Drifter Pale Ale - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear coppery amber with a one-finger cream-colored head. Head retention is so-so, lacing is medium.

Smell has a bit of caramel malt, some grassy hops. They claim it's heavy on the citrus, but I get almost none. Basically a balance of caramel malts and grassy hops, both weaker than I would like.

Taste starts out with a light does of sweet caramel malts before some hop bitterness comes on that carries through most of the taste. I find it to be weak, not super flavorful in any way. Having a hard time finding positive or negative things to say about it.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, slightly sticky, with tingly carbonation.

This beer is pretty blah. Not much malt flavor, not much hops other than bitterness that's also blah. Don't have a whole lot more to say about it.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 21:00:26 | More by zeledonia

tjsmith910

Florida

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Weird enjoyment to this beer well after the fact though. After I was done with this beer and ready for another beer of similar type, My mind and taste buds were saying go ahead, grab another Drifter. I was not real impressed with this beer at first, but it grew on me.

A - Nice color and beautiful look in a pint glass.

S - I have no sence of smell so I always rate as 3.0 average

T - Nothing special, A bit thick and just the right amount of Bitter and Caramel

M - flows nicely and pure feeling for the after

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 21:26:15 | More by tjsmith910

Kitt

Delaware

3.08/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep rich orange-red. Head very weak with lacing same; however, thin head persists remarkably long for initial volume.

Aroma un-remarkable; average; straw with a citrus background and a hint of malt. Taste about the same but with an added prominent hop influence. Although apparently an APA I place it on the opposite side of IPA. Hops too weak for a true APA. Carbonation is off-center, a bit too forward for my taste.

Mouthfeel good, smooth, but rather weak in viscosity. Drinkability - refreshing.

This beer falls somewhere just on the weak side of IPA. The hops are prominent and somewhat bitter but don't linger long leaving the ambient citrus background wanting. A refreshing beer suitable for a mid-week lunch break.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 02:18:37 | More by Kitt

Andrew644

Idaho

3.05/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- light amber in color with a very light tan head that lingers and leaves lacing on the glass.

S- very little malt smell with most of the aroma being from the hops which give off a nice fruity/floral aroma.

T- almost no malt flavor with a woody/fruity hop flavor. It doesn't seemed to be balanced quite as well as it could be.

M- mostly ok but could use a little more carbonation.

D- nothing to run out to buy but if someone handed me one I would drink it.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2010 21:34:23 | More by Andrew644

alleykatking

Indiana

3/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from 12oz bottle.

A- Pours a amber color into the glass. Half finger white head dies almost as soon as it appears. Some light streaking lacing on the dies of the glass.

S- This has some floral and light citrus hops in the aroma. The malts in this bring forth a light sweetness. Also there is some almost apple like qualities to this beer. Not what I was expecting.

T- Some light hops in the front of this (citrus kinda). The malts pretty much take up most of this beer with a bready overtone. A light bitterness in the back end of this...didn't seem to go together as well as I thought it could have.

M- Light medium mouthfeel. Carbonation was good for the style. Light hop flavor left on the palate to duke it out with bready malt. Aftertaste was very malt forward with a hint of bitterness. This beer didn't have either a crispness to it or a clean taste.

D- This was a alright pale. Nothing at all that I would really want to try again. It was good for one beer but left me hanging for something that has a little more flavor to it. I take that back...something with a little more balanced flavor to it.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2010 04:30:07 | More by alleykatking

Brent

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Even allowing for the style, the hopping was sub-par and muted to the point that the malt competed for dominance in the flavor profile. Mild caramel malt with equally mild, slightly fruity hops. Finish was clean with slight astringency. While this would certainly make a more than acceptable lake or lawnmower beer, on the pale ale scale it ... well, .... pales.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 13:05:22 | More by Brent

thecarster1

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

a- one finger of head fades quick to a spotty layer of lace, orange amber coloring.

s- all malt here, some sweetness, maybe a touch of vanilla and a hint of hops.

