Loser Pale Ale - Elysian Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Unusually bitter tasting beer with odd yeasty hoppy odour golden yellow with lots of head, lace. Smooth drinking pale. Alcohol is there, and its drinkable. . Bittered with Sorachi Ace and finished with crystal hops. Bitter aftertaste.Refreshes. Had on tap 3 years later and decent enough interesting.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2008 02:44:38 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

"When you're a winner you're always happy, but if you're happy as a loser you'll always be a loser."

Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych

Rich Halloween pumpkin orange with Sunkist highlights when sunshine is allowed entry. The sandstone colored crown is both creamy and firm, with hundreds of glassine bubbles on its superior surface. BB-shot sheets of lace are beginning to decorate the glass in fine fashion.

Elysian has never been a brewery to go easy on the hops, which is why I like their beer so much. This APA features a background of lightly toasted malts and a foreground awash in musky-fruity hoppiness. Although Sorachi Ace and Crystal might not have been my first choices, they work very well together.

Just as the hop bill is a sure-fire hit, the grain bill is a miss. Loser has too much Munich malt flavor, which comes across as a nutty, woody earthiness that is common in most marzens. In a pale ale, it only succeeds in partially masking what ought to be the focus... which is hops. Thankfully, there are enough of those to (barely) earn the higher flavor score.

Sorachi Ace was developed in Japan by Sapporo and is a Brewer's Gold and Saaz cross. It's supposed to be lemony... and is a little. I'm also getting orange rind and ripe apricot. The beer's floral spiciness is probably due to Crystal. One simple change (subtract the Munich) would turn Loser into even more of a winner.

The mouthfeel is fine and dandy. It has plenty of heft for the style and the ABV (7.0% on the label) and has just the right amount of zesty bubbles. Resinous hop burps are always welcome.

Elysian is one of the great unheralded breweries of the Pacific Northwest. Most everything they release is outstanding, including Dragonstooth Stout, Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, Jasmine Avatar IPA, The Immortal IPA and The Wise ESB. Ironically enough, the Sup Pop motto is appropriate when describing Loser... "We're not the best, but we're pretty good".

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 14:24:11 | More by BuckeyeNation

WesWes

New York

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a beautiful gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a dry and grainy, pale malt scent along with a bit of Munich malt sweetness and some grassy hop bitterness. The taste is average. It has a complex malt flavor that's grainy with a hint of Munich malt sweetness. The hops are up front and provide a grassy character that doesn't seem to meld well with the malt bill. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an interesting beer. It's complex. It's flavorful. It's not that great.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 20:51:42 | More by WesWes

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

Gavage

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: clear orange in color with a large 3"+ fluffy head that has big bubbles and lasts. Moderate lace paints the glass.

Smell: bread and caramel are easily detectable.

Taste: grainy malt, bread, mild citrus tones, soft ripe fruit flavors, and a decent bitterness makes up a tasty APA.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp throughout with a light dryness arriving late. Aftertaste is brief.

Drinkability: sessionable pale ale that is easy to quaff. Nice straight-forward offering from Elysian.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 20:33:05 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours amber with an off-white head that leaves thin lines of lacing.

The smell is of caramel, some citrus with a hint of mild pine, with toast/bread and some wood.

The taste is of caramel and bready notes with woody,herba/leafy bitter hops standing out above the firm, sweet malt backbone.

The feel is on the full side of medium and pretty chewy.

Alcohol is well-covered with a firm, though not puckering, lingering bitterness.

This sample was contract brewed at New Belgium for Elysian - brewed with pale, Munich, crystal and cara malts and bittered with Sorachi Ace and finished with crystal hops, according to label.
Unique, interesting and enjoyable.

I'm not a fan of Sub Pop Records, I have to admit, but am a fan of this hoppy Pale Ale!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2009 23:11:36 | More by jwc215

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

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

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

A: Poured a clear, deep orange with a small white head and good carbonation

S: Caramel and a tangyness

T: Plenty of malts, Crystal and Munich, balanced perhaps even more malts. Some deep tang and citrus

M: Malty and light booze feel

D: Ok but not one I would recommend, not bad but overly exciting either

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2010 04:22:37 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz. Bomber

Pours a nice hazy golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger plus creamy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy, with some malts, slight citrus note. The taste is slightly hoppy, sweet, malty, slight citrus note. Medium body. Drinkable, a tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 01:05:04 | More by Wasatch

Billolick

New York

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

Growlers being filled in Ardsley, NY @ DeCiccio's market. Pours lighter amber, light khaki head and then the emergence of world class sheeting and lace on the glass. Tiny bubble and fully developed, slowly sliding down the sides of the glass then staying in place. Nose here is underwhelming, just a hint of some piney hops and dull maltyness. Quite tasty ale, on the hoppy side. Light mintyness, a touch of pine, light bran infused malt. Enjoyable sessioner. I have not seen bottles of this one, so a nice treat to have a growler pour option available. Well worth a try.

Serving type: growler

09-13-2009 02:02:17 | More by Billolick

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

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

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark mahogany amber color with dark golden burnt orange hues when held to a light source and a .5 finger off-white head that quickly settles into a lasting ring. Minimal spots of lacing.

Floral hop aroma with hints of dry pine and subtle citrus notes. Hints of grapefruit and citrus peel, subtle spice and sweet caramel malt.

