Cascade Ale - Deschutes Brewery

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Lightly hazy rich golden amber with a hint of orange. The dark cream-colored cap is semi-dense with a finely pitting top and is beginning to lay down some nice lace; ultimately in thin concentric rings. The nose is equal parts floral-citric hops and pale malt and could be a mite more aromatic.

Cascade Ale is an easy drinking APA, but isn't as flavorful as it could be. Its biggest problem is that it's only modestly hopped and therefore allows the malt to play too big a role on the palate. The citrus fruit flavor is nice, there's just not enough of it.

An underwhelming amount of hop flavor is coupled with a minimal amount of bitterness, making this beer a good first step for those who wish to dip their toes into the hoppier styles instead of cannonballing into the deep end. The flavor also fades too quickly, hastened along by a too-thin body.

I want to like Cascade Ale more than I do. It isn't bad, it just lacks, well... everything. It seems to me that Deschutes could have done so much more with this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2004 21:32:29 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

3.03/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On-tap at Eureka!Burger Claremont

A: The beer pours a rather pretty looking golden amber with a fluffy white head which leaves plenty of lacing on the glass.

S: Unfortunately, the beauty doesn't translate to the more important factors of the beer. Smells sort of funky and overly herbal. There are some light floral notes along with toasted bread.

T: The flavor is a bit better. Mildly sweet with some bread and hints of toast. Intensely herbal hop flavor with a decent floral quality to it. Mild bitterness, but it doesn't really seem to add anything to the beer.

M: Light to medium in body with a moderate level of carbonation.

O: Really disappointing from Deschutes. I would pass on this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2011 23:28:44 | More by womencantsail

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I feel bad panning a brew that a friend carried with her halfway across the country, just for me. Maybe I got a bad bottle?
Foamy white head, deep bronze color, and ...what the?!? little yeasty floaties! I didn't see that coming.
Fresh, sea-foamy nose, a little floral, but not much else. On the tongue, rather flat. Hops are hiding, if they're there at all. Another boring session ale, I'm sorry to say. Sweet and sour finish. An overall bland beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2003 18:56:17 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.68/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a gold color with a thick frothy white head that fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a light, yet slightly malty scent with a very citrousy hop aroma. The taste is decent as well. It has a light malt flavor with a thin citrous hop finish. It goes down really easy, but feels a bit weak. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a good pale ale. It lacks complexity, but it drinks very well.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2004 01:10:57 | More by WesWes

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.3/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A reasonable pour produces a three-finger thick, light tan colored head in my 25cl tulip glass. The beer is a lightly hazed, copper color that shows a bright gold color when held up to the light. The aroma is quite hop focused with a mixture of grapefruit, herbal pine and sweet citrus zest. The aroma ends with a nice, crushed malt aroma of toasty grain, light biscuit and crushed saltine cracker notes. It somehow almost smells dough-like at times.

Bright hop flavors of grapefruit greet my taste buds at the first sip. There also appears to be some very faint plastic-like phenolics here, which I thought I sensed in the nose but then dismissed as I couldn't actually imagine something like that being here. This phenolic note is very faint and I could be convinced it is something to do with the hop character; either way though it adds a bit of something off to the over all experience. Citrus notes are definitely the dominant flavor here though and there is a soft malt character to help support things along. Sweet, clean grain notes, a touch of cracker-like malt and a bread-like almost dough-like flavor towards the finish. The finish has a nice, lightly biting hop bitterness to it that actually starts to be noticeable towards the middle of each sip. This is quite light bodied and drinkable, though it is not any where near watery.

An interesting beer that would be quite a bit better if it did not have that slight off note to it. It is very quaffable and would be a great beer when I wanted something a little more characterful than a Pilsner, but with the same quaffability.

Purchased: Plaza liquors, Tucson AZ

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2008 03:27:44 | More by Gueuzedude

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Appearance: clear orange in color with a thin one finger head that slowly falls. Some light lacing developed.