t- malt heavy pale ale, some slight citric hops kick in on the back end.

m- medium body.

d- this is an average pale ale, nothing sticks out as being really great, i wouldn't seek this one out.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 19:53:07 | More by thecarster1

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle. Pours clear and copper colored, thin cap of foam. A hoppy pale ale aroma, a little citrus and maybe cat pee (just a little), some caramel malts beneath. Malty tasting, sweet and grainy, with some bread and grapefruit in equal measure, but not too much of either. Middle of the road flavors, not objectionable at all but not memorable either. Light bodied, fairly easy to quaff but nothing really stood out for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2011 01:57:28 | More by TurdFurgison

beachbum1975

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle. Per the label, bottled on 05-20-2009. Neat old school label. The label makes me wanna go to the Pacific Northwest and fish or something.

Poued into my tulip, a clear, medium brown with blonde highlights. Average tan head with average retention.

Smells like your average pale ale. Light to moderate pale malts with a light citrus tinge.

Slightly watery mouthfeel echoing the nose in flavor. Surprisingly low carbonation.

Average.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2009 00:06:46 | More by beachbum1975

froghop

Washington

2.95/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

pours a clear pale amber-orange with a small white head that dissipates quickly, some lacing.

smell of some caramel, floral, and a touch of grapefruit.

taste is light, hops, malt in the back, some citrus, earthy, and a little pine in the back too, ends a little dry and a little bitter.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2009 01:51:43 | More by froghop

originalsin

California

2.93/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- The pour is a deep reddish amber. Not necessarily pale, per se. Not too much head to speak of, but I can live with that. Retention is ok, but there's little lacing.

S- Citrusy hops are almost overwhelming on the nose. Who can really argue with that? This beer smells like it has all kinds of potential, let's just leave it at that.

T- Right away there's a pretty distinct caramel and pale malt taste. It's really nothing spectacular, and almost somewhat of a turnoff but then the bitterness kicks in around the same time as a nice hopped aftertaste does. Again, though, it's really nothing special.

M- The mouthfeel is a bit light but at the same time I can't find anything wrong with it. It goes down real easy.

D- Honestly, it's a really drinkable beer- but it's just not good enough to be a so-called session beer. I could sit down and drink 5 of these no problem. But then i'd hate myself. Maybe i'm being unfair.

I might just have something against Widmer but this pale ale just doesn't do it for me. I got a case for 13 bucks, which was good...but i don't know if i'd even spend that much if i had a second chance.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2009 07:50:09 | More by originalsin

BEERchitect

Kentucky

2.93/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Gary for sharing.

The beer opens with a thin copper, medium amber, and golden look. Good head formation allows for fine retainage and lacing. Pretty fair for a Pale Ale, just looks a bit thin and over carbonated.

Aromas of hops leap right out with a largely citrus note and to a lesser extent, metalic notes. Pretty sharp to the nose, an odd sweaty, catty, urine-line note comes out but seems to disipate quickly. Soft maltiness blends with even softer grain aromas to provide a counter to the assertive and sharp hop scent.

Flavors of malt and grain rise first with a biscuity sweetness and moderate maltiness. Hop flavor seems a bit bitey and again metalic; but also has some fresh orange zest and grapefruit taste to go along with that same anoying metalic taste.

Body as expected is kinda light and allows for the grains to add nearly the bite as does the hops. More than just bitterness, the hops also give an undesirable astringency that I could do without.

Seems like a lot of negativity comming out of this review, but these ill attributes don't kill the beer. I think it's fine but suffers from some tomato-catty things in the initial aroma and poorly chosen hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2009 02:34:15 | More by BEERchitect

welldigger888

South Carolina

2.88/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into a pint glass, clear orange copper color.Nice white head that receded quickly with minor lacing down glass.
Fruit is what I pick up first, light toasty quality with minor biscuity nutty aromas.Little grapefruity hop aromas for me.
Bready toasty flavors with minumal hop goodness.
This beer seems to have a nice mouth feel for me. the carbonation is spot on.
If I could get over the fruit on the nose this would be sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 01:14:47 | More by welldigger888

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A-dark amber, impressive cream colored head

S-creamy citrusy hops. medium strength. smells quite pleasant!

