Euphoria Pale Ale - Ska Brewing Co.

mastodonj

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 12 oz can poured into a diconic.
This Pale Ale kicks the butt of many IPA's in terms of its nose and balanced bitterness.

Nice lacing; typical IPA/PA color of dark amber.

When you pour this into a glass, the fresh hops and citrus jump
out...as good as it gets.

The balanced malt and bitterness make for a very good ale.
There's some alcohol content sting at the end of the swallow.

Feel is fine; goes down easily but the sting noted above
makes it that much better.

This is going on my list of "when in doubt, get this" beers.

Serving type: can

10-05-2011 01:39:42 | More by mastodonj

WickedSluggy

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Very hoppy for a pale ale. Beautiful color. Served too cold at Dantes on Purgatory's summit. Wonderful stuff. Not an ipa but has the hops. Very good drinkability.
Obvious late-boil additions. Abv is not provided but seems pretty high for a pale ale.

Serving type: can

12-21-2009 19:16:31 | More by WickedSluggy

dostom

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A very good beer. i drink straight from can. If you like other ska beers you will really enjoy this pale ale. it is very hoppy just to warn you. i personally recommend this if you like hoppy beers. very flavorful and goes down easy. It is only around a few months a year so if you want it you will have to wait until the months of oct/nov

Serving type: can

11-09-2011 23:26:58 | More by dostom

StLThrash

Missouri

4.47/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another worthy effort from Ska. Very partial to Ska beers since my in-laws live in Durango, CO and I always try to hit up the brewery at least once when I visit.... so I've had most of their offerings. Very happy to have the chance to try Euphoria right here in the StL...

A - Orangeish, a bit cloudy. Pours with a hefty white frothy head. Left a lot of lacing.

S - An overly hopped pale ale. Lots of citrus and pine notes. Reminiscent of a good IPA.

T & M - Amazing. One of my new favorites. Not quite as hoppy as Modus Hoperandi, Ska's IPA, but still quite hoppy and bitter. Smooth and drinkable.

Overall - One of my new favorite beers. Too bad it's just a winter seasonal. I will be stocking up at my local liquor store.

Serving type: can

12-19-2011 21:57:36 | More by StLThrash

portia99

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz can received from sproser in the Artistic Label BIF. Thanks Shawn! Poured into a Bruery tulip.

A - Pours an ever-so-slightly hazy amber color with a small cream colored head that gives up quickly and falls to a collar and a few patches of foam on the surface.

S - Nice citrusy aroma. Some grapefruit, lemons, orangey aromas, with some lighter piney smells too. Just a touch of sweet malt in the background. Has a very fresh smell to it.

T - More piney in flavor than the aroma. Still lots of grapefruit contributing to the flavor as well. Fresh and hoppy - more bitter than I expected, but very crisp and clean bitterness.

M - On the light side. Very crisp feeling. Carbonation on the higher side and this works well on this beer - seems to enhance the bitterness and citrus aspects of the beer.

D - Highly drinkable pale ale. Can doesn't say anything about alcohol %, but I'm guessing in the 5.5-6% range. Very clean and full of hop flavor, without a real heavy bitterness. Very good pale ale in my opinion. Would definitely like to get some more of this.

Serving type: can

11-02-2009 01:25:40 | More by portia99

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Acquired from kiltdtxn, courtesy of the Nice Cans BIF so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep golden brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of floral hops, caramelized malts and fruity citrus.

T: The taste is very well-balanced and starts with a hearty malt character followed by sweet flavors of caramel and citrus. Then a strong but not over-powering hops presence comes in. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not too filling, decent kick, very good representation of style, this is an excellent sessionable beer with a lot of flavor and substance that make it worth drinking for a whole evening.

Serving type: can

06-10-2010 01:20:36 | More by TheManiacalOne

Megahertz

Missouri

4.38/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz can dated 15-September (!) into a Hoffman House chalice. Funny that "Ska's Winter Offering" is made now, but the best before date is 15-February, so I guess it's cool.

A - Pours a bright shade of amber, crystal clear, with a large, tightly packed tan head that lingers for some time. Carbonation appears brisk.

S - Fresh cut grass with a bright fruity note. Strong aroma.

T - Malt-forward start with a nice bready sweetness transitions to a moderate caramel middle with a hint of toasted bread. Carbonation is cleansing and not overdone. Good "hoppy green" flavor throughout, almost resiny, but quite clean. Finish is very dry with a spicey hop kick at the last possible second. Very nice, indeed.

M - Medium body with medium carbonation. Well done.

O - On the hoppy side of a pale ale, it has considerable melanoidin complexity and clean hop character while avoiding the citrusy C-hops. More of an IPA than a pale ale, but we're here to enjoy the liquid, not split hairs. Outstanding.

