Mirror Pond Pale Ale - Deschutes Brewery

chrisms86

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pouring with a nice lasting head, Mirror Pond is the definitive pale ale. Starts off slightly sour and finishes with the bitterness you expect from a pale ale. In the background I taste some hints of wood. This style of beer has never been my favorite but Mirror Pond is definately an easy drinker, good for just about any occasion.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2005 20:33:07 | More by chrisms86

ElGordo

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My fiance acted as air courier to bring me a sixer back from her trip to Spokane. I am even further indebted to this lovely lady. Pours a slightly cloudy golden/orange hue with a smallish gleaming white head. Lovely aroma of fresh, floral hops, some sweet malt, and notes of pine and astringency. Palate begins with light sweet malt, then the hops kick in. Nice, rich floral hops coat the tongue, with a pleasantly bitter hoppy aftertaste. Body is full and slightly creamy, almost perfect. If I had to pick one session beer for life, this would definitely be it (although maybe it would be from the beer engine at the Horse Brass).

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2005 02:01:29 | More by ElGordo

mjbrewboy

China

3.45/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tried on tap in downtown Portland at a very busy pub. For a pale ale it looked darker than I thought it would, looked almost amber. A very nice citrus aroma but the malt backbone of this beer seems to be too much as the beer had some sweetness that I wouldn't expect. Very little head retention with some large surface bubbles during the first few sips. Gonna have to give this another try someday to see if I just had a bad pint.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2005 03:46:38 | More by mjbrewboy

IceAce

California

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Twelve ounce bottle with a best-by date of: 03/22/05

Pours a nice bronze body with very nice clarity, capped with a light tan collar of foam with only moderate lacing. Nose needed much coaxing and finally revealed a mild hop aroma...but not a lot of it.

Entry is clean but not noteworthy with a midtaste dominated by euromalt. Finish is Cascade hops, and not in an overdone sort of way. Mouthfeel is a tad thin, but all in all an acceptable pale.

I'd love to sample this with some sharp cheddar.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2005 08:09:01 | More by IceAce

KoG

Nevada

4.53/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Orange-amber hue with a small head that leaves little lacing.

Flowery hop aroma complements the malty profile that shines through at the end.

Taste is very well balanced. Starting with a nice mixture of citric and bitter hops and finishing sweet and malty. Very nice.

Goes down so smooth and at 5% ABV, it would make a very nice session brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2005 03:46:34 | More by KoG

donnebaby

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Almost hard to imagine a better looking pale ale. Clear, bright orange with tan/orange sticky and dry thick haze head. Complex nose, with some candy sweetness, sweet malts, alcohol, and a touch of spice.

Taste is mild and well-done, not leaning too much on hops or malts. After having other, heavier in taste pale ales, this almost seems like a "light" pale ale. But it's still very nice. Small, clean after of residual hops and light sweetness.

The mouthfeel is interestingly soft and foamy, which I liked, especially from an American pale ale, but I think in the end it lent it a somewhat watery feel and decided that I'd like it a bit firmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2004 03:59:31 | More by donnebaby

HochFliegen

Oregon

2.7/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a nice slightly hazy copper color with a thin white head. Little to no lacing.
The smell was grape or raisn like. Nothing to strong kinda bland and that was after about 15 tries to detect some charcter to it.
The taste as I was affraid was much like the smell. Seemed rather bland. There was a slight sweetness to it but not much else. A bit dissapointed since Im a big fan of many of their other beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2004 01:01:00 | More by HochFliegen

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I've drunk this beer on many occasions at taverns in Portland where I've greeted it as a class act. But the pint I drank at the Deschutes Brew Pub was somewhat less charmed. The color is quite beautiful: dilute honey with modest clarity and depth. It sports a thin head, low carbonation, and no lace. The aroma is light and plummy, and the taste emphasizes malt fruitiness with a wayward note of pineapple and customary bittering. Late addition hops make minimal appearance.

Mirror Pond is a decent all around pale ale that's best found in a bottle. The draught version served by Deschutes has a plump mouthfeel and a companionable flavor but otherwise stirs little excitement.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2004 05:47:37 | More by RedDiamond

Brian700

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a nice dark golden color. It has a white head that leaves a pretty good amount of lacing. It has a nice hoppy, floral, aroma. Slightly citrusy. Taste is of malt and a small amount of citrus. Mild hop bitterness on back of tongue. Good mouthfeel. Perfect amount of carbonation. My friend sent me a few of these from out west. I wish this was sold around here in MI. This would definately be in my fridge on a regular basis. I guess I don't need to recommend it to anybody on the west coast. I'm sure your probably drinking one right now. Try it if you've never had.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2004 06:22:02 | More by Brian700

