Pipe Organ Pale Ale - Church Brew Works

bigdeuce

Pennsylvania

2.38/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

The bottom line with this beer was, it looked good, tasted watery. It gave a decent malty front and tasted of some hops, so you wait for the hops to come and they never did. I tried some other styles they had presented to me and they were good. This one was lacing character and a backbone.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-15-2007 18:26:23 | More by bigdeuce

jcdiflorio

West Virginia

2.25/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

poured from a 12oz brown long neck bottle into a nonic glass.

Cloudy,copper color. Not much head,even tried a hard center pour with no luck, just a slight white ring of foam around the inside of the glass.A streak or two a lace on the sides of the glass.

Faint citrus,pine aromas,slight notes of a carmell/toffee. Bisquity and grassy seem most present. A weak aroma overall.

Weak,watery tastes,some sweet malt,slight citrus/pine a bit of bisquit.
A very Macro quality to the taste,a dissapiontment to me. Seemed i've had better beer than this from the Church Works.

Light mouthfeel,clean,a grainy feel. A beer for the "Masses?"
Not impressed at all with this beer,hope I get a better offering from The Chuch next time.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2007 03:32:47 | More by jcdiflorio

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a medium amber color with moderate white puffy head.
Smell is light with slight hops notes. Some sweetnes also detected.
Taste is also mild with a light malt sweetness and a slight hoppiness.
Finishes light and refreshing.
As middle-of-the-road as you can get. Might make a nice crossover beer for your macro-drinking friends.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2007 00:07:20 | More by tgbljb

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a pint glass a pale golden, almost copper color with barely half an inch of eggshell colored head. Nothing too remarkable about the aroma other than mild sweet malts and the slightest grassy hoppy smell. The taste is of bready grains and mild, grassy hops. Earthy and mildly floral. Thin mouthfeel with mild to medium carbonation. This could be a nice session beer, but I can think of a few better offerings. I'd like to try this on cask though.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2007 04:59:04 | More by ClockworkOrange

dickroop

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A friend went to Pittsburgh and brought me a single (thx!). It poured a light amber brew with a generous, cream-colored, pillowy head. It was hazy, and the head left some good lacing.

The smell was a little hoppy and bready, with a hint of celery. The taste was malt dominated, caramelly. There was little distinguishable hop flavor, although there was some decent bittering. The mid-palate included some tangy sourness, the finish was pleasantly, mildly bitter. All in all, the flavor was disappointing. I don't think the flavor delivered is true to the IPA style, even the Eastern- or English-style IPAs.

The mouthfeel was medium, more than I would have expected, and a little chewey. OK carbonation was a pleasant addition. Drinkability was OK to so-so. I wouldn't seek this out, nothing to distinguish it. The label was interesting. I would like to try this ale on tap - often it's a case that the bottled product is a poor representation of a good local brew. But I can't recommend the bottled version of this to any true hop-head.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2007 02:44:33 | More by dickroop

Alkey

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into my Church Brew glass a light copper color with some head that dissipated quickly leaving very little lacing. There is also a lot of tiny little particles floating around some settled to the bottom of the glass. Smell of sweet malt and faint hops. Taste is mostly sweet malt up front followed by a slight hop bitterness. Mouth feel is light bodied. Drink ability was pretty easy. This is a rather pale tasting ale but its not dull or boring either.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2007 04:48:08 | More by Alkey

drinknewbelgium

Pennsylvania

2.13/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

pours a light coppery color little head that desolves quickly smells of malts with little hop character light yeast/bread flavor taste is not impressive tastes of bready malts that mix sloppily with little hop character even less hop character than an english PA should have mouthfeel is light real light i barely could finish this one

the tastes are not defined and very unbalanced if i always support local brews but not this one stay away from this one far away from this one

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2006 18:04:04 | More by drinknewbelgium

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: The ale is a golden-to-copper colored beer with a small head that does not last for long.

S: There is a malty sweet grain aroma and a slight hint of hops.

T: The hops in the ale are subtle and low key, adding just a hint of earthy flavor to the beer. The malts are grainy and ill-defined, preventing the beer from finding its way.

M: Mouthfeel is alright, if unspectacular. Both the hops and the malts fall a little short in realizing their potential.

