Lilja's Pulling Boat Pale Ale - Sand Creek Brewing Company

donniecuffs

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +32.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

My buddy got this in his first shipment for beers-of-the-month/world club, and decided to share. Poured a filtered golden color into an American pint glass, with an impressive two fingers of bright white head. The smell was a crisp pleasant mix of macintosh apple, pear, subtle citrus, grass, and floral hops. Wasn't expecting this to be a bitter/hoppy -tasting pale ale, but I respect the guys who buck the trend. Anyway, the taste confirmed the anticipated fruitiness, with an initial pear/apple/grassiness dissolving to maltiness and then finishing on a crisp dry apple note. Very dry, very refreshing. Thin bodied, but decent carb presence. Excellent session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2009 02:26:30 | More by donniecuffs

matjack85

Illinois

3/5  rDev -9.4%

02-06-2013 22:58:07 | More by matjack85

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Is it just me, or does "pulling boat" sound like a euphemism for something cruder? Regardless, this stuff pours a clear sunrise amber topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises very light lemon peel, lightly-buttery biscuit, and some vague sense of what may or may not be grass or something similar. The taste brings in more of the same, though now the grass is a certified reality, carrying with it some blunt and meaningless bitterness that doesn't meld with anything. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fairly dry finish. Overall, a mediocre pale ale, one that tries to aspire to things that it just can't achieve.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 12:51:12 | More by TMoney2591

SerialHiker

Illinois

1.34/5  rDev -59.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.25

Appearance: Pours a golden orange color…Fairly transparent, there is some bubble action going on in the middle…thin layer of head formed, but didn’t stick around…looks rather watery…(2.75/5)

Smell: Huge bitter aroma as soon as I popped the cap off the bottle…bitter, like skunky bitter…very bitter smell, like a Old Milwaukee or something…not something I’m used to or would generally accept as appetizing…there is some faint citrus notes, but overall, I can’t get passed how skunked this smells…I’m hoping that’s just the case here and this isn’t their normal product…(0/5)

Taste: Skunky bready malts and crazy bitter citrus hops…(0/5)

Mouthfeel: Light body, medium carbonation…the best part of the beer…(3/5)

Overall: I never thought I’d actually have a “get the spoon I need to scrap my tongue” rating, but this is it…maybe it’s old and skunked and the store shoulda I poured it, wrote this review and subsequently poured it out for another, I’m not even sure how they classify this as an “American” pale ale…I’m not gonna sit around and watch football and drink this…if you see this on the shelf, do others a favor and “accidently” throw it on the ground…gross! (0/5)

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 01:49:08 | More by SerialHiker

Gtg642

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -1.8%

10-26-2012 19:20:46 | More by Gtg642

Brenden

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

An opaque dark gold, this one forms a thick, creamy pure white head just short of a finger tall that stays and leaves some good lacing. Carbonation is active...an unfiltered pale ale? There are lots of little chunks floating around.
The aroma gives off some citrus on the sweeter end with a good malts backing against a bit of floral bitterness as well. It starts stronger than it finishes. There's a hint of a buttery note on the end.
It's difficult to describe the taste. Citrus, some herbal, leafy something, along with rind. The sweetness of the aroma fades out and malts are bready, but everything almost gets a little lost when a slight "brinyness," for lack of a better word, threatens the finish, but fortunately backs off.
The body is on the light side of medium with a crisp feel. Smoothness comes through evenly, even getting a little creamy. There's nothing wrong with the feel.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 11:47:00 | More by Brenden

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle. Clear amber color with a large off-white head. The aroma is malty and a little roasty, which is unexpected in a pale ale, but I like it. Flavor is never really sweet; it starts off bitter and gets more bitter. Biscuity malt with apricots at first, until a piney hop flavor enters in in the middle. Finishes bitter with flavorful hops. Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is perfect. This beer is quite refreshing. A well crafted pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 21:56:09 | More by WoodBrew

troyvar

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -9.4%

02-25-2012 18:15:48 | More by troyvar

Tyrawlings

Ohio

3/5  rDev -9.4%

02-16-2012 02:21:56 | More by Tyrawlings

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint.
No date or info.

A - Crystal clear golden yellow in color, a two-finger off-white head floats gently on top leaving patchy, thick lace all over the glass.

S - Buttery diactyl and faded citrus hops seem like reflections of their former selves. Pale malt backing, but this beer doesn't really have much going on at all.

T - The hops pull through a bit more but it's still pretty low. Citric notes and mild spice barely covers the malty backbone but it's a large improvement over the aroma.