RenoZymurgist

Nevada

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a rich deep gold almost amber ale with a thick slightly tan head that subsided slowly. The aroma is of fresh floral hops with distinct fruity esters mixed in. The taste is bittersweet on the initial taste with a clean cascade hop flavor supported by a sweet carmel malt but the initial impression is on hop flavor not bitterness. The absence of high alpha hop roughness gives credibility to the pale aleness of Mirror Pond as the hops are deliciously there but not to the point of being an IPA. The mouthfeel as with other Deschutes brews is great when concerning the carbnonation and carbonic bite but in terms of body i belive this is lacking but not of making this beer poor. Very drinkable but i like the black butte or quial springs for a session beer instead of htis one as the hops could become less distinct after the first pint.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2004 19:16:06 | More by RenoZymurgist

Thrasher

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Good ol' Mirror Pond -- it's available literally EVERYWHERE in Portland. Every bar, every grocery store, every 7-11 and Plaid Pantry... luckily, it's a good beer and deserving of its popularity. It, along with Sierra Nevada, may be the premier American-style pale ale, or at least the West Coast version. It's full of malt, full of hops, well balanced and drinkable, but manages to pack a slight punch. The mouthfeel is smooth and filling. I don't know if the beer is bottle-conditioned but it feels like it. Pours a tawny orange with great head and lace; hops dominate the flavor with fruit flavors that marry well with the sweet malts. Despite the bitterness, the finish is on the sweet side, and soft fruit flavors linger, such as peach or mango. It is an everyday brew, although for an ordinary beer it is lucky that we have one as tasty as this. Many cities have to make do with Bud or Coors. It may be a drawback to some that it absolutely must be poured into a glass; it just doesn't work from the bottle. A beer not to be overlooked.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2004 02:12:52 | More by Thrasher

carln26

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This was another beer I really wanted to try while in Denver. We don’t get Deshutes in Boston (that I know of, so I jumped at the tap when I saw it. The bear poured a bright copper, with a thick full white head. A nice lace stayed for the entire beer. It had a bright citrus aroma from the hops. More hop character than I expected. The taste was light and fruity, from the hops, not the yeast, with a light floral middle. It had a light mouth feel and a great drinkability. Nice candidate for a session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2004 21:05:14 | More by carln26

beerceller99

Louisiana

3.7/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle pours a amber hued liquid with a decent head that quickly fades to a sheen. Has a very slight sweet caramel smell with a whiff of hops. Has a medium body, with a taste of caramel sweetness followed by smidgin of floral hop bitterness to finish. A very easy drinking, smooth beer - maybe too smooth.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2004 04:35:08 | More by beerceller99

Boilermaker88

California

4.2/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Presented in a 12oz brown bottle. No best before or freshness date noted. Poured into a standard pint glass. Mirror Pond had a slightly hazy light copper color topped by a whitish head that faded down to a small cap and miniscule lace.
The nose had a crisp floral citrus aroma nicely counterbalanced by the toasted malts. The taste had a well integrated merging of sweet grainy malts and the acidic tang of grapefruits and lemon rind. Neither malts nor hops attempt to one-up the other; rather, they blend together smoothly for a well balanced flavor. The feel was medium-light and crisp.
Mirror Pond Pale Ale is a highly drinkable brew that's perfect for enjoyment while camped out in front of the TV watching football (college or pro). Another great beer by Deschutes, one of the most underrated breweries in the U.S.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2004 16:05:41 | More by Boilermaker88

DrunkMcDermott

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A bottle brought to our Brewers of South the Suburbs meeting. Light in color, with a thin head. I didn't find it to be as hoppy as other people have described it. Just a nice, clean smell and taste that goes down well, and another brewer I hope to sample further in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2004 15:27:26 | More by DrunkMcDermott

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bright rustic orange, pumpkin to be exact. The largish head is ecru in color, is moderately dense and is beginning to pit on top. It hangs around for a bit, eventually falling to a short disk with a ragged collar of lace. If anyone wants to know what pure, unadulterated Cascade hops smell like, have them take a whiff of Mirror Pond. Even though Cascade tend to be overused, I still love their bright, grapefruity citrusiness.

The flavor profile is pretty evenly balanced with gently toasted malt and Cascade hops playing equally important roles. That's too bad really, since this would have been the perfect beer to let those hops go a little crazy and show what they're capable of. Of course as a self-avowed hophead, I could hardly be expected to feel otherwise.

The understated sweetness from the malt and the gentle bitterness from the hops makes this beer as easy drinking as any APA that you're likely to run across. The body is medium for the style, but has a disturbing habit of fading into a slight wateriness at the finish which prevents the agreeable flavor from lingering as long as it might.

Men's Journal recently stated that Mirror Pond Pale Ale is America's Best Beer. Hardly, but it is a fine, drinkable example of the American Pale Ale style. Most everyone should enjoy this fine ale from one of the Pacific Northwest's best breweries. I know that I do.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2004 21:16:49 | More by BuckeyeNation

RoyalT

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance – The body here was solid brown in color with a decent head from a very careful pour by the bartender.

Smell – The citrus and soft pine hops gave way to a stiff malt balance. The toasted malts were unsweetened and, I thought, a bit heavy-handed.

Taste – The hops from the nose find their way into the taste, but it’s the malt flavor that dominates. It is a rather darkish malt not unlike raw molasses. I would have liked to have seen a bit more balance to this one.

