of off-white head forms and has decent retention. Thick rings of lacing all the way down the glass. Beautiful.

S - Citrusy, grassy and spicy hops take center stage. A pleasant background of sweet caramel and toasted malt make for a good balance though. Overall, not as aromatic as I was hoping for.

T - Lemongrass, slightly tannic black tea flavor and honey-like malts are first up. Juicy and citrusy through the middle with some earthy undertones. I could do with a bit more hop bitterness, but I am quite happy with the hop flavor they've packed into this one. Finish of bitter orange peel and biscuity malts.

M - Medium body. Finish is complex, syrupy and hoppy. Leaves the mouth feeling like it has a good coating of hop oil and malt sugars. Nonetheless a refreshing beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 04:22:25 | More by rundocrun

MetalHopHead6

Virginia

3.13/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Schafly APA looks great, smells good, and tastes okay.

It poured a beautiful cloudy apricot-color, with a massive foamy off-white head. It left rings of lace from the rim to the bottom of the glass. The smell and flavor had a great deal of pine and citrus rind, with a hint of sweet grapefruit dominated by the acidic and bitter white rind. The flavir finished with pine and resin. The feel was weak, with an extremely dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 20:00:04 | More by MetalHopHead6

syrupjoe

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into pint glass. Drinking this in a hotel room in Kansas City.

Pours a deep golden color with slight chill haze and one finger eggshell head.

Nose is citrusy, piney, and generally dank. Very funky with slight pineapple notes and light sweet biscuit notes. Also slightly sulfury.

Almost no malt presence in the taste of this one. Very skunky, piney, hops with a very dry finish.

Okay beer, nothing amazing. Would drink again but won't seek out.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 02:59:14 | More by syrupjoe

KomodoDragon

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - A pure white 1" head atop a very hazy amber brew. Extremely active, like what one might expect from a champaigne.

S - Piney and fruity easters.

T - Mild malt flavors and a grapefruit bitter finish, probably dominated by the chinook hops. Little too sweet and lacking in balance - perhaps from the dry hopping.

M - Heavy carbonation dominates, taking away any subtitles.

Simple beer. I like the american hop flavors, but usually want more complexity and balance in a pale.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 04:09:49 | More by KomodoDragon

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

medium to light amber color with a thick head of white that sat on top throughout the entire session, nice lacing down the glass.

aroma is light, nice little notes of citrus, hints of apple, pears, light grasses and a smooth, even flavor or light fruity yeast. as i take the first sip i get the clean, crisp flavor right off the bat. really nicely done. clean and light hops, a good strain of yeast and very nice carbonation

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 17:03:12 | More by mikesgroove

vande

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fantasy Football Draft Beer #4

A ~ a nice golden yellow orange pour with a thick, cottony looking layer resting neatly atop

S ~ floral quality with a great hop tone going on... some light grass, but very fresh & clean smelling

T ~ Nicely balanced beer between malt and hop; floral up front, dry w/ a tad of citrus in the back

M ~ medium body with a tinge of creaminess

0 ~ A pretty good beer here. Thanks AlCoponeJR

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 15:23:36 | More by vande

merc7186

New York

3.45/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer from a bottle poured into a chilled pint glass.

The beer pours a hell of a lot of head, it has a amber straw color to it, loads of off white head and great lacing on the glass (after 5 minutes). The smell comes off like citrahops, I instantly got lemon grass, mild grapfruit, and mild malt scents. The taste is very hoppy up from and finishes with a grapefruit/piney flavor. The mouthfeel is okay with resin flavors and the beer is UBER carbonated, most head I ever got from a bottle. Overall, I liked this APA, slightly different from other APA offerings and extremely carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 02:33:41 | More by merc7186

Jazzcrop

California

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Tastes are hops, more hops, lawn grass, bedsheets, granola and light malt. Smells are hops, plastic, pines, pills, wood, more hops, pus, bread, canola oil, pineapples, coconut milk, gravy, sandpaper and grass outside Really interesting. I usually don't for this kind of beer but I liked it a-okay.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 03:11:12 | More by Jazzcrop

seeswo

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap with some memphis bbq. Pours a golden color with a nice head on top. Smell is some nice grassy hops. Taste is really good. They changed out a keg for me and I'll bet its fresh. Great grassy hop flavor. Major yum. Touch of sweetness hangs outon the palette, but still goes down quick with good carb. Overal - this is a really good flyover apa.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2011 03:35:39 | More by seeswo

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.2/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to AlCaponeJunior for this!