D: The ale is light enough that having a few is not a problem; just don’t expect a full flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2006 22:18:19 | More by akorsak

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.78/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sample at the brewpub. Light gold/amber color with a weak ivory head and very little lacing. Aroma of earthy malt and hops. Fairly light body, with a bland floral hops flavor and not much else. The finish is lightly bitter hops with a touch of citrus in the aftertaste. This brew doesn’t really have much going for it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2006 20:14:27 | More by Dogbrick

tugdriver7

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had high hopes for this one. All the pieces were in place: (1) great craft brewery; (2) fun, thematic name in colorful bottle; (3) great, rich amber color in the glass; and (4) subtle malt and roasted carmel in the nose. Unfortunately, the taste--though exceptional when compared to many, more common English Ales--wasn't as complex nor quite as rich as expected. When I go to "Church," I'd take the Dunkel over the Ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2006 01:51:00 | More by tugdriver7

oberon

North Carolina

3.2/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a dull slight hazed lighter copper with a nice from the cask head,nothing really going on aroma wise really a light sweet biscuit-like aroma hints of leafy hop but very faint.With lack of a better word this ale even cask conditioned was bland lightly sweet and toasted with not much hop presence to be had a touch of citrus in the finish but you really have to stretch to get it.Not much here to write home about I was hoping for more of a hop presence and just more flavor over all.

Serving type: cask

07-03-2006 00:42:13 | More by oberon

ViveLaChouffe

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On cask at the Church Brewworks in Pittsburgh.

Pours a lightly hazy copper, thick and fluffy ivory head. Lots of head-retention, lots of fine lacing throughout. Smells of citrusy hops, orange zest and lemon.

Taste is smoth pale malt, a light graininess. Citrusy hops, hints of orange zest, tangerine and lemon. I like prominent East Kent Goldings in a brew and this is what this beer purports to be. Mouth is creamy and smooth. Some light hops aftertaste. A good session brew. Not sure this would be anything more than average on tap but on cask, it's worth a try.

Serving type: cask

06-12-2006 16:10:16 | More by ViveLaChouffe

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This poured with a light, off-white head that quickly dissipated to wispiness. The nose had an interesting mix of light hoppiness and a buiscut-y smell. The color was a beautifully clear copper. The mouthfeel struck me as somewhat thin and I didn't get a whole lot of hoppiness out of it. Instead, I sensed that same buscuit-y maltiness that I mentioned on the nose. The finish tended towards dry and I continued to taste more malt than hops. It was not the best beer that I've had from CBW, but not one that I would neccesarily steer clear of, either. I think that if I had some mild cheese and some crackers to go with it, I might enjoy it more.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2006 14:25:11 | More by woodychandler

OldFrothingSlosh

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap at the brewery.

Color is clear copperish in appearance with minimal head. Softly scented with some sweetness and citrus zest. Flavor is also subtle. Some hoppy notes here and there, maybe some peppery spice, some sweetness. Nothing to write home about. Dry finish with thin mouthfeel. Average in every sense of the word.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2006 21:45:42 | More by OldFrothingSlosh

Illinick

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cask cond. at CBW
A: Nothing special with the color of the brew-copper in color. The head was above average (as it should be with the cask version). Sticky white head and great lacing. The head saved the appearance from being subpar.
S: Bland. Some citrus, with lemon being the dominant and some green hop smells. Malt in the background. Nothing too pronounced.
T: Decent taste with a lot more malt than I would have thought. It kind of takes away from the brew. Slight lemon and citrus peel flavors with some earthy hops, but the level of malt was too high and took away from the brew.
MF: chewy, but light.
Overall: A decent offering, though I wasn't impressed. Would like to see a little more hop prominence and a higher IBU.

Serving type: cask

03-05-2006 19:45:13 | More by Illinick

RBorsato

Virginia

2.78/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Golden peach-ish color with a decent off-white head. Decent carbonation when fresh but a bit overcarbonated if you wait any time to drink the bottles. Primarily a malt-based English Style Pale Ale in both aroma and flavor with little noticeable hop character. Unfortunately, oxidation sets in quickly on these bottlings. Light-medium bodied and a bit airy when older.

Quite possibly one of the most boring Pale Ales I've tried... I had multiple bottles and they went bad quickly in a short period of time.

Per CBW website: OG 13o Plato. IBU's 30. Color 6oL Pale Amber/Copper. Alcohol 3.3% w/w. Approx. Calories per 16 oz. Pint 230. Approx. Alcohol Content 4.3% by volume.

Grain Pale, Aromatic, Cara Pils, Other Caramel Malts
Hops Perle, East Kent Goldings

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2005 23:31:56 | More by RBorsato

cooncat

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Found this APA at my favorite beverage store in Erie, Pa. I noted that Church Brewing was from Pittsburgh, near enough to one of my favorite breweries, Victory Brewing. Decided to give it a try.

On the pour, you can be quite assertive and you will get a nice off-white head of moderate size. It is not particularly long lasting, but does leave some thin lacing once its settled. The color is more golden than I'd like to see in a Pale .. was hoping for a little deeper hue.

The nose is uncomplicated, with mostly notes of citrus and pine. Very minimal notes of malt presence.

The taste is a little thin, but balanced nevertheless. Some maltiness comes through the light hop flavor. Nothing overpowering so it should make a good session beer. There is a definite hoppy dryness to the finish, which is suitable for the style.