Smell: caramel and a mild floral bitterness was pleasant.

Taste: caramel, pears, red apples, and a bit of orange citrus were the main flavors. Bitterness was decent and not as up front as I would have liked.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp throughout. Very short-lived aftertaste here.

Drinkability: this is a classic sessionable beer that has a nice flavor and is lower in alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 20:35:44 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Solomon420 for this!

Pours slightly hazed golden with a thin white lasting head. Trailing lace sticks.

The smell is grainy with orangey citrus.

The taste is of light grain, some dough, some citrus with a touch of herbal bitterness in the crisp finish.

It is light-bodied, pretty crisp and refreshing.

With the name "Cascade Ale", I was thinking that this was going to be different than it was. I wasn't "disappointed" as I realized early on into the drink that it was named for the area, not the hop (though that might be used in it). It's a low-keyed, mild pale ale. It's a nice enough "thirst quencher" and the taste is nice enough, and balanced, though mild.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2009 12:27:15 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

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

12oz bottle.

This beer pours a slightly foggy medium golden amber hue, with two fingers of puffy, creamy off-white head, which leave some chunky island arch lace in places around the glass as it settles. It smells mildly of lemon citrus and grassy hops, over a lesser biscuity graininess. The taste is soft bready malt, lightly tugging lemon-oriented citrus hops, and a bit of leafy earthiness. The carbonation is on the low side of moderate, the body aspiring to middleweight rank, with nothing really detracting from a basic smoothness. It finishes practically dry, and a little fruity, the leafy citrus hops seeing to that.

As an APA, this is not too bad. However, as the BA-dictated blonde ale style, this is the shit - a nice light ale, just hinting of what is possible in greater Cascadia, hops on stand-down, but not lacking presence, if that makes sense. Anyways, a good 'ol Yankee session ale, if I ever saw one.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 01:02:06 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one needs to warm up a bit. Do not drink straight from the fridge, it resembles a macro (albeit a good one). I guess for a relatively low-alcohol pale ale this isn't bad. The malt is a mix of sweet biscuits and grainy honey. The hops are mild, but nice with a gentle citrus rind character. The aroma is a creamy orange and light caramel that oddly reminds me of Franziskaner.

I guess the take home is that this isn't bad for a lighter APA. Very sessionable, might be interesting on cask.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2007 03:07:09 | More by tempest

Wasatch

Utah

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly cloudy golden yellow color, nice carbonation, nice little off-white fizzy head, some sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, hoppy, spicy, and some caramel. The taste is malty/hoppy, slight spice. The finish is slightly bitter and dry. Light-Medium body. Drinkable, not a bad APA.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2007 02:21:53 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 12 oz brown with a simple yet inviting label, purchase before date clearly marked.

Appearance: A creamy bubbly white head sits on top of this golden hued brew that has a faint chill haze to it.

Smell: Sweetish noble herbal hop, faint citric and light malt aromas in the nose.

Taste: Smooth with a light to medium body, a nice malty flavour of grain, sweetness and some breadiness (caramel?) is up front. Then comes an adequate hop bitterness that leaves a slightly lemony / spicy finish with hints of herb in the taste which lingers for a while with some grain.

Notes: A very well crafted ale, excellent use of hops and very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2002 03:49:20 | More by Jason

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

Hazy orange tinted gold color with a small amount of yeast sediment floating around. Pours a thin bubbly white head. An herbal spiciness is noted on the nose. A really nice dry aspect to this brew. Just the slightest hint of caramel malt. Hops are not intense or overbearing in this beer, but they do provide the character. There is just a slight kick provided from the Saaz hops I believe. Easy drinking ale with some hop spiciness.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2002 12:49:38 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.9/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A disappointing beer from Deschutes. It just is so plain in every aspect. This is an introductory level craft beer. Not bad, but not doing anything. Looks like a notch above yellow fizzy, smell is bland. Taste, more of the same, totally lacking that Deschutes hop character in so many of their other ales.

