Pale Ale - Yazoo Brewing Company

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.4/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the Nashville airport. After seeing the BA score for this beer, I quickly realized that it isn't "just me" who isn't a big fan of this beer.

Yazoo PA pours an amber copper color with fairly good head retention and lacing. Don't get too much on the nose, just some noticeable sweet malt (which does not bode well) and a hint of citrus from hops. On the palate, this is a pretty sweet pale, with not nearly enough hops to balance all the sweet malt. There's a hint of hoppy bitterness in the finish, but this really tastes more like an American amber ale than any pale ale I've had. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a hint of alcoholic heat in the finish (which surprised me, given the low abv. in this beer). Drinkability is fair. I really wish pint size wasn't the only option size at the airport, as it's a chore drinking down this sweet, maltly, moderately "hot" ale.

Not a drain pour, but "mehhh" about sums it up with this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2010 20:52:26 | More by johnmichaelsen

ectomorph

Tennessee

3.33/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a tulip.

A - Golden amber with great clarity, very small head fades fast leaving a less than impressive dot of lace.

S - Some pineapple and citrus hops spice, with maybe a hint of malt sweetness. Overall aroma is faint.

T - Good upfront hops bitterness is met with a toast and fresh cracker malt bread finish. Good hop flavor shows some mango and pineapple citrus and a hint of black pepper. After it warms a bit, I do pickup some cardboard/oxidation here.

M - light bodied, with lower carbonation. A bit slick/flat for me.

D - Moderate. Balanced and relatively light, this could be good on the lawnmower too.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2010 21:24:49 | More by ectomorph

ybnorml

Rhode Island

3.03/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

An amber beer with a slight haze. Has a good foamy head that leaves nice lacing. There is a nicely balance malt and hop aroma with a hint of citrus. A light maltiness at first with a quick hint of lemon. The finish is medium hoppy with a tea like character.
thanks john

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2010 00:46:27 | More by ybnorml

lespaulrocker

Tennessee

4.13/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a bottle from the local Publix. Excited about trying it fresh from the brewery this weekend. But I'll review the bottle now.

A: Poured a light copper/amber color. I really enjoy the color, I can't pinpoint an exact reason why, but it appeals to me.

S: Hoppy, spicy smell. Maybe a hint of something fruity, can't tell exactly what fruit. Intriguing and inviting.

T: Good, what you'd expect from a pale ale. Well-balanced, hoppy flavor, a little bit of spicy citrus, with a hoppy finish.

M: Light carbonation, smooth mouthfeel. Pleasant.

D: Easy drinkability, could gulp it if you so choose, I prefer to savor.

I love Yazoo, and I try to support them as much as possible since they are a local brewery. I haven't been let down so far, and their Pale Ale is definitely worth the drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 01:46:28 | More by lespaulrocker

donniecuffs

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

At the Flying Saucer in Memphis, TN. Poured golden/amber with one finger of white; great lacing. Smells malty, with only a feint hint of piney hops. However the taste was more balanced; crisply malty, with feint apple and pine. Very light, and highly carbonated. Very good for sessioning.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2010 20:35:39 | More by donniecuffs

Wasatch

Utah

3.48/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes out to JohnQVegas for this one.

Bottled On: 3rd Week May

Pours a nice clean/clear copper color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is slightly hoppy, with some malts, and some citrus. The taste is slightly sweet, hoppy, bitter, malty, nice little touch of citrus. Medium body. Drinkable, a nice thirst quencher.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2010 23:18:33 | More by Wasatch

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Got this from JohnQVegas, AKA Dustin in Nashville-- One of those traders that I hope to actually sit and share a pint with some day.

Bottled on the 1st week of May-- (about a month old).
Poured into standard pint glass.

With a vigorous pour I still end up with less than a finger of head... The body is orangey/gold in color, and the head that remains is almost white. Not a ton of carbonation, but decent fingers of lacing.
The smell is muted. A little dull... but I manage to pick out a citrusy orange peel and some sweet almost doughy malts. This isn't offensive in any way, but it isn't knocking my socks off either--- but, comparatively, it is pleasant.