Serving type: can

09-20-2012 20:48:23 | More by Megahertz

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz can. No sign of any best by/canned date.

It pours a slightly hazy amber gold with a 2 finger head of foam.It looks like minimal bubble activity going on. A nice looker.

The smell is hoppy with goodly amounts of pine and some citrus grapefruit. I like the nose as it suggests a flavourful APA to follow.

The taste *is* flavourful but more balanced than I suspected from the smell. Or maybe I should say the hop presence is more subtle than the smell sugested. Not a whole lot of malt here; it peeks its head in various times during each sip but it is only for fleeting micro moments. The hops bring the flavour but they are not overpowering, which is pleasing to my palate.

If I wanted my ass kicked, I'd have picked up more of their Modus Hoperandi. This trip to CO, I wanted to explore new beers to me or I would have grabbed some more MH. For sure.

Body? Medium. Carbonation? Medium. Mouthfeel? Very nice and smooth.

Drinkability? I feel this is an excellent addition to the already impressive portfolio of beers from SKA. I don't see an abv for it but I reckson what ever it is..it doesn't matter. This is super easy to drink.

Edit: I found the best by date near the bottom of the can. BB June 26 2010.

Serving type: can

05-16-2010 17:19:55 | More by Bitterbill

allengarvin

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours out a clear walnut color with a moderate initial head that fades within a few seconds. The aroma is fantastic, with a substantial bouquet of resinous, grassy hops. A delight to sniff. High bitterness and a lot of piney hop flavor start the taste, but there's a solid malt backbone to provide balance. Neutral, clean yeast profile. Lingeringly dry finish.

The best Ska beer I've had!

Serving type: can

02-13-2011 16:00:51 | More by allengarvin

chugalug06

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Amber/Orange in color with "creepy" looking foamy head. Lacing exists, but only in spurts, not elegant looking, at all.

S - Grapefruit, flowery. Smells like an great Pale.

T - Very bitter and aggressive for only 6.1% ABV. I find it great to drink when I'm outside, but seeing as I'm currently inside reviewing this beer it tastes much different... Not nearly as good as it is on the slopes or after shoveling snow... Disappointing taste indoors in a calm state. However amazing when you're being active. Nice work SKA, it makes me want to go for a run then drink another :)

M - Overly carbonated. Dry and aggressively roasted which makes it hard to slam.

D - I could and would definitely drink a sixer of these in a sitting. A very good brew.

Drank out of glass. Typically, I drink it from the can, as a glass is not available. Love it either during the day or when I've been recently active... Sitting down stagnant enjoyment is not as high. A must drink and also a must share.

Cheers!

Serving type: can

03-28-2011 02:48:46 | More by chugalug06

mryuk

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a nice amber with 1.5 fingers a good head.

smell is strong hops. very pin and earthy.

taste is lots of bitter but is still smooth. hops are definitely there and it has a nice bitter finish.

mouth is medium bodied with good carbonation.

lots of fun to drink these ska beers out of the can. not as great as the IPA since this is essentially the same thing just toned down. I have always been disappointed this is a winter (?) beer since it would be great while mowing the lawn in the summer heat. Good beer though.

Serving type: can

02-26-2011 23:51:29 | More by mryuk

climax

Kansas

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours nice and creamy from the can, the head is especially soft and smooth. It's a copper color with quite a bit of sediment floating around the glass. Head retention and lacing are very good.

There's not too much aromatic intensity fuming from the beer, but a crisp assertive hop character is certainly present. Grapefruit, mint, and grass are the most obvious flavors. The malt is subtle, with fleeting whiffs of oats and caramel.

Intensity is boosted that extra notch in the taste, which is greatly appreciated because it has excellent flavor. At first sip, sharp grapefruit and resiny cannabis flavors strike the taste buds. There's not too much sweetness coming from the malt, just a bit of caramel, yet more sugary citrus and bubblegum flavors from the hop side of things help to even things out. The toasty backbone of the beer looms in the shadows, but is always present. It's not balanced 50/50 but, but there's enough malt intensity to hold a candle to that bold complex hop character.

The feel is nice and resiny, and the body on the medium side. Carbonation is very crisp, and it all finishes dry. So easy to drink. This beer sure has a load of flavor, not at all skimp on the hops either, satisfying for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 18:44:34 | More by climax

emmasdad

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This one first showed up with the holiday beers, and stuck around for quite a while out here. I was initially very much in love with this one, drinking approximately a 6 pack or so a week. Eventually, my consumption of it waned, as the somewhat one-dimensional hoppiness lost its charm for me. I look forward to next winter (in a manner of speaking) to seeing if my initial love of this one returns. Overall, a nice hoppy pale ale, and a nice complement to the Euphoria.

p.s. although my interest in this one waned earlier this year, I am now on my second six pack of the season, and cannot get enough of how good and drinkable this one is. My review is being adjusted upwards.

