Portsmouth American Pale Ale - Portsmouth Brewery

CoolJosh

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

My roommate received this as an extra and was kind enough to share.

Poured into a pint glass. Amber red/brown. Completely clear. Nice white soft ring around the top. Lacing? Not today. Still though, it looks clean and refreshing.

Lemongrass is the main scent I pick up. Some caramel backing shows up as well. No complexity, which is to be expected with the style but it's almost too one dementional.

Fairly sticky, all that was observed in the smell is present in that taste as well. The mouthfeel is too thick and sticky and is not as refreshing as I would have liked.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 03:11:28 | More by CoolJosh

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.93/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

In my imperial pint glass, this beer was a pretty cherry amber color with a thick white head that left a fair amount of lacing. The aroma was a little on the tepid side, with some faint citrus and floral notes. The citrus came through more in the taste, with a nice grapefruit presence. The floral aroma got a little lost. A nice enough beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2009 20:34:15 | More by lordofthewiens

magictrokini

California

3/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber with a small head. Sweet malt with some hops in the nose. Very smooth taste. A bitter bite at the end with a sweet aftertaste. Its good and a little sweeter than most, but nothing sets it apart from any other APA, which was disappointing. I wanted to see if the local east coast take on an APA differed from the ones I have on the west coast.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2008 21:55:43 | More by magictrokini

dnichols

Washington

3.8/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was served in a pint glass from a keg.

A: It poured a copperish golden body with a slight head. The head receded fast and as the brew was consumed there were clumps of lacing on the side of the glass.

S: It had a floral hop aroma with an undercurrent of lightly roasted malts and whiffs of yeast.

T: It had a hoppy front with a much stronger pine flavor than expected for an APA. The sweet malts balanced the hop flavors well and gave it a rich creamy body that included flavors of white fruit and white bread.

M: It was light to medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation and a crisp finish.

D: It was a well balanced brew with a bit bolder hop presence than expected for an APA, however, it was very enjoyable and it would make a nice session brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2008 11:42:58 | More by dnichols

bjohnson

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a perfect clear copper color with a frothy milkshake like head. Film of retention on the sides and buubly fizz on the edges of the glass.
S: Fruity and floral hop notes--grapefruit and grass. A bit of pine is detectable also. Sweet malt presence.
T/M: Excellent beginning kick of fruity and floral hops followed by a hefty malt profile. Grassy hops emerge and can be detected near the cheeks. Nice aftertaste of fruity/floral hop notes sit on the tongue. Not as dry as I thought it would be. Malt profile of sweet caramel and toasted grain. Hops dominate the flavor of this APA, but aren't too big to make it an IPA. Mouthfeel is silky smooth with a clean finish.
D: Very nice APA. I'm a bit suprised this is a seaonal brew, espcially during the late fall/early winter. It could double as a harvest ale as the hops definately are the leading player in the brew. Another tasty offering from Portsmouth. Thanks to my buddy for bringing this back from his recent trip north.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2006 02:24:05 | More by bjohnson

Sycodrummer

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presented to me from the tap the beer was a pure copper color with almost no head but some spotty white lacing throughout the sample. No other outright signs of carbonation.

The nose had a moderate hop presence with some floral esters. To compare, this smelled like Harpoon IPA.

The taste was quite hoppy upfront and similiar to Stone PA in that it boardered on what some would think was a IPA. Some pine flavors and a crisp and clean hoppiness that left an enjoyable bitter flavor with each sip that was well balanced with malt to create a very enjoyable and balanced beer.

Medium body with a high amount of carbonation and crisp in the finish.

I think they might have been trying for a "west coast" style Pale Ale and if so they succeeded quite well. Considerably hoppy compared to some PA's but super enjoyable. Well balanced and easily sessionable. Another great beer from Portsmouth.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2006 20:20:32 | More by Sycodrummer

Franchise

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a honey colored body with a frothy white lace. The aroma is sweet, herbed, spice, sugar in the background. The taste is so smooth it starts on the palate hoppy and herbal with a bitterness kick followed by a honey sweetness on the palate and finishes with a tannic herbal tea tanginess, quite a refreshing ale.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2006 15:48:31 | More by Franchise

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bartender called this APA Portsmouth's American Style APA. Had a pint with my lunch at the brewpub on Friday, January 20.

A rockin' pale ale. Poured an immaculate shiny clear--like a newly poliched car. Perfect amount of carbonation. Thick reslient head that left lacing all over the inside of the glass. Nose was pleasantly understated with nice malt and hop tones rising from the glass.

Flavor was leaning towards biscuity. Almost rye-like with a slightly dry flavor and mouthfeel. Not-quite subtle backbone that was a small urst of citrus on the tongue. Medium body that had a nice full flavor for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2006 23:51:57 | More by MuddyFeet