Taste is sweet caramel and toffee malts with a fresh citrusy note hop bite. Bitterness is smooth and calm. After tasting this, I would say that this is probably an English Pale Ale, not an American one. As for the way it is categorized here, I will disregard and review in terms of Ba being incorrect (with every intention to edit once I contact Yazoo).
The yeast here is fresh and crisp, quite nice.
Feel is a little dull and flat. Not enough carbonation for this to be truly great. The body is medium. I could see this being pretty easy to drink, but the carbonation level makes it an unlikely candidate for outdoor activites-- more of a "pair with dinner" kind of beer. The taste and flavor provile lend itself nicely towards BBQ foods-- the sweetness to compliment the sauce, the malts to contrast the meat, and the citrus flavor to refresh the palate.

All in all-- as an APA- it scores lower:
A:2.5 - S:3 - T:3 - M:2 - D:3

but since I reviewed this as an English Style Pale, it's score has improved.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 03:19:11 | More by AleWatcher

Jesstyr

Virginia

3.08/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Found my way to Nashville this week for a couple days on business - and it looks like Yazoo is the go to in this town. Grabbed the Pale Ale at Rippy's on Broadway, and enjoyed it with a decent set of BBQ.

This beer pours a pale golden amber, with a light white head that is present only briefly. Nose is hoppy, but nothing really exciting, kinda feel like its missing anything dynamic.

Taste is quite similar to palm, but much more faint. Hops are significantly prevalent, but there is nothing sweet or malty about this drink - lacks much balance. Bitter in the mouth, and while this beer is quite light, it doesnt inspire much drinkability. I may not love pale ales, but this one just lacks a little excitement.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 23:55:07 | More by Jesstyr

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

3.15/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- light copper in color with thin head. Nothing too exciting, but by no means bad

S- Very spicy hop aroma. I noticed subtle hints of a fruity smell also. Intrigued me to taste...

T- The taste was pretty much everything you would expect in a pale ale. Some hop flavor, well balanced. There were hints of citrus between the malt sweetness and the hop finish which was pleasing to pick out. Overall, nothing above and beyond, but a very pleasing and refreshing pale ale.

M- Nicely carbonated and fairly light bodied.

D- Very drinkable pale ale. I put down two of these back to back before all 3 of my buddies were done with one Bud Light... yea, this was a good beer to drink on a hot day at an outside bar.

Overall, good offering from Yazoo that was a simple, yet interesting pale ale. I would most definitely purchase again on my next visit to Nashville, but only at a bar. If I venture to a store to buy some beer, it will definitely be Yazoo, but I will try to get some of their other stuff... In the end, good beer; especially if you are at a bar!

*now that I live down here my opinion of this beer has dropped a bit. The bitterness has become a bit too harsh for a pale ale since I tried it a year ago and flavor is a bit on the overly spicy side as well... Still solid APA, but more average per style than originally rated

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 22:59:23 | More by TheGordianKnot

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.43/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into an imperial pint glass.

Pours a golden amber slighty cloudy color with basically no head at all. Nose is very Belgian and spicy.

Taste is likeable Belgian pale the description really isn't fitting at all. So think a light Belgian beer here not an apa.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 22:02:16 | More by kingcrowing

mntlover

Tennessee

3.33/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clear light orange color with a small off white head that falls to cap and laces some.

Aroma is lightly grainy with some light citrus, over all its very subdued.

Taste is little better then the smell, light malt still little grainy. Hops more noticed in the taste then smell. Light citrus with some light bitterness also.

Mouthfeel is medium lightly peppy carbonation.

Drinkability is ok not a great pale ale and probably wouldn't purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 01:09:47 | More by mntlover

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

4.08/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into pint glass.

Pours clear copper, just a bit pale, with a thinnish off-white head that settles into a thin sheet of suds on the top of the glass. sparse lacing.

Nose is really nice, but understand I'm a sucker for English-style Pale Ales. Orangey, a bit buttery, light toastiness; quite nice.