This doesn't come close to Great Lakes Burning River or Victory Hop Devil, but it is very drinkable, and would make a good session beer. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2005 17:51:41 | More by cooncat

santoslhalper

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3

Appearence: Poured a dull copper with a thin, fizzy white head.

Smell: The smell is mostly malt focused with hardly any hops to it. The malts are slightly bready, but nothing very special.

Taste and Mouthfeel: Again, as with the smell, hardly no hops, but the malt taste is a little more inviting. The malts are bready and cereal like with a nice grainy taste. But it's unblanaced, and that turns me off. The mouthfeel is thin and cloying.

Drinkability and Overall: The lack of hops really killed me. This is not a pale ale in my opinon. What it is I don't know, but I don't know that this in an average beer. I hope it's just a problem they're having since they just recently started bottling. I'll try this again in a few months. If you're in the area, pick up some Clipper City Pale Ale. You'll be much happier.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2005 23:14:32 | More by santoslhalper

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear amber/goldish in color. Head was small with little lacing to be seen.
S: Nice clean fruity hop aroma right up front. There's a bit of a bready malt aroma in the background, but mostly this is a nice hit of hops in the nose.
T: Good hoppy flavor, not overly bitter, just a bit on the citrusy/fruity side. Late malty tastes provide a nice balance and keep this from tasting like an IPA. Good take on the style.
M: Medium dry in character. Medium bodied. Alcohol and CO2 are in good levels. Finish leaves no real aftertaste.
D&N: A nice take on the style. Goes down easily. I'd have another.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2005 05:21:18 | More by JackTheRipper

BitteBier

Indiana

3.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A clear, golden amber pour with a finger's worth of uniform head that fades pretty quickly but leaves a bit of lace. Nose is nondescript--neither skunky nor scintillating. Some light malts and a hint of hops. This carries over to the taste, which is good but uninspired. Malts are smooth and tasty, but this beer would be better if the malts were complemented by more hoppiness. Very drinkable but lacking the sort of character that make micros so interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2005 14:56:11 | More by BitteBier

kbub6f

New York

3.98/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

According to the blackboard, the Pipe Organ was cask-conditioned tonight. I don't know if I just got lucky or what. Anyway...

The beer is an almost perfectly clear, rich amber. The head is dead still, small, white and sticky. Quite spicy in the nose. The beer itself starts spicy/fruity and develops a fairly nice, buttery malt through the middle. Feel is viscous, falling short of unpleasant oiliness. The finish is a nice, dry, floral, spicy hop. I'm picking up some pleasant esters in this beer too. Overall, I really like this spicy, floral, fruity beer.

Edit: Ok, now I've looked at the other reviews. Looks like I'm the odd man out. Please send your unfinished growlers to Texas.

Serving type: cask

01-07-2005 02:07:50 | More by kbub6f

pezoids

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served as part of their beer sampler. This one poured bright and clear. Golden in color with a decent size head (in proportion to the sample glass) and left a small amount of fine lacing. A light maltiness rises from the beer to meet the nose but doesn’t give off anything that assertive.

The taste is crisp and smooth with a nice pairing of sweet malt and bitter hops. A light to medium bodied beer that tends to give off some sourness in the finish. Overall this isn’t that bad, but I am left looking for more hop character. Just a bit too plain for me, I guess I’m just spoiled. Middle of the road at best.

(and that was before I noticed the 50/50 percentage, I swear...)

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2004 17:11:00 | More by pezoids

aracauna

Georgia

2.85/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A golden bronze color with a good head. There’s very low hopping and a slightly watery finish. It improved as it warmed as a nice fruitiness came out, but it never turned into a good pale. There were no flaws, but there just wasn't enough flavor here. The Celestial Gold was actually the better beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2004 18:22:01 | More by aracauna

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours a copper amber gold tone with a nice formed white head leaves nice even lacing, not bad. Toasted malts with hop pellets forms the aroma here the hop tone is eerily similar to straight cascade hop pellets smells like my first homebrew with a mild fruity edge thrown in there. The hops taste of once again the cascade hop pellets with a grainy sweetness lackluster all around. Light-medium in body mild carbonation drinks pretty smoothly. As for ordering this beer again I have to say that from now on it's a rule to stick with their specialties rather than their regulars.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2004 19:17:48 | More by WVbeergeek

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Served as a sample at CBW. The color was copper, with a decent head. The smell was a nice hoppiness. The taste was a Goldings hoppiness (fairly citrusy), with a caramel malt backing. The mouthfeel was quite thin. Drinkability-wise, could maybe have another.

Probably the biggest disappointment of all the CBW offerings. Though a decent flavor, it just doesn't have the body that a good pale ale should have. If they reformulated it to a bit more, I'd have it again; otherwise, with so many other good offerings, I'm afraid I'll have to pass.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2003 00:30:41 | More by beergeek279