M - A touch on the bitter side and lightly dry, this pale has a medium-light body and crisp, refreshing finish.

O - A very standard pale ale, the nose is almost missing completely but the taste tries to make up for it. Maybe it's old, but it's got no bottle date and doesn't seem too far gone if it is. More hops to counteract the malt. Refreshing regardless.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 14:58:01 | More by BeerFMAndy

brandoman63

Illinois

3/5  rDev -9.4%

11-30-2011 03:12:30 | More by brandoman63

wallrock

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +20.8%

11-23-2011 17:06:52 | More by wallrock

OlRasputin989

Arkansas

2.5/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into nonic pint...

A: pours pale golden with a huge white frothy head that leaves thick globs of lacing

S: a spicy, grassy, lemon peel and saltine cracker aroma

T: has a honeyed cracker malt upfront that is quickly overshadowed by a blast of spicy, grassy, lemon peel hops, finishing with the same crackery malt, minus the honey sweetness, and ridiculousyly bitter finish. Very unbalanced and the hop flavors themselves are not that hot.

M: a medium body with a fizzy carbonation, astringent and dry finish

Overall, this beer is overly hoppy. Or is it lacking malt? either way it lacks balance, which I have encountered with other lilja's brews. I think I've sampled enough of this brewery to konw to stay away. Glad I only bought one 12 oz bottle of this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 00:49:23 | More by OlRasputin989

Zaradog

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Visual: Wow… It looks like someone back-washed into my cup! I have never seen this many protein floaters. The head was a three finger frothy uneven head. I’ve never seen either of these in a beer before… not sure what to make of it.

Aroma: Toasted bready smell. I also pick up some metallic odor, which isn’t strong enough to be off-putting, but is inappropriate.

Taste: Malty front that fades as a rather potent bitter note wells up. I was actually afraid it was going to get more bitter than I can enjoy… but then rather quickly it fades off. There is definitely a bit of breadiness to the taste as well. There is some other taste here, that’s good but I can’t place my finger on it… Piney maybe?

Mouth Feel: A bit too fizzy in my opinion. Proper wetness though.

Drink-ability: I know many like Wheat beers in the summer. I just don’t care for them, but something about the cool cuttingly crisp flavor of this makes me think it would be great after mowing the yard. That said, I am left wondering if the wetness of the mouthfeel and the bitter finish would cause too much palate fatigue to drink more than 1 or 2 of these.

Impressions: Visually interesting, tastes pretty good really. Smell is fading to more and more of a metallic odor. And yet, my final opinion is that it is decent. It isn’t taking over the spot of my 4 or 5 favorite Pale Ales, but isn’t bad either.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 20:03:20 | More by Zaradog

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle. Code on bottom of bottle, but I don't know what it means.

Pours a completely hazed lite golden-yellow. A white head leaves absolute growth-rings around the glass, bumping up the appearance a point or two. Smell is husky and mildly sugary and hoppy. I taste some detritus yeast, and citrusy, almost sour hops. The malts are very "farmish", kinda corny almost, like an "adjunct" pale ale. Do I sense some residual sugars? Finishes sorta tart and bitter, feel is carbonated. I'm glad I tried this one, but I probably would imbibe something else, given the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 04:36:23 | More by sixerofelixir

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

2.93/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another from the Lilja's four. Not thrilled with this one. My notes:

Lilja's Pulling Boat Pale Ale, An American Pale Ale. SVEA. (What's that mean?)

Clouded, pale amber coloration, adequate, 1/2 " rocky, white head.

Aroma: Fairly faint. A little skunked, oddly enough. Lemony. Eh...

Taste: Fairly smooth and somewhat creamy, nice, lightly hoppy. Zesty, citric fruit, nicely hoppy, but, a bit blase. Yeah, drinkable, hoppy enough, but nothing to talk about. Huh. Hmmm. Hyeah.

Sorry, nothing to see, or say, here.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 05:13:48 | More by feloniousmonk

Brunite

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up a sixer at Woodman's for $ 4.99...a no-brainer to try at less than a buck a bottle when all the other beers from this brewed were priced in the 8-9.00 range.

A- Poured into pint glass. A pale straw yellow, decent frothy head, clings to glass decently.

S - Pretty much all mild malt. Very bready. Not much hoppiness.

T - Taste is a mild malt front, similar to the scent. A very "bread dough" flavor is noticed. Slight hop bitterness. Dry finish.

