Drifter Pale Ale - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume III, Issue II:

Dark copper color with a perfect clarity. The head retention is solid, with a lacing that holds its own. The blood-orange and evergreen hop aroma is very inviting, especially when hints of caramel and toasted malt reach their height. Super smooth, with a slick medium body. Oh yeah, it's on. The malt and hops are battling it out. Each time one throws a layer of flavor on top, the next one rises to do the same. Big hop flavor of fresh wild herbs, sweet citric and tropical fruit. Malt drops a thick layer of caramel, then more of a toasted grain and then a dry breadiness. Long-lingering finish of hops and malt (more hops though).

Good call on making this one a year-round beer from the get-go--a lovely beer to be had. Looks like Widmer was trying to raise their own bar and accomplished that task.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 12:55:25 | More by BeerAdvocate

h4ger

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

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JMUbrewz

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

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ChalupaBatman

California

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

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DonNachoFresco

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

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TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

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zestd

Idaho

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-31-2013 05:53:45 | More by zestd

craftbeerasian

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

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woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Another from my score out of the cooler at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Altoona! I do not know whether to invoke Clint Eastwood in "High Plains Drifter" or BMCS (SW) Gerard Wargo, my first LCPO in the USN, who routinely used to tell me, "Son, you have a high drift factor." I will go with the latter as the label has a nautical theme and drift or drift factor applies to a ship at anchor. A high drift or drift factor is not good and usually results in weighing anchor, getting underway to shift position and then resetting the anchor. Wargo was definitely NOT paying me a compliment!

From the bottle: "Brewers of Quality Beers".

I got a finger of tawny head from my pour, but it quickly dissipated. Color was a deep copper with NE-quality clarity. Nose smelled minty with a caramel/biscuit undertone, much like a Girl Scout Thin Mint. Mouthfeel was medium and the mintiness of the hops was immediately discernible on the tongue. It again begs the question of where does an APA leave off and an AIPA begin. As a self-avowed hophead, I have no problem with this sort of thing, but it surely was hoppy. Finish allowed the caramel/biscuit malts to get a chance to balance things out and they did so, nicely. A pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 22:39:23 | More by woodychandler

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-26-2013 20:21:16 | More by mikeincharleston

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-22-2013 15:38:36 | More by InspectorBob

verge

California

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-21-2013 18:21:44 | More by verge

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Texas

4.25/5  rDev +13%

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johntfox

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-21-2013 02:13:39 | More by johntfox

Burkbom23

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-20-2013 12:54:32 | More by Burkbom23

MightiestBeard

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-17-2013 21:24:30 | More by MightiestBeard

ScottieD

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

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thatdewguy

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

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nickleeye

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-06-2013 17:02:53 | More by nickleeye

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Minnesota

3/5  rDev -20.2%

05-05-2013 19:09:05 | More by Ilafan

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Texas

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

05-04-2013 13:05:39 | More by SmellsofMahagony

PoppyParthenonE

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-01-2013 20:02:32 | More by PoppyParthenonE

Leiphonics

North Dakota

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

04-30-2013 05:18:14 | More by Leiphonics

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

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sacrelicio

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +6.4%

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