Loser Pale Ale - Elysian Brewing Company

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly cloudy, deep golden color with a very nice fluffy white head with good retention.

The scent is of light citrus and some herbal hops.

The taste is of bitter citrus hops, some notes of bread, and some lemon zest.

Medium body, smooth with a dry finish, moderate carbonation.

Overall this was more flavorful than normal pale ale, nicely balanced and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 14:38:05 | More by BeerCon5

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this beer on-tap at the brewery in Seattle.

Pours a coppery golden colour, with no visible hazing. Body is light, with streaming carbonation forming in patches. Head is white and filmy, with a fine ring leaving inconsistent lace. Not bad, but not that exciting overall.

Nose is pleasant and oddly savoury. Some light crisp lemon is forwards, along with crushed celery and leaves. It's slightly vegetative and bright. Nice stuff.

Clean light entry on the palate with a touch of lemon. Bright but empty palate gives a refreshing aspect, but adds only minimal interest. Finish has a clean bitterness which underlines this. It's soft all over, and in real terms, a little dull. But it really does work.

Overall, yeah, it's not bad. It has a smoothness, a lightness, and it's really very drinkable. I've seen Sorachi Ace put to better use though—here it's extremely subtle.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 04:30:12 | More by lacqueredmouse

drabmuh

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer is yellow and hazy with a thin white soft head of small bubbles, some lacing, spotty carbonation, looks fine.

The aroma is grassy and lemony...I smell sorachi ace hops.

Yep, beer is medium to light in body and quite sorachi in the palate. Lemony, almost a coconut style bitterness, decent, a familiar flavor, decent APA, but I'd skip it next time.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2011 03:32:09 | More by drabmuh

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another hard to resist offering at the Capitol Hill location - Sub Pop still exists? Well, according to the sub-title "Corporate Beer Still Sucks" - truer words...

This beer appears a cloudy golden amber colour, with one finger of soapy white head, which leaves some sparse splattered lace around the glass as it settles. It smells of caramel cream, lemon pie, and bitter leafy hops. The taste is more caramel/toffee, grapefruit, passionfruit, buttery chardonnay, and aged lemon. The carbonation is moderate, the body skewed just beyond smooth. It finishes with an herbal, buttery maltiness.

Yet another pale ale strangely (but still well) affected by the exotic Sorachi Ace hop. While I can't seem to get barrel treated white wine off of my mind, in this case, it's not such a bad thing.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2011 06:37:32 | More by biboergosum

Kendo

New York

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

"Everybody's bragging and drinking that wine;
I can tell the Queen of Diamonds by the way she shines.
Come to Daddy on an inside straight.
I got no chance of losing this time.
No, I got no chance of losing this time."

-"Loser"
Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia

Got it on tap at Blue Tusk in Syracuse on 6/28/11; served in a mug.

A: Body is honey-amber in color with a foamy (and active) white head. Lots of streaming carbonation keeps that head well-fortified. Finally leaves behind good lacing.

S: Faint overall nose - basic hops (light citrus) and a touch of generic malt sweetness.

T: A solid caramel malt foundation underneath. Finishes with hops that at times seem citrusy (lemony more than orange or grapefruit), but at other times there's a spicy quality to the finish. Citrus is mellow, nowhere near IPA levels. I didn't know the ABV was 7% when I drank it, but that explains the heat I get at the finish. The overall finish is clean.

M: Good creaminess, medium in heft.

O: Good stuff. Overall impression is that it's sweeter than expected, but that might just be because I'm used to IPAs, not APAs.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 23:26:51 | More by Kendo

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Monk's, Philly, PA

Poured a clear copper with a large, fluffy, tan head that receded after a few minutes to a thin layer, lacing nicely. Crisp aroma, mainly of malts, with some sensations of herbs and nuts. Smelled more like an amber ale than a pale ale. Very toasty taste, malty, burnt sugar; some hop bitterness coming through, but not much. A bit of orange taste in there as the flavors settled on my taste buds. Pretty smooth mouthfeel, finished pretty dry, and was quite drinkable in its own right, though lacking some of the bright flavors I'd typically expect from an APA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2011 14:39:59 | More by Rifugium

mdfb79

New York

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

From 05/28/11 notes. Had on tap at Monk's Cafe in Philly. Served in a pint glass.

a - Pours a clear reddish amber color with one finger of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of pale malts light fruity malts, bready malts, and wheat. Not bad at all, but a little bland to me.

t - Tastes of sweet fruit, caramel malts, bready malts, wheat, and toffee. Definitely a step up from the nose and more going on here.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

o - Overall an average pale ale. Nothing offensive about it at all, but the nose is pretty bland and just there. Taste is a step up with some sweet fruit and caramel. Wouldn't seek out again but glad to have tried it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2011 19:50:20 | More by mdfb79

jcw122

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this for dinner tonight. I chose it from the bar on a whim. It ended up being pretty good! I got an initial smell that brought bananas to mind. The color is was darker than most Pale Ales you'll encounter, but I found that enticing. The taste was hoppy but nowhere near the 53 IBUs they claim. It was definitely a great beer that I would have again!