Medium bodied with a lot of crisp dry hops up front that linger throughout over a sweet caramel malt body into a long crisp dry finish. The flavor of the hops are sweet, dry and piny at the same time. I'm not very familiar with Sorachi Ace hops but they are very unique and I hope that more brewers decide to start using them. Nice balance of caramel biscuit malt with a sight toasty character. Although the malts are prominent mid palate but they don't take away from the wonderfully fresh hops that dominate the flavor. It's hard to call this beer a pale ale but it's very complex and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2009 06:35:40 | More by corby112

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

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

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a medium-burnt orange with a compact 1 finger tan colored head that was short lived. Visible carbonation was light, while the clarity was semi-hazy. The lacing was spotty, weak, and sudsy failing to cling nor impress with much regard.

S: The nose delivered a spicy hopping of dried pineapple backed by a toasted caramel malting. Spicy citrusy flowerys also add nice accents here.

T: The flavor had a spicy hop bite of fresh citrus and fresh grapefruit pulp. A dry toasted munich offering adds a dry toasty feel and subtle dry sweet notes form the grains. Hints of dried fruitiness (pineapple) and lemons add a spicy brightness amongst the dry toasted palate. Im unfamiliar with Sorachi hops which were used so im guessing they provided the fruity yet citrusy (lemony) hopping that im deriving from the taste. The beer finishes up with a creamy maltiness and a light dry alcohol warming.Overall a pretty big experience especially for one labeled as a pale that drinks on the level of most ipas. Not that im complaining but im starting to miss the days of the traditional pale ales, you know when they were actually composed of pale grains, crisp with a moderate bitterness (SNPA and Samuel Smiths come to mind) instead of this one up on the bitterness and loaded with specialty grain movement that has been occurring of late. Though I didn't find it particular to my expectations I still find it hard to say that the flavor was less then good, maybe just not particular to style, but I find it hard to punish such offenses of pushing the envelope of style.

M: The mouthful was medium-ful with a soft bubbly sensation that allows this to turn to a thick luscious creamy feel on the hold. Dry citrus flowers and toasted grain grace the tongue upon the swallow.

D: A big drinking experience, much more so on ipa standards then pale with a nice addition of hop flavors that were like, but also unlike your typical west coast hopping, which im sure is compliments of the Sorachi. Good level of enjoyment though a bomber suited me well. Expect to drink an ipa when you meet up with this one, not your typical quench thristing, session pale.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2009 23:40:25 | More by beerthulhu

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

HopHead84

California

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

Received as an extra in a trade with cannabanaceae. The beer pours a dark copper color with a reddish tint to it. The head is about an inch high and there's some nice lacing clinging to the sides of my pint glass. There is a mild citrus hop aroma and the malt smells of freshly baked bread and some caramel. The taste is initially bready, nutty malt, which segues into a surprising (and much welcome) hop bitterness. The alcohol is present but the 6.5% is understated. The finish is dry. Loser is well carbonated and medium bodied.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2008 03:50:59 | More by HopHead84

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

mactrail

California

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

What is this anyway? Reading the description for German Alt, I'd say it's a lot closer. If you're a Pale Ale fan, no way is this a pale. Call it a wierd fruity amber.

Beautiful in the glass, nice amber color and loads of lacing. Fruity with a hint of the barnyard. Not quite tart enough for a Saison, but in that vein. Fairly malty with a biscuit taste and touch of mince meat pie.

Not bad and quite drinkable, but approach without expectations.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 05:17:04 | More by mactrail

ccrida

Oregon

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

Bomber poured into an impy pint, Loser is a murky dark copper with a large, orange tinged off-white, very dense, slow settling head, leaving heavy lace.

Smell is sweeter, caramel and toffee malts, skunky hops. Served at fridge temp, it wasn't too strong.

Taste is pretty nicely balanced, almost in brown ale territory with the maltiness, semi-sweet, clean and smooth, just enough hop bitterness, pretty clean finish. Wow, this is pretty damn nice!

Mouthfeel is slick, and even though the beer is on the chewy side, it's light bodied and highly digestible.

Drinkability is good, this is a damn fine pale ale, a shame it's a one off, cause it sure ain't no loser!

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2008 04:16:58 | More by ccrida

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a hazy orange-ish to amber color with a light tan head. In the aroma, big gingerbread like maltiness. In the taste, big gingerbread like malt and just a pinch of alcohol. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry gingerbread like aftertaste. Quite English, but nice balance.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2011 12:53:38 | More by OWSLEY069

beertunes

Washington

2.8/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a semi-cloudy deep orangeish-amber with a thin cap of head that quickly dissipated and left between light and medium lacing.

A very subdued aroma gives few hints as to what you should expect. The flavor has more going for it than the aroma promised. A very mellow malt foundation with some hop tang is all there is however.

Body and drinkabilty are what is expected from the style.

Brewed for the 20th anniversary of Seattle's Sub Pop Records, this beer shows the New Belgium blandness (where it was brewed) rather than Elysians generally assertive character.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2009 03:03:49 | More by beertunes

smakawhat

Maryland

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

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A real nice amber hue from light brown chestnut at the top to red and then orange at the bottom. Opaque. Head forms slowly makes barely two figners and is off white with a uniform appearance, and some creamy faint lacing.

Biscuity malt and chewy cookie sweetness on the nose. Faint hop action, but some sweet alcohol like rush also. Not bad quite inviting, hints at English Bitter...

Taste seems to be a simple malt graham and milk sweetness. Sugar sweet with a faint pine like hop in aftertaste. Good solid thick body with out a lot of syrup. Some nice herbal tea like hop tastes as well.

Overall kind of basic, reminds me more of an English bitter than anything, but easily drinkable even at 7%. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 19:27:02 | More by smakawhat