Mouthfeel, there isn't any depth at any stage, I guess its kind of drinkable since it doesn't overload your palate.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 18:59:35 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Deschutes, Portland, OR

Poured a clear golden brown with a small white head that didn't stick around too long. Bready aroma, grassy, herbal hoppage. Similar taste: bready malts, mildly sweet, good mix of herbal and floral hop qualities. Crisp finish. Light-medium body, not extraordinarily flavorful, but still fairly drinkable overall.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2012 07:07:29 | More by Rifugium

Gusler

Arizona

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A really strange thing happened as I was revising my master beer list, I found that I’ve never had a “Cascade Ale”, got the polo shirt, got the label, got a T-Shirt, I’ve even got a leather coaster, how the hell could I have overlooked this great beer?

As it set in the glass sparklingly clear amber color, the head behemothic in size, spumous in texture and the color a winsome light tan with the lace a satin sheet lying upon the glass. The aroma of Tettnang and Saaz hops greets your senses first, followed by the malt sweetness, citrus crisp and fresh, what a treat for the old schnozzle, front is ambrosial, rich in malt with the top middling in its feel to the palate. Finish is Delightful in its acidity, the hops flowery and pleasant, very dry aftertaste, and a treat long over due for this lover of Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2003 22:55:20 | More by Gusler

plaid75

New York

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at the Deschutes Brewpub, Portland, Oregon.

Poured a light copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and good lacing.

The smell featured a floral and grassy hops and a pale malt.

The taste consisted of round malts and a lingering hop spice.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a nice herbal APA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2009 18:03:24 | More by plaid75

kojevergas

California

2.98/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served on-draught at the Daily Pint in Santa Monica, California. Expectations were high given the brewery. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one finger head of decent cream, fair thickness, and good retention. Colour is a semitransparent copper. Non-opaque.

Sm: Floral hops, subtle fruit esters, some orange peel, and cream. A mild strength aroma.

T: Orange peel, clean malts, floral hops (light), some cream, crisp full barley, and citrusy notes. Very clean. Full bodied. Pleasant but simple. Not complex or very subtle. Some layering. The emphasis here is on drinkability. It's decently balanced and built alright.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A touch overcarbonated. Too thick. Too smooth. Too creamy for the flavour profile and style.

Dr: Drinkable but unremarkable - especially for Deschutes. I wouldn't get this again unless no other better options were available. It's decent, but not good. Fans of the style will enjoy it in a general sense, but it isn't worth writing home about. Definitely one of Deschutes' worse offerings.

C

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2012 21:30:07 | More by kojevergas

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle.... These are probably the first bottles of the Cascade Ale that I've had in a long while... I remember it being much more hop forward...

The brew pours pale orange with a short lasting white head and little retention... nose is pale malts with some minor floral hops and just hints of citrus...

Flavor is better but ... only slightly.. nicely done sorta husky pale malts and decent background hoppiness ... light floral hops and minor citrus...

Easy drinking .. yummy... smooth.. digging it, but the mild aromas and flavors are a bit too light in the middle of winter.

3.5/3/3/3.5/4

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 05:38:27 | More by JohnGalt1

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Crisp, malty aroma has a decided overtone of fresh apple. It pours a lovely clear golden amber with a thick, fluffy white head. Malty flavor has a fruity and slightly sweet undertone and a bit of yeast, as well as a slight, edgy metallic tang that actually adds to the flavor. Texture is rather fizzy and well-rounded, leaving a pleasing finish. Recommended to all lovers of golden ales.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 00:34:15 | More by Cyberkedi

ZAP

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good solid pale ale...refreshing and easy drinking...nice floral hop aroma, and taste..not overwhelming but clean and crisp. Not much malt evident, but it does seem balanced so it must be there. Smells wonderful...taste isn't as strong on the hops as I'd hoped based on the smell, but a good beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2002 16:38:08 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Before I start I just thought I would relate that this style is not one of my favorite styles, although given the right circumstances any beer could be the right style for my mood
Presentation - Opened with a gentle woosh. Poured cold into a goblet from a 12oz brown bottle w/ best by date of 6/26/07.