Mouthfeel – This one is medium-bodied, lightly carbonated, and has just a bit of a dry finish at the very end.

Drinkability – This went down well enough.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2004 00:39:23 | More by RoyalT

beertaster13

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This should become a blueprint for all other pale ales. Pours an amber orange with a semi white/tan head that grows to great proportions then fades to about an inch. The smell is of strong floral and citrus, hints of hops characteristics, very clean and refreshing. The taste is a nice balance of the sweetness of the floral/orange citrus and the bitter tangy lemon hops. Some pine notes detected as well, very light and refreshing. Goes down about as good as a beer can, great for those thirst quenching moments. This is now become my staple in the fridge. Sorry SNPA for there is a new pale ale king.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2004 05:51:28 | More by beertaster13

Rastacouere

Quebec (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Clear orange-amber, bright white 1cm foam. Light fresh orange zest fragrance with caramelic malt underneath. Hop profile is grassy. Honey and earth notes. Taste is fresh with earthy oranges peaks, peaches-like malt and what I found to be mostly grassy in the aroma here appears mostly floral and minty. Very quaffable straightforward verison of the style. Definitely doesn’t have the complexity or stand-out characteristics to be worth seeking, but pleasant enough to try if you have the chance. Great creamy mouthfeel, airy and foamy medium body. Thanks to skyhand for the bottle!

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2004 04:30:41 | More by Rastacouere

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Chill hazen dark yellow with a slight bronzed tone to its body, thin dense white foamy top reached a finger high before fading quickly down to whispy fringe and thin collar, lacing in spots and tiny strings. Aroma is of Cascade hops moslty, grassy and floral, yet sweet with some fruity notions of malts inbetween. Taste intially hoppy with slight citrus and grass, fades off to a sweet middle of bready thick malts then dries out to a lingering bittersweet hoppiness that keeps a touch of zing on the tongue. Good finish with lingering hop spice and resin oils sticking well but light and nonabrasive. Feel is close to a medium body, albiet somewhat on the lighter side, still has some creamy, slick and quiet carbonation, and a dry, slightly spicey hop finish. Very drinkable, very soothing, a bit on the malty side, but the hops partake a good balance in its finish to make up for it.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2004 00:26:57 | More by tavernjef

Redrover

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on tap in Federal Way, WA.

The beer was a nice copper with a decent white head and very nice lacing.

The nose on this beer is mainly from the hops. Nice pine & floral notes. There is virtually no other aroma, but that’s ok.

The taste is right on for a pale ale. The hops are clearly in the forefront, but they are modulated by some malty sweetness. I’m not sure of the hop type they use, but the beer had a slightly piney taste with hints of underlying fruit. The beer seemed well balanced with just enough malt to balance.

Easy drinking beer with a very soft feel in the mouth.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2004 16:06:08 | More by Redrover

garthwaite

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Clear amber with a thick off-white frothy head. Aroma is pretty uneventful, though there is subtle evidence of some legitimate hopping going on here. For a pale ale, this has much more of a roasted malt base than I anticipated & I like it. Hop profile is piney & citrusy - just like with the aroma though, it seems subdued a bit, but does linger. Mouthfeel is medium to thin & a dry finish makes this highly, highly drinkable. Solid. Thanks to skyhand for the chance to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2004 18:48:38 | More by garthwaite

krberg

Oregon

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Looks pretty much par for the course. Light copper with a white head that faded very quickly.

Smells hoppy, but with huge sweet malt that reminds me of caramel.

It starts out quite hoppy but that fades as quickly as the head into a nice malt balance which in turn fades into a suprising dryness. Extremely refreshing!

Its mouthfeel is just right. Light with enough CO2 to lift the creamsauce from my tongue.

Wonderfully drinkable. It must be amazing on tap and cask. I could easily drink this all night. Hopefully, this summer I will have that chance.

Highly recommended! If I could get Deshutes here, Mirror Pond would be a summer staple.

I purposely paired it with my penne and andouille in a pancetta and smoked gouda sauce (recipe doesn't have beer, so you can't have it). Perfect! It doesn't overwhelm any part of the sauce, yet it can stand up to the andouille and smoke and cut right through the dairy.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2004 16:48:34 | More by krberg

watermelonman

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This poured to a bright and relatively clear bronze and orange color. Its head was mild and faded quickly. It isn't leaving any lace behind as I drink.

The flavor is snappy and comes with a good solid amount of hops. The mouthfeel is a little sharp but it is still very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2004 07:19:27 | More by watermelonman

goindownsouth

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A big thanks to weefisheads for allowing me to sample this fine, fine brew. A solid-looking pale ale out of the bottle, this brew oozed from its 12 ounce bottle a somewhat hazy golden color. The aroma was clean and clear, with serious noted of cascade hops and some citrus sweetness to boot. A nice combination of bread, hops and sweetness in the flavor as well. A fine plae ale, and one that I would not hesitate to have again!

Zum wohl!

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2004 14:09:38 | More by goindownsouth