Serving type: can

06-01-2010 22:17:09 | More by emmasdad

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ferric oxide orange with a pillowy and bubbly crown of light brown sugar colored foam that filled almost half the pint glass on the pour. Generous sheets of BB-shot lace are beginning to appear, which makes the score a cinch to choose.

The aroma is impressively hoppy, so this can must be fresh. That makes perfect sense since this is a winter release. Various sources say that loads of Goldings hops are used, but it smells like something much more tropical fruity is hogging the olfactory spotlight. Amarillo is possible and Simcoe is probable.

Euphoria Pale is damn good beer, so it's strange that Ska doesn't even mention it on their website. I have only had a couple of mouthfuls and it's obvious that several cans should have made their way into my cart rather than just this one. Time for distribution to Iowa rather than stopping at the Missouri River.

The malts tastes toasted and caramel-like with minimal earthiness. Again, the hops (which are still roughing up the tongue at this point) taste like a mixture of American and English varieties. Citric and spicy and slightly herbal... and dee-licious. Wonderful sweet-bitter balance too.

The mouthfeel is more APA-like than IPA-like. Another oddity is that SBC calls this brew an APA on the can, but an IPA in their press releases. It definitely feels more like the smaller style in the mouth. No problems with the bubbles at all.

Ska's Euphoria may not be as widely known or as highly regarded as another Colorado canned pale ale (Oskar Blues Dale's), but it's equally as good and may even be slightly better. A true head-to-head would settle the score(s). It seems like a no-brainer that both of these breweries should be distributing their wares to the Hawkeye State.

Serving type: can

12-03-2010 13:55:03 | More by BuckeyeNation

DoppleJock

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

01/19/2010
Poured 12 oz. can into pint glass.

A: Poured a clean, copper/amber with 2-inch yellow/off-white head. Nice retention.

S: Super hoppy w/ floral esters and some grassy notes.

T: Starts with a semi-bitter hop taste with some citrus (grapefruit?) highlights. Not too shabby!

M: Super fresh and clean. Actually felt great from a cold can.

D: Wouldn't have expected something this decent from a can that came in a sampler pack. Easy choice for a party beer.

Serving type: can

01-20-2010 01:14:02 | More by DoppleJock

eclaycamp

Kansas

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce can. Pours a bright copper amber with some lively carbonation and a nice fizzy, almost frothy, head. Aroma is mostly malts with some citrus in the background. Carbonation is pretty hefty for this style, it's quite fizzy. Some bitterness but not as much as you would expect for the style. Taste is pretty dang solid. Hefty malt greets you first, with brown sugar and caramel coating the tongue. Earthy hops come bursting forward followed by sour grapefruit leading the way into a nice and spicy, almost black pepper finish. This is one fantastic pale ale. Yet another solid offering from Ska.

Serving type: can

10-14-2010 02:49:20 | More by eclaycamp

GregSVT

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz can into a pint glass

A: Pours a dark amber with a big white head that fades to a small layer and leaves a ton of sticky lacing on the glass.

S: The nose is full of tropical fruits, pine, and a nice malty base. Smells sweet yet you can tell it's going to be a bit bitter.

T: The taste is slight tropical fruits with a piney bitter finish. There's a sweetness from the malt in there as well.

M: The feel is creamy and yet crisp and medium bodied.

D: Very tasty Pale Ale and I will be having more of these. Ska seems to know their hops and this is seems to be a slightly maltier version of Modus Hoperandi. The ABV doesn't seem to be too big...I'd guess around 6%.

Nice Pale Ale and one I will be picking up many times over the winter for my hop fix.

Serving type: can

11-16-2010 03:35:16 | More by GregSVT

ArrogantB

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle $5 from Total Beverage. Nice heavy orange color, transparent, bubbly, and has a foamy head. It has a nice hoppy smell, floral, pine, good. The flavor is a seriously hoppy pale ale. the smell made me think it might taste like an IPA but it is more like a hoppy pale ale. This was a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2009 02:51:56 | More by ArrogantB

Tolnik

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this brown beer into a pint glass. The aroma of a sweet malt with caramel and a wood tone greats the nose through the aroma. The taste of the beer is that of caramel, malt and roastyness greats the palate. Yet another wonderful beer by Ska Brewery!

Serving type: can

10-21-2009 05:58:36 | More by Tolnik

billab914

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz can into my Southern Tier tulip glass. Pours a dark copper color with a one finger white head that left good lacing on the glass.

Aroma has citrus hops with some pine and some sweet bready malt flavors as well. Taste has a nice balance of sweet bready and caramely malts with the citrus and grapefruit hop flavors. The hops also give it a mild bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is very good, I could drink several of these easy.

overall I found this to be a very easy drinking well balanced beer. It had some great citrus flavors reminiscent of an IPA but also a decent amount of sweet caramely malt flavor to balance it out. Very good pale ale in my opinion.