Pours a pale orange/yellow with a bright white fluffy head of about 3 fingers from being vigorous. Retention is alright and lacing is spongy.

Aroma is very nice and hoppy, floral and woodsy with a little grass and earthy background.

Nice floral hop taste, with some citrus and a nice level of bitterness. Some slight malt sweetness balances things out wonderfully.

Nice crispness, lighter in body, smooth, and a tad drying. There's a little creaminess to it too.

Solid drinkability! This is tasty and nicely hopped, and I love a good hoppy pale!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 00:21:31 | More by EgadBananas

WoodBrew

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Well....its a true American Style Pale Ale...BORING. Seems to be very bland not real hops...almost along the lines as Bass....but not nearly as tasty....at least I don't think. Easy enough on the palate that it is a session for sure!!!! Good in a pinch, but not when there are other beers available.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 19:01:19 | More by WoodBrew

donniecuffs

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

At the Flying Saucer in Memphis, TN. Into a pint glass, it poured a slightly clear golden color with 2 fingers of white, good retention, and great lacing. Modest carbonation. Smelled of apple, with a hint of grapefruit and mint. The flavor was a superb progression, starting with spearmint, malt, and apple/pear; evolving to a hint of bitter yellow grapefruit; and finishing on a smooth, minty note. Super velvet-smooth, with medium thickness. Great feel overall. Excellent session beer, primarily due to feel and balance.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2010 01:31:20 | More by donniecuffs

Minkybut

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I do not know if this is the same beer I drank. Label is different but it is the same name except for the Expedition Reserve.
Anyway the beer was cloudy and poured a big. The beer was a golden color. The beer had a peppery smell and had a dry finish to it. I liked the beer for a high hopped beer and will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 16:21:52 | More by Minkybut

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a clear copper color with a thin white foam layer across the top and mild to moderate carbonation.

S - Aroma is more grainy and malty than anything else. Some caramel sweetness, mild citrus and pine notes. Hops play the back seat, not what I expected. A little earthy as well.

T - Grainy, malty, some caramel malt hints, and a pine finish that's so mild I can barely detect it. Mundane and boring - perhaps it's an old bottle?

M - A little prickly, thick medium body.

D - A quaffer. Not enjoying this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2010 02:15:44 | More by jzeilinger

brownbeer

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden-amber with a dull white head. The aroma is of quality, fresh American hops. Subtle notes of pine and fruit. Fruity yeast notes stand out in the taste. It's almost tropical with a very sessionable vibe. Fresh and natural, mellow yet satisfying. This would be the year-around offering I would suggest if you hadn't had any of their beers and even somewhat liked hops. I wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating crayons.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 01:23:58 | More by brownbeer

RomaniIteDomum

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours light orange with a massive head.

Smells of light hops and citrus with a hint of sweet grain.

The taste is a bit light with some citrus and a lot of cedar. Nice dry finish that leaves you wanting.

Mouthfees is creamy, yet slightly undercarbonated. I guess they all went to the head.

This is a really drinkable beer. Great refreshing qualities and enough complexity to keep t interesting. Drinkable doesn't have to be boring.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2010 04:03:39 | More by RomaniIteDomum

gueuzeonhigh

Maine

3.8/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured with a translucent yellow-amber.
Created a nice fluffy sculptured head that laced my glass as it receded back to the surface.

I rather mild nose with a very small note of hops.

Flavor is robust with a spicy start transforming into bitter hops.
Around that bitter hops flavor was a buttress of malt and some yeast.

I'd almost say that Schlafly's APA is an IPA wanna be-- but not quite. It doesn't have the more substantial flavor body of an IPA.

Mouthfeel is mild but the beer contains enough flavor "energy" that it remains alive on the palate.

Drinkability is also good-- I do not detect and overwhelming ABV so this is an eminently drinkable beer. I certainly will come back for more!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 02:03:56 | More by gueuzeonhigh