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2011 02:44:56 | More by jcw122

Seanibus

California

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear amber with a vast, beautiful head. The aroma is delicate and perfumy, a little malt, some ginger and jasmine. The flavor is also delicate, malty and warm with a pleasant, sharp hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is foamy and satisfyingly beer like.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2010 23:06:02 | More by Seanibus

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A pint on tap at memphis taproom.

A- comes to me with a finger of off white head that settles soon enough to a small island and a faint ring. Deep copper orange in color with a brilliant clarity.

S- quite nose with some sweet caramel malts and a hit of toast. Mild hops crack at times.

T- nice balance between malts and hops. Caramel sweetness and piny citrus hops at the same time. Sweet oranges and ruby red grapefruit topped with brown sugar and dark caro syrup. Toasted whole wheat bread and honey on top.

M- medium body and carb. This brew is and exercise in balance.

D- well kinda malty for a apa but this is an amazing brew and I really like it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2010 05:14:00 | More by oglmcdgl

Kemmerlin

Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted at New Belgium Brewery Tasting Room.
A: light amber caramel color with a light sticky lacing.
S: has a floral bouqet with some sweet apple mixing in lightly.
T: the hops are potent but almost adds a sour slash bitter flavor insted of just bitter. Has a good caramel malt flavor in the aftertaste.
M/D: medium body smooth and dry feel. Good drinkability really easy to drink a few.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2009 18:06:34 | More by Kemmerlin

mjl21

California

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Toronado. Poured into a pint glass. No abv info is given. Paid $3.50 during happy hour.

A-Pours a crystal clear amber color. It has a nice frothy one finger off white head that looks like it was poured via cask. The head rests at a nice foamy layer. Leaves some nice looking lace.

S-Nothing too huge with this one. I get toasted malt, some caramel malt, and a little citrus.

T-The taste is well balanced between grapefruit and sweet malt that is not toffee sweet. It is definitely sweeter than it smells. There is some definite nuttiness that is picked up. I get lemon and orange flavors as it warms. It finishes sweet and there is not a lot of bitterness.

M-Medium bodied and quite resiny.

D-A pretty good pale ale. A tad bit too sweet for my taste but I would have it again.

I was glad to try this one. There are better ones out there, but overall it was a good draft pale ale.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2009 17:02:15 | More by mjl21

DiabolikDUB

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On-Tap @ Bailey's Taproom poured into Shaker glass.

Pours a slightly cloudy, medium amber with a puffy finger of off-white head that is long lasting and leaves a strong ring of lacing around the glass and heavy lacing the beer is drank. The aroma is caramel, toffee, toast and citrus hops. The flavor is sweet malt upfront and has a citrus bitter finish. This beer has a light-medium body and mild carbonation. This is an easy drinker and highly sessionable. The flavor is a nice balance of hops and malt while still allowing the hops to shine and be showcased.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2009 22:06:35 | More by DiabolikDUB

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Elysian- Loser

A- Clear golden orange with a small heavy lacing head.
S- Caramel and heavy bready grains.
T- Heavy grainy and caramel malt with a touch of molasses and dry straw/ grassy hops. Slight touch of alc.
M- Sugary dry maltiness with a warm alc. feeling.

Overall- Decent tasty Pale Ale with a boozy/ warming touch.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2009 23:21:01 | More by NJpadreFan

nbaeteer

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Appearance: As is the case with most other aspects of this beer its appearance isn't what I would normally expect from a pale ale. Definately at the top end of the saturated gold pale ale color range. That being said it's a beautifull color with a nice 1/2 inch head that gets thinner but hangs on until the bottom of the glass.

Smell: Piney. Resin? Citrus although I cant pin down exactly what I'm smelling. Doesnt have the noticeable grapefruit smell in other pale ales

Taste: More booze than I expect or really want from a pale ale. I'd rather get a lighter hop flavor first with a little bit of booze coming through.

Mouthfeel: Again. Not as crisp as I would expect. Judging on mouthfeel alone it's an IPA.

Overall: In basketball players who don't really fit into any one position but can do a few different things well enough are known as "tweeners" and this is a tweener beer. The Andre Iguadola of beers perhaps?

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 04:15:37 | More by nbaeteer

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.24/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Clear bronze with an off-white head, good retention, really nice rings of lace.

S: Great fruity hop aroma, hints of pine and sweet toffee malts.

T: Quite fruity with plenty of resiny hop bitterness. Sponge toffee, light alcohol warmth.

M: Moderate body is smooth with a light hop acidity and a drying alcohol finish.

O: Rather large for a pale ale, but an excellent drinker.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 01:36:02 | More by Derek

vkv822

Oregon

3.19/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz : tulip

Orange with a foamy white head and spotty lacing.

Light notes of citric, fruity hops are fairly well balanced with a pale malt backing.

Medium body, foamy carbonation.

A decent APA. All aspects are done to style, but it seems a bit subdued/underwhelming overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 08:18:13 | More by vkv822

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up at giant eagle in Hermitage last week.

A- Body is a cloudy, translucent golden yellow hue. Body has dynamic fogginess. Pours with a nice foamy 1-2 finger head and leaves some lacing behind in the glass.