T-well first of all i must say there's a unique bitterness throughout the entire experience. its not a completely welcomed bitterness. it hits with a quick shot of citrus. it hardly lasts long enough to get a hold on the taste. the hoppiness is minimal. it then goes in to a tangy creaminess that's very undesirable. the after-taste is of barley...this is probably the best aspect to the taste. I guess you could say its a complex beer...it just doesn't have a good complexity.

M-medium to heavy carbonation with a watery finish

D-it goes down easily due to the lightness but the tastes just are not something you want a lot of.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2010 03:28:50 | More by AdamBear

brewerburgundy

California

2.78/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

16oz pour into a pint glass at Drifters Grill and Marina, Lake Tulloch, CA.

Copper and fruit orange body with a nice sub-tan head.

Very orangey, more like orange juice or flavor than the orange and other citrus characteristics than I am accustomed to from any hop varieties. A turn towards familiar grapefruit seems to happen when the beer is warmer.

Again citrus, and mainly orange with a little pine. Overall weak without even a discernible malt backbone. This seems to be for the masses. I was interested in the use of Nelson Sauvon for aroma and dry hopping. This variety seems to have come across as orange.

The mouthfeel is solidly average.

I wouldn't want to drink much of this because I think it is inferior to other easily obtainable Pale Ales. That said, it does go down as easily.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2010 02:06:16 | More by brewerburgundy

beertunes

Washington

2.73/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served in straight pint glass. Poured a clear, light brown color (not any of the shades of yellow or gold as expected for the style), with a clean, white head that had some retention and medium lacing.

The nose is greeted with a very sweet aroma containing no hop presence. The taste was very pleasant, not too sweet and had just a slight tinge of hop on the finish.

The body was good, full without being heavy, and well balanced. This is a very drinkable brew, having several of these easy, well balanced, very enjoyable brew would not be a problem. Overall this is a good beer that is in the wrong style category. The appearance, smell and taste would all rate higher if the brewers chose not to call this "brown" beer a PALE ale.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2009 20:30:36 | More by beertunes

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This is an interesting beer. It pours a dynamic, clear copper color with no head. It's aroma is an odd mix of vanilla, pine, biscuits, and some other stuff. It's very strange. The flavor again is odd with molasses, licorice, and metallic notes. This beer has a light mouthfeel with a light alcohol warmth. Original Drifter Pale Ale could be a session beer for some. It was just ok with Mexican food. Slightly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 22:39:50 | More by B967ierhunter177

highTempo

Oregon

2.7/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

A - Low carbonation. Has a good medium color for a pale ale - maybe a touch darker orange/brown than average. 1.5 finger head with a gentle pour.

S - The smell has a bit of skunk to it - definitely an odd bitter hop character. There's a little citrus in there but the unpleasant hop is overwhelming it.

T - Starts of nicely with some malty flavor upfront. This dissolves into a 'skunky' hop that matches the aroma.

M - Not a lot of carbonation. It's a smooth, decent, drinkable feel.

Widmer beers vary a good deal in my opinion and this is my least favorite of all of their offerings that I've tried. I'm not sure why it's so popular. If they'd completely change up the hop it might be a nice beer but the hop if pretty forward and pretty off-putting.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 18:58:19 | More by highTempo

hustlesworth

Ohio

2.7/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- clear copper colored with golden highlights. Oddly tan head is thin and unimpressive. Not much lace to speak of.

S- decent grapefruit and orange herbal spicy hops with some berry and toasted malt aromas.

T- a little toasty, a bit of wet dog, mild hop flavor and bitterness. Tastes diluted. Burnt grapefruit and grains in the finish.

MF- low end carbonation, dry rubbery feel, lighter than medium body.