M - Light to medium. Decent balance.

D - Moderately drinkable. More than one or two and you might get a little tired pf the dry, bready, husky flavor....but fine for wetting your thirst. Certainly offers more than any macro. An average beer.

Update: 5/19

Last of these. Hmmmm. More bitterness than I recall. Pretty cat pissy/skunky. Meh. Lowered my score. Very bleh.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 15:57:22 | More by Brunite

Tballz420

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Kind of a muted caramel candy color, very hazy. Small-to-non-existant white head. Sweet malt nose with some piney hop tones as well. Light caramel malt front, light floral/pine hop finish. Lemon peel. Kinda has a peppery spiciness to it as well. Thin bodied, kind of dry. Eh

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 05:32:30 | More by Tballz420

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a single from Princeton's for $1.70. This is a delicate beer, and frankly, light for the style. It might make a fine blond ale. The malt is soft and very bready, like a loaf of white italian, with a brown crust finish. The hops are even milder with a touch of pineapple juice over biting grapefruit. The website tells me there are 44 IBUs, but man this feels like 30 or so. This beer needs a richer character. The basics are good, but the taste is almost watery compared to most pale ales.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 02:48:54 | More by tempest

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a case on discount at Bell's...

Poured into pint glass, presents with nice pale straw with a hint of copper, decent frothy head, clings well to glass.

Smell is mild malt, with a bready overtone and a mild touch of hops.

Taste is a clean malt front, similar to the scent it has a bready doughy flavor, but it goes well, finishes clean and dry with the bitterness of hops.

Mouthfeel is well done, perfect balance on the tongue and cheeks.

Quite drinkable, but the doughy bready flavors can be a bit much after a few.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 00:05:49 | More by mvanaskie13

CPeterson

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A -- A straw yellow brew that pours into a nice head leaving a broken froth.

S -- A heady malt aroma backed by a punch of grassy, floral hops.

T -- A nice balance of malt with a good amount of bittering hops that play off of each other well. Earthy tones and grassy notes with a dull sweetness.

M -- Full bodied in front and a little thin in the finish. Somewhat odd. Bitterness lingers a while.

D -- Overall, solid for the style even if a little bitter. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 01:01:37 | More by CPeterson

schoolboy

Ohio

2.85/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hmmm. This was one of those odd brews where the more you drank the less you wanted to. It's an odd pale yellow with a good head that smells bad. The taste matches, with a soapy, metallic eeuck.

I'm not sure what the aim was on this one or if I just got a really bogus bottle, but I hope that I won't be giving this a second chance. I wonder if anybody will notice me pouring this on the flowers.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2010 19:06:51 | More by schoolboy

kirok1999

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a slightly hazy mild gold with a nice rising head and a bit of lacing.
Smells is bitter and hoppy. Lots of grass and some wheat. There's a bit of citrus but not what I'd expect from an APA.
The taste matches the smell. A lingering hay note, somewhat dry with just a bit of malt in the finish.
Feels a bit thin, slightly watery with a fine carbonation.
Easy enough to drink. I'd like one on a hot day after mowing the lawn.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2010 01:11:28 | More by kirok1999

giblet

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured a golden color into my glass. light steady carbonation. one half inch of head that settles quickly. smells of slight hop and light malts. taste is decent. good balance of hop and malt for a pale ale it is too light in the hop department for my taste. this is a good mild pale beer.

suckem up and movem out.

giblet

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 18:11:34 | More by giblet

wheatyweiss

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a perfect.

Pours a honey, dark straw with an immense head that stays to the point that it recedes to a chimney in the middle of the glass, breathtaking presentation.

Aroma is of heavily boiled malt with a light rider of cracker and doughy breadiness. Tannic aromas from the water most likely with a smallish rider of floral hop.

Flavor opens with toasted bread, slightly nutty and crunchy. Middle yields to bitter hops that are slightly resinous and oily. Finishes bitter and dry, but clean. A very clean and perfect to style flavor, surprising that there could be this much malt (long boil), with no discernible diacetyl. Flavor is chewy and full of bready goodness, could use a tiny bit more fruitniness from the hop addition, but not much.

Mouthfeel is medium, and could be a bit thicker, but this is not an IPA, so this is a given. Carbonation is perfect, soft and full, lush bubbles.

I could drink these all day, a great light bodied sessionable Pale. Scores very well because of the presentation, but screams English Pale with the tannic mineral flavor. Must be the Wisco water.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 02:29:35 | More by wheatyweiss