Taste has an orangy, floral hop note sitting lightly atop a dry, lightly toasty, biscuity malt base. Really nice balance. A bit of lingering floral hop bitterness on the palate, but not much.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied; nice, light carbonation that goes well with the style. Just the right length of finish. Excellent drinkability. Maybe I'm a homer, but it's more likely that I'm just a big fan of English style pale ales, and even with the American hops, this one is more English in character (to my tongue) than American. Very tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 21:33:02 | More by JohnQVegas

kimcgolf

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle to a light orange hue, with thin white head that lingered throughout most of the glass and left good lacing. Well pronounced aroma of orange citrus and floral hops. Mouthfeel was full bodied, bitter and slightly tingly. Taste was the orange citrus and floral of the nose, along with some wet grass. Finish was slightly metallic, but still okay. Would make a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2010 03:18:49 | More by kimcgolf

generalnotsew

Tennessee

3.48/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Very thin head that goes fast minimal to none lacing. Typical amber coloring but much lighter than most. Not a great looking ale but I don't care too much about appearance.

S: Minimal hops. Really sweet smelling grapefruit minus the citrus. Honestly probably overly sweet. Really not picking up hops here and it is as fresh as it gets.

T: Hops are more prominent here but still not all that strong. Lots of sweet grapefruit without the citrus plays out here. But at least the hops linger on the tongue. Not your typical APA.

M: Mouthfeel is really good here. Nice balance on the carbonation.

D: It does go down easy. Doesn't seem like it would cause you to thirst like the Sahara desert like most pales would. Very easy to session.

Props to Yazoo for going for something different. I can tell after a few of these the taste will probably grow on me. After having their Hop Project I know they are capable of doing something stellar. Still have to be proud of our locals making something we can enjoy in our restaurants.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2009 04:37:24 | More by generalnotsew

Tone

Missouri

3.8/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy, golden color. 1/2 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of hops, slight citrus, sweet malt, tea-like aroma, and some metallic. Fits the style of an American Pale Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and creamy with an average carbonation level. Tastes of hops, sweet malt, citrus, and slight herb (tea?). Overall, a drinkable APA, with a nice body, but slightly off-putting aroma.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2009 06:21:55 | More by Tone

jxhowell

Mississippi

3.73/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Out of the bottle this poured to a nice golden hue with orange highlights and a white fluffy head. The effervescence is visible as it continually rises in your glass and the head sticks around for quite a while leaving a nice white lacing all over the walls of your glass.

The smell is a slight malty smell that quickly gives way to the aroma of the hops. The hop smell isn't overpowering like most american IPAs. It's about what you would expect from a mild pale ale though.

The taste is well balanced with an initial fruity citrus flavor that slowly fades away to a slight bittering aftertaste. The bittering quickly fades to a dryness though.

The high effervescence qualities of this beer give it a soft smooth mouthfeel that goes down easy without any harshness on your palate.

I usually prefer hoppier IPAs to a regular pale ale but this is a very drinkable session beer that I will probably purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2009 12:47:17 | More by jxhowell

schoolboy

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

As part of my "when in Rome" series, I grabbed a six of these while I am here in Nashville. It is following close on the heals of a much superior Yazoo Hop Project, so it has a tough act to follow.

It is of course lighter than the hop project, but it still is a decent brew. It has a creamy taste and mouthfeel, and is a beer you could easily drink too much of. There is a somewhat funky odor to it but the taste makes up for it. Nashville has a good one here.

This has put me in the mood for tonight's entertainment, Allison Krauss and Bela Fleck at the Grand Ole Opry. Maybe they will have some to buy on tap ...

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 22:56:28 | More by schoolboy

CarlP2

Alabama

3.53/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A- Golden amber color, fluffy and chunky white head. The head dissipates pretty quickly.

S- Not much happening here. A little hoppy, a little sweet.

T- Some citrus and sweet tastes up front, followed by hops at the end. Pretty balanced, leans more toward hops. The hops used taste a little different from other APA's and IPA's I've tasted.

M- Medium body, clean, crisp and refreshing.

D- Because of the clean and crisp hops, I could drink it all day. It's not the best out there, but is pretty good and worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 02:05:47 | More by CarlP2

DoctorDog

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: 12 oz bottle into an nonic. Big thanks to "beveritt" for bringing this back from god knows where.