D- finding a positive point, it's easily drinkable and refreshing due to the lack of flavor. the remainder of this bottle will go into a foil packet to keep a brisket moist while I reheat it.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 10:32:15 | More by hustlesworth

Minkybut

Virginia

2.63/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I poured this beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was a gas colored concoction with no head what so ever. The beer had a bit of a caramel smell. The beer was flat tasting and looking and I thought terrible. Then I discovered it was a year old by the brewed on date. I took the 6-pack back to Food Lion and got a refund. I am also sending Widmer Brothers Brewing a note explaining the ordeal.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 19:37:02 | More by Minkybut

Willibomb

South Carolina

2.63/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

It's a little weak looking for a pale ale, it did not have the great copper hue that I look for, and it did not have the dried malt smell interlaced with the hop aroma.

The head was decent, but then again, a pale ale normally can froth up quite a bit, and it tends to release a great deal of aroma, which I did not see.

The taste was pretty lame, it was weakly hopped, and it tasted like a dry-hopped domestic, which might have a style someday, but currently, it is just a miss at a pale ale.

At 5.7% it is not bad to drink, but the taste is a show stopper

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 16:44:38 | More by Willibomb

TheMadJack

California

2.55/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz Bottle into Pint glass. Beer is deep orange with some foam and a thin head. Decent lacing that fades to thin.

Aroma is similar to bourbon without the alcohol scent - an oaky base - on top of which are pine, raspberry, grapefruit and apple peel. So far so good.

First sip brings moderate hops, piny and slightly citrusy. Not a whole lot of depth here, the bittersweet bite fizzes out with the carbonation and leaves just a sensation of bitteness on the tongue. I had some brie on hand while drinking, and it didn't enhance the experience much beyond bringing out a cayenne pepper aroma. The grapefruit and oak flavors in the nose come out in the taste as the beer warms, and the beer gains some depth with caramel coming through.

Mouthfeel is thin and fizzy, and the carbonation fades fast. The beer is easily drinkable. Definitely a laid back brew that will go with just about anything. Unexceptional, though that can be a good thing if you're not looking to overwhelm your tastebuds.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2009 11:00:23 | More by TheMadJack

Bfarr

Washington

2.55/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Drifter is a clear orange amber with a thick... froth is a good word considering it looks like a bad cappaccino. It has a fairly nice floral hop aroma. A good spicey hop taste is quickly muted by the malts. It's a slightly watery taste but it is smooth and fairly balanced. Easy drinking but almost too much.

This is definitely good for a summer night but the taste was a little too muted for me. I'll have to try it on tap sometime if I see it.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 00:30:09 | More by Bfarr

kojevergas

California

2.53/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

33cl brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a hefeweissbier glass in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live.

A: One finger head of good cream, good thickness, and good retention. Textbook copper colour. Generally appealing.

Sm: Unwelcome bittering hops, light unexpected orange, barley, and cream. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Light caramel and very light orange ester first act, with a barley foundation, and a slight bittering hop climax. The aftertaste suffers under the burden of the badly chosen bittering hops, which feel obligatory to satisfy fans of the style. It's unnaturally built, yet manages to remain balanced. I don't fancy it.

Mf: Smooth and wet, but a touch too thick. The texture isn't tailored to the flavours by any stretch.

Dr: Easy drinking for one or two bottles, but beyond that it suffers from those damned bittering hops. It's overpriced - especially for the quality.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 09:39:29 | More by kojevergas

B-Rad

2.45/5  rDev -34.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I'm not a fan of this ale. I kept getting this tasted of body odor while drinking it. It looked nice in the glass- a pretty amber color with carbon bubbles rising. Interestingly it didn't smell of body odor; it has a sweet hoppy aroma. The mouthfeel was kind of thin. I just cannot get over the body odor flavor to it. I poured it into a glass to let it breathe thinking that the BO like flavor was from bottle skunk but the flavor didn't change much. I would not recommed this ale to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 20:55:18 | More by B-Rad