A - Poured a hazy bright amber w/ a white foamy two finger head. Limited amounts of lace remain on the inside of the glass's walls.

S - A tart citrus hop scent, like orange marmalade stands out. A lite spice and honey character mingle in the background.

M - Mellow and herbal qualities with gentle layers of carbonation allowing the light pine finish to linger after the swallow.

T - A superbly refined ale with sweet and summery flavors. This could be a year round quencher for me if it wasn't out of the area. Nuances of hop tastes do their magic. This is so crisp and refreshing I think this an all around great session ale, a real tongue pleaser!

D - Have one, have five, you won't regret it. You will be glad you tried this ale. It is so quaffable and well made w/ care IMO. Attention to details sum up this pale ale well. It seems simple, but scratch the surface- the details all around make this the one you want.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2007 02:59:23 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle

appearance: nice label, per usual from deschutes. served in my wicked hilliards can-pint. acutally a really gorgeous beer - medium orange body, fluffy white cap

smell: light grassy hops, some toasted grain, hay

taste: Hey, a blonde ale. I guess I bought this sixer by accident - what's a guy to do with 6 blonde ales? The deschutes version fits their bill - by all means solid, by no means spectacular. Simple toasted grain, light grassy hops, some caramel, salt.

mouthfeel: pretty big for the typically minimalist style, light bitterness

overall: a fine blonde ale, for whatever thats worth

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 01:29:33 | More by dirtylou

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle a medium gold with a large head of foam that dissipated slowly leaving a solid layer that lasts through the entire session.

The smell has both sweet malt and hop nose but it's delicate.

The taste has a nice malt presence up front with good hop notes moving in but only balancing with the malt and not taking over the flavour....pretty tasty for a lightly flavoured APA and very quaffable. It's pretty easy to sit down and 2 or 3 of these..;^)

Bottom line: A good sessionable APA that will fit right in with a good hot summer. I recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2006 00:17:53 | More by Bitterbill

beertunes

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into 14oz glass. The beer poured a clean, clear honey-gold color with an inch of white head that dissipated quickly and left OK lacing.

The aroma was mostly grain with some gentle hopping in the background. The flavors were similar, with a nice smooth grainy finish, there was just a nice smooth coating hops on the finish.

The body was fairly typical for the style, smooth and easy to drink. Drinkability was very good, almost the match for big brother Mirror Pond.

Overall, a very nice Pale Ale, a pleasant change from the over-hopped versions that are just IPA-Light. Grab a sixer when you see it and you'll have your new lawnmower beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2010 05:15:43 | More by beertunes

RedDiamond

Oregon

1.65/5  rDev -54.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

This beer makes me mad. It’s one of, if not the lightest beer Deschutes brews – a seemingly innocuous light golden ale. One might expect a modest, restrained, even timid beer with an all-around clean profile and just enough body to remind you it’s actually a beer. Cascade opts instead for a strong flavor and a strong aroma but in all the worst ways. Everything about this beer is foul and has more in common with rotten meat and mutagenic yeasts than the simple golden ale or special bitter it might otherwise aspire to be.

Cascade has nice lace and a hazed gumdrop yellow color. But it really bothers me that it takes a concerted effort to brew a beer this bad and a tragic ignominy to serve it on draught to customers at a world-renown brewpub. This beer is almost deliberately awful, from the strained, tannic mouthfeel to the puckering tartness and cruel finish. It speaks of an old mutagenic yeast strain that should have been retired generations ago. An outright embarrassment of a beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2005 01:10:08 | More by RedDiamond