Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery

Mirror Pond Pale AleMirror Pond Pale Ale
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From:
Deschutes Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
Ranked #489
ABV:
5%
Score:
87
Ranked #15,427
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 11.28%
Reviews:
1,065
Ratings:
4,001
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sunday at 10:47 PM
Added:
Sep 04, 2001
Wants:
  210
Gots:
  909
Alc. by Vol.: 5.0%
IBUs: 40

170 calories per 12 oz serving
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AleWatcher:
Photo of AleWatcher
Reviewed by AleWatcher from Illinois

3.67/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Edited 01.13.13 because Deschutes is now available in Chicagoland... So I'm editing my review hoping that THIS bottle is fresh and it will make a differemce in my opinion of this beer!

Bottle into tulip pint.
Vigorous pour yields two full fingers of head. Orangey copper hued body.
Smells and tastes lightly sweet, bright citrusy and floral hops, and a mild yet noticeable bitterness. Dry crisp finish has progressively more bitterness with each sip as we warm up.

The body is spot on for a pale ale-- firm carbonation, not watery, yet not full, and easy drinking.

Overall-- I gave this beer a 3.3 when I had in December of 2010... It is more enjoyable now. A 3.7 sounds about right. Not the best pale ale, but better than average.

---Original review from 12.05.2010---
Poured bomber into pint glass.

A coppery orange with off-white head. Mediocre retention and lacing.

Smells sweet... Floral hops. Tastes sweet, surprisingly malty. Big sweet finish. Not a lot of bitterness. Big floral and grassy hops.

Oily, cloying, and medium bodied. Feels undercarbonated.

Wow is this sweet. I'm very disappointed in this beer. I love Deschutes... I'm just going to endthis review and return to watching Star Wars with my 3 year old...
Dec 05, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of LeinenkugelDrinker
Reviewed by LeinenkugelDrinker from Nevada

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look: Yellow/orange with a generous white head.
Smell: Good, some tropical fruit mixed with a pleasant hop aroma.
Taste: A slight hop flavor up front gives way to a wonderful orange aftertaste.
Feel: Great, high in mouth.
Overall: This is always a good choice and one of my favorites from Deschutes along side Jubelale.
Sunday at 10:47 PM
 
Rated: 4.25 by MEnoMoney

Feb 10, 2024
 
Rated: 3.85 by 2beerdogs from California

Dec 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.49 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Dec 03, 2023
Photo of DoctorRobert1969
Rated by DoctorRobert1969 from California

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very solid APA with a nice but not overpowering hops taste.
Oct 24, 2023
 
Rated: 3.98 by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois

Sep 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.72 by not2quick from Missouri

Aug 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by USAF-Mike from California

Jul 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by jroof1 from Massachusetts

Jul 27, 2023
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Re-reviewing this one as it’s been a dozen years since I last reviewed it.

12oz can (5/16/2023) into a tulip. Pours a clear amber color with a huge billowing almost Duvel-like eggshell head with lots of sticky lace.

Aroma is hoppy and grassy, floral. Piney Northwest hops, fragrant sweet malt.

Taste is a blend of bready caramel malt and floral hops; light bitterness. Clean water. Nicely balanced. Very old school.

Mouthfeel is soft, medium bodied, crisp, drinkable. Something about it is vaguely reminiscent of beers brewed with Belgian yeast.

Overall a tasty, classic approach to the APA, one of my first go-to beers from the ‘90s. It’s somehow comforting to know that beers like this are still being made.
____________

Previous review (8/19/2011) preserved for posterity:

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap in an American pint glass at Bick's Broadview Grill. Review from memory (less than 30 minutes ago).

Color is a slightly hazy copper with a beautiful 1-finger head, good carbonation.

Aroma is floral and herbal hops.

Taste is floral, bitter hops with a nice pale malt balance. This beer straddles the line between a pale ale and an IPA. Used to drink this often and it's been way too long.

Overall this is a good example of a Northwest-style pale ale, generous with the hops and always refreshing.
Jul 21, 2023
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

3.96/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can. Date stamp on can bottom is 'PKG ON 04/20/23'. Very legible stamp.
Nearly clear, deep gold colored body. One finger of white head, which settles back to a thin cap and ring. Leaves behind strings and spots of lacing.
Aroma of toasted malt, with hops expressing the flavors of citrus and grass.
Taste has a solid malt base. Citrus flavors of orange and lemon. Slightly spicy. Grass. Floral.
Medium mouth feel, which is substantial. Some tongue sting. Very good carbonation.
A totally good experience all around.
Jul 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by scottyshades from Florida

Jul 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.89 by Nicknyc from New York

Jun 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by adosen01 from Minnesota

Jun 16, 2023
Photo of whitemankeenan
Rated by whitemankeenan from South Carolina

5/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Smooth, flavorful, thick feel, perfect pale ale. Clean tasting. Yum.
Apr 11, 2023
Photo of ivanbrew
Rated by ivanbrew

5/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Let’s try this one out of a bottle definitely great flavor Piney crisp and light I love his beer cheers
Mar 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.23 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Mar 11, 2023
Photo of jbolger
Rated by jbolger from Connecticut

3.71/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A nice easy drinking Pale Ale but prefer Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
Feb 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.97 by TrueMetalJake from Oregon

Feb 23, 2023
Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 4001 ratings