Serving type: can

12-31-2009 02:12:03 | More by billab914

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pour - clean, clear dark amber, sort of chestnut in color with a nice thick head on top. Looks absolutely gorgeous after being freed from it's aluminum prison after many months.

Aroma - citrusy hops, lots of lemon aroma along with some spicy or astringent notes. Some powdered sugar along with a nice sweet caramel smell. After thing is in perfect order, just as it was when it went into the can quite some time ago.

Taste - a big sip and a nice smack of bitter, yet spicy and very citrusy, hops coat the tongue. This is tangy and finishes with a sort of peppery flavor. A decent amount of malt back things up and the dryness of my tongue keeps plunging my face back into the glass. Very balanced, no massive hop bomb nor has it become in anyway a malt bomb from its time in the can. If this was in a bottle I doubt I could say the same thing.

Overall - great brew from the folks at Ska. It may be a winter offering but its definitely doing the job on an 80 degree night here in New England. This is a lot different than Ska's IPA as its got a much spicier hop profile. I think of this one as more of an English-style IPA with a little more assertive hoppiness. Anyway you look at it you'll be happy once its in a glass and headed towards your mouth.

Would I buy more of it? - definitely. This was a rare treat and I'd like to thank my friend Tim in Arizona for hooking me up! Cheers Tim!

Serving type: can

07-22-2010 01:59:33 | More by indiapaleale

emerge077

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

BB: 3/13/10

Nice looking APA, reddish orange, stiff foam, plenty of spindly lacing.

Dank hop aroma, floral, grass clippings, dominant herbal character.

Toasty malt and caramel, puffed wheat/cereal grains, and some moderate hop bitterness, earthy and aspirin like. Not quite as nice as the nose was. Still its light and refreshing, easy to put back. Not sure why this is a winter offering, sems better suited to warmer weather. Glad I got to try this as part of a gift pack.

2010: fresh can at Four Moon. Much more citrus and grapefruit in the nose and flavor. Much better than I remember, a nice fall/winter hop fix for hopheads.

Serving type: can

11-17-2010 23:26:05 | More by emerge077

htomsirveaux

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. can tried 25 Apr 2010.

Okay according the the price tag and double checking the receipt this was $3.99 for a single at Liquor Mart. Again, WTF is up, Liquor Mart!? Seriously.

Served in a Twisted Pine shaker pint. Large light brown head. LIghtly carbonated. Clear brownish orange color. Aroma of citrus and hay. Fresh green juicy in flavor. Some citrus. Mildly bitter. Lightly bitter finish in the back of the mouth. Aftertaste is bittersweeet. Somewhat sticky mouthfeel.

Not spectacular but decent. Sure as heck would not pay $3.99 for a can again though.

Serving type: can

05-28-2010 03:43:58 | More by htomsirveaux

dbossman

Nebraska

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Brownish hue with tints of orange and ruby red; a huge, steady head and fantastic lacing

S: Wow, a weird hoppy funk: body odor? celery? asparagus? onion? and pine--I like it--also a bit of the typical citrus and grainy aromas

T: Not nearly as hoppy as aromas indicate but still pleasant pine and tea leaves (with subtle onion) bitterness and a bit of a grainy malt backbone

F: A bit carbonated and thin at the end though it does get better as it warms

D: A decent hoppy pale ale from Ska

Serving type: can

01-03-2011 17:19:44 | More by dbossman

StoneTSR

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

APPEARANCE: The Euphoria pours a clear, brown copper. The head is white and foamy with some decent retention. Scattered bubbles race from bottom to top creating a lively appearance for Ska's blue canned offering. Strong lacing.

SMELL: A big malty aroma is cut by some big, piney hops. This smells like a classic West Coast IPA, but it isn't, so we'll see how the nose translates to the palate.

TASTE: OK, so the taste is that of a classic West Coast IPA as well, but maybe with more pine for the winter months. Malt up front, hops in the back, with plenty of pine, grapefruit and other citrus flavors throughout. A touch of grassiness finishes each sip in a beautifully bitter way.

This is an exceptionally balanced beer. In some well balanced beers it seems as though the hops and malt are fighting for every drinker's attention. In this beer it seems more like they are in a happy, loving, married and healthy relationship where they both share the same desire to pleas the drinker's taste buds. Also, an ever so faint hint of licorice kicks in at the end of each sip.

MOUTHFEEL: A little on the oily side, but with just enough tickle to prevent it from being too oily. The finish is on the dry side although early in each sip it seems sweet.

OVERALL: This is a ridiculously easy beer to drink. It works well as a late-fall/early-winter IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 10:18:43 | More by StoneTSR