S- Nose is classic APA. Grain, floral hops, pale malt.

T- Upfront is a lot of floral hop overtones with a mild pale malt backbone. The finish is smooth and all floral hop flavor with a mild to moderate lingering residual bitterness.

M- Medium carbonation, smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Very Good.

D- Overall this is a very good, classic APA. Fantastic smooth mouthfeel and very good drinkability. I will have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 02:56:47 | More by PittBeerGirl

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The bottle inventory in my house has been undergoing a serious reduction of late, but it is back to work tomorrow, so I am trying to get in a couple/few more while the opportunity still exists.

From the bottle: "Corporate Beer Still Sucks."; "Loser Pale Ale Celebrating over 20 years of celebrating Sub Pop Records with beer. Specifically, this beer. Brewed with Pale, Munich, Crystal and Cara-Hell malts. Bittered with Sorachi Ace and finished with Crystal hops."; "Brewhouse Elysian Brewing Company is an award-winning Northwest brewery operating three distinct Seattle brewpubs."; "Cheers! [undersigned] Dick Cantwell, Head Brewer"; "The name Sub Pop is used with the permission of Sub Pop Records."

My initial pour resulted in a finger-and-a-half of foamy, tawny head with good retention. Color was a deep-amber, coppery, even, with NE-quality clarity. Nose was grapefruit with some caramel thrown in to reduce the intensity. I would even say oranges or tangerines to go with the caramel. Brach's Candies used to make flavored caramels that I would eat while visiting my maternal grandmother and this reminds me somewhat of them. Mouthfeel was medium and the citrusy hops seemed to pop on the tongue, initially, giving 'way to a wash of caramel maltiness. Finish was semi-dry with the hops lingering well past the swallow. It really was not, as some reviewers have remarked, what I would consider an IPA, but it was on the upper end of the scale in terms of both hop profile and ABV for an APA. I have drank this beer repeatedly, but this was my first opportunity to sit and write a review. Would I drink it again? Heck, yes!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 20:31:39 | More by woodychandler

atr2605

New York

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-pours a orange/golden color with an off white head with decent retention
S-citrus, biscuit and yeast
T-pine and biscuit flavor up front with citrus coming in the finish. Biscuit lingers throughout
M-medium bodied
O-Not bad, well balanced. Not my go to beer but I would drink it again

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 02:43:01 | More by atr2605

Bitter_Echo

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this bomber from a visit from a friend from WA. Thanks, Mike! I slipped this into my tumbler, so I'm not sure of head. Smells of malts and grains first, some floral hops, but a bit masked by the malt presence. Tastes like it smells too, but a bit more hop forward than what was expected, for a pale, and might really make this more in line with an IPA than anything else...but a good thing too, given the long sustain of the hops and terrific carbonation, mouthfeel and satisfying afterward. Might turn some off looking for a tamer ale, but I though this terrific and fresh and good!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 18:04:39 | More by Bitter_Echo

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer has a heavy malt presence with an odd kind of alcohol burn to it, along several lines. Something seems out of order with the whole thing, though it is drinkable. I suppose it strikes me as muddled. And the burn to it masks any other character that might be trying to show. Overall, a mediocre showing.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 02:57:23 | More by RblWthACoz

Dodt

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

found this beer during one of my beer trips . poured into a fresh clean pint glass.feel a bit silly went to take a sniff of this beer and went in a little bit to close and got a bit up my nose.nice color . with a great hops and citrus presents. not a bad beer , can't wait to try other beers from this brewery

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 00:31:23 | More by Dodt

BigPlay1824

New York

2.83/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: pours a moderately hazy orangish amber color with a nice amount of carbonation bubbles on the glass, pours with a solid amount of very fluffy head that kind of seams heavy like cream, head is light tan in color with large bubbles and lingers for quite a while, dissipates and leaves lacing all over the glass
S: slight vanilla notes, kind of like hop extract rather than the cones or leaves, fruity notes like peaches
T: interesting notes of vanilla as seen in the scent, quite bitter, earthy like roots or dirt, kind of has a slight pineapple note, its interesting all together, not the best tasting apa by any means but eh its alright
M: medium carbonation tingle, bitter, leaves the mouth noticeably dry
O: it was ok, not really up my alley for what i was hoping but it was ok enough, wont buy it again, some notes were just odd as far as im concerned like the vanilla

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 00:18:52 | More by BigPlay1824

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to juliusseizure (Reddit) for this one.

Pours a light fizzy head covering that barely even makes a head, over very hazy nectar orange red colored beer.

Nose light citrus and floral hops, candied orange peel, a light sweet caramel and toasty reddish malts, and even a light grassy hop.

Taste starts with a light sweet malt, caramel and toasty reddish malts, little toffee. Then hops, faint bitterness, little grassy and citrus hop, again candied orange peel but light. The finish dries a bit and brings a light spicy but quite bitter hop finish, long lingering bitterness and hint of caramel at the end.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb.

Overall meh, nothing special, too much malt, hops are Ok but not great, not very drinkable either with the big spicy hop bitter lingering finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 23:06:40 | More by jlindros