Fresh Hop Mirror Pond
Deschutes Brewery

Fresh Hop Mirror PondFresh Hop Mirror Pond
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From:
Deschutes Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
Ranked #494
ABV:
5%
Score:
87
Ranked #15,445
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 12.05%
Reviews:
143
Ratings:
318
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 11, 2022
Added:
Oct 24, 2008
Wants:
  31
Gots:
  26
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeardedRiker:
Photo of BeardedRiker
Reviewed by BeardedRiker from Texas

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It's about damn time I drink a Deschutes beer. I can't wait to drink my Black Butte XXI that's over a year old. I've not reviewed a beer in awhile so going back to what I like most, pale ales, is what I should do.

This is one of those beers that looks very "clean" to me. There are barely any bubbles rising to the top of the golden-amber beer. The head doesn't grow too thick but it looks good, about a finger and a half in height and creamy. Some good retention.

Oh boy does this smell good. Fruity, grainy, and deliciously hoppy. There's a lovely barley, grainy aroma that is as strong as the floral hoppiness. Mango citrus is in there as well as a bit of pine. Actually, the more I smell this the more fruity it is. This smells great.

This is a well-balanced pale ale. All of the flavors are there. It's hoppy, but not too much, has a significant malted barley flavor, mango citrus, and pine notes. I will say that while the taste is well-balanced, it doesn't have as robust of a taste I prefer, with the hops being more pronounced. So, while I don't prefer the overall taste, in it not being "enough", it is well-balanced and all the good flavors are there.

This is one of those beers that you can down a million of them. It's lighter on the body and extremely drinkable. It has a very clean feel. It's a tad syrupy from the sweetness.

This is a well-balanced and very drinkable pale ale but for my preference the flavors aren't strong enough for me. Good, insanely drinkable, but not great.
Nov 02, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.79 by BigMac59 from Texas

Nov 11, 2022
 
Rated: 3.67 by bpkrippner from Missouri

Oct 20, 2022
 
Rated: 3.73 by Wizzman from Massachusetts

Oct 20, 2022
Photo of chum_husk
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
12oz bottle - review from notes

A decent pale that drinks sorta like a well-hopped lager. This is a good intro beer to get you into more hoppy stuff. But as a seasoned pale ale drinker this leaves me wanting

I don't need it to be super hopped always, but this is just kinda boring
Jul 31, 2021
Photo of Smurfman584
Reviewed by Smurfman584 from Texas

4.21/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Portland Public house poured into pint glass. Nice lacing on glass, small head. Smooth flavor for a fresh hop ale. Could easily drink a few.
Oct 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by emptyglassagain from Massachusetts

Sep 27, 2017
Photo of davidward
Rated by davidward from Florida

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Not quite up there with Mirror Pond's signature pale ale, but still good.
Jul 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.84 by Krusader from Wisconsin

May 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by Timtac from New Jersey

Mar 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by DamienI from Washington

Oct 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.17 by Akeah from Colorado

Mar 08, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.96/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Amber and orange color, full inch of white head, average lacing and retention. Aroma reminded me of the old school mirror pond from back in the 90s, when the hops jumped, vegetal. They're solid again here.

Good old school wave of Cascade hops, this really brings me back when mirror pond was the shit. The heavier soggy wood malt bill is gone, the hops are shining. Plenty of pine and bitterness layered on a 5% body. Wouldn't hesitate to buy this again, good price, really hope they drop it in a 6 pack someday.
Jan 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by mklisz from New Hampshire

Nov 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Theogre83 from Kansas

Oct 25, 2015
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on tap at Deschutes Brewery Pub in Portland.

L : in contrast to regular mirror pond, this is a bit darker, providing iced tea hues, 90% opacity, and a huge lacey head.

S : lots of sweet aromas, with cotton candy and jellybean? Some doughy yeast and toffee malts as well.

T : a bit like mirror pond but with more hard toffee and fresh pine needle. Ends piney.

F : creamy, dense, delicate. Polite carbonation.

O : a nice take on mirror pond but doesn't supersede the original.
Oct 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by Fillllll from Florida

Oct 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by smithj4 from New York

Oct 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.48 by EdTheEdge from California

Jul 04, 2015
Photo of Mjfroman
Rated by Mjfroman from California

3.12/5  rDev -20%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Could be the batch I had but hardly any taste of hops.m
May 07, 2015
Fresh Hop Mirror Pond from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 318 ratings