A- Quite hazy light copper. Pours with ~1/2 a finger of off-white head, which fades quickly into a thin smattering of islands. Poor head/retention. Minimal lacing.

S- Somewhat herbaceous hopiness. Slightly sweet notes, and hints of grainy/corn emerge as the beer settles and warms slightly.

T- A bit cidery, slightly tangy citrus-peel bitterness. Ok, but not quite coming together.

M- Moderate carbonation. Moderately light feel with a fair amount of hop oil slickness.

D- Decent. Not terribly interesting in smell or taste, but would be easy enough to mindlessly pound a few..

Future outlook: OK and drinkable, but nothing to crow about...and not available here....so no future outlook...

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2009 03:33:33 | More by DoctorDog

orbitalr0x

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours into my glass a hazy peach color with a solid two fingers of creamy white foam on top. Aromas of caramel and spice upfront that meander around with citric, floral and earthy hop tones. A bit too mellow.

First sip brings caramel and toasty, biscuity malt flavors upfront that move into spicy, citric hop flavors. Earthy flavors mix in and are a bit detracting. Finishes with lingering spiciness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth with good carbonation. Goes down easy and is refreshing. Overall, I found this to be a solid pale ale with good drinkability. I would grab a sixer if it was available locally. Thanks to kmpitz2 for the chance to sample it.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2009 01:39:06 | More by orbitalr0x

haddon

Kentucky

3.88/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- pours a dull golden color, almost honey. settles into a 1-finger head with decent lacing down the glass

S- sweet smell with malts, hops, floral that's a little heavy on the orange peel.

T- surprisingly smooth. taste like it smells.nice balance of malts and hops. sweet orange taste on the front with a mild bitter aftertaste. well balanced

M- nice balance. a little light on the carbonation but the balance of the malts and hops gives it a good balance

D- nice example of a pale ale. goes down very well and could drink this on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2009 00:07:38 | More by haddon

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy golden with little head, but what there is sticks around as a swirly cap and leaves some light lacing. Smells quite citrusy with some lemon and orange, and a slight graininess. Very little malt. Tastes quite crisp and citrusy as well. More lemon and orange and grain with little malt. Almost has the flavor of a hefewizen but with barley rather than wheat. Fairly light, a bit unusual for the style, and somewhat simple, but quite refreshing nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 05:20:36 | More by Georgiabeer

beveritt

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

From notes.

Presentation: Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a pint glass. Label shows a sun rising over a field of crops as an old truck drives by. Bottled in 3rd week of June by notches on the label.

Appearance: Pours with 2 fingers of light tan head. This settles slowly to about 1 finger of foam, leaving behind nice lacing. The beer itself is medium gold, leaning towards brown, and is perfectly clear. Some sediment on the bottle.

Smell: Ever so slightly sweet malt upfront with foral/soapy hops.

Taste: Bland, mildly sweet malt upfront. Soapy and faded hops. Mild bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Average carbonation level. Body is decent with a slick mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Yuck. Malt and hop profiles both leave a lot to be desired. Everything just tastes a little off and a little faded/musty. I'll pass.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2009 17:20:10 | More by beveritt

beer2day

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours orange with very little head and no retention. Very light carbonation present.

Nose is faintly sweet citrus. Pineapple more than grapefruit. Maybe even some strawberry. Nice.

From the nose, I was expecting more in the flavor profile. Some weak grapefruity hops present. Sweet in the finish. Decent, but just not there.

Feel is actually pretty good. Nice malt balance against the hops give the beer a very nice body.

Overall, a nice session drinker. Had this on tap before at the Sportsman's Grill (Hillsboro) on a 2-4-1 night and it went down quite well.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2009 02:38:00 | More by beer2day

jbro434

Switzerland

4/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the growler and fresh. Dark golden brown. Pours with little head that lingers for a while and leaves a bit of lacing. Citrus bursts, hops and tangy. Mouthfeel is tart and refreshing, lasts forever. Finishes with the same citrus and tangy flavor of grapefruit. Hops still present. Better fresh than in the bottle if you can get it.

Serving type: growler

06-26-2009 16:15:50 | More by jbro434