Pollenator - Long Trail Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.73/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Cole's. Easy mouthfeel, honeyish yet not too sweet, though a spoonful of sugar. Not much taste. Not much to look at, like some honey boiled in a glass. minimal hops. Litle carbonation. Nothing objectionable, and there is market for this garden variety. Here is a beer to throw a slice of orange in.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2011 12:54:48 | More by northyorksammy

oberon

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I drank this alot living in Vermont and foud it very easy ti drink.Was nice honey/orange color with decent well retained head,honey very obviouse in the nose.Very fresh tasting beer very springtime,very refreshing.Really liked drinking that along with Magic Hat-Fat Angel while up there.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2003 10:53:16 | More by oberon

metter98

New York

3.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: The beer is clear golden yellow in color and has a light to moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that quickly died down and left some lacing on the surface and a ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of floral hops in the nose along with some hints of grain.
T: The initial taste has flavors of pale malts and hints of sweetness with a light amount of bitterness; hints of spicy hops are present in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and somewhat clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink but nothing really stands out in the taste as being exciting.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 00:36:34 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep gold color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is faint but contains light caramelized malts, citrus, honey and some hops.

T: The taste is nicely balanced with sweet flavors of citrus, honey and caramel. Then there's a mild hops bitterness that comes in and although it's a little weak for the style; it works well for this beer. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, this is a nice sessionable beer with flavor and substance making it worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 20:24:39 | More by TheManiacalOne

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a single at Euro Market in Queens. I wasn't sure what to expect, but most honey beers come off as sweet, bland blonde ales. This has a legitimate hops character with a mild honey character. There's a peppery finish and an herbal citrus (reminds me of Cascade hops) bite similar to Summit Extra Pale Ale, but there's also that light honey sweetness and a creamy, toasty malt element. Cool summer beer, check it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 01:28:50 | More by tempest

glid02

Georgia

3.3/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by gford217 - much obliged!

Pours a clear golden-copper color with a half-finger white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells similar to a braggot - grainy malts with somewhat herbal notes and a bit of sweetness that I attribute to honey judging by the bear riding the bee.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Rustic pale malt flavors up front with hints of earthiness and a sweetness that comes elsewhere than the malt. Ending is mildy crisp.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a solid thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I finished my glass alright but I'm not sure I'd like another.

Overall this really did remind me of a braggot, although I have to warn that I've had a very small amount of them. Maybe worth a shot for the novelty however I wouldn't seek it out by any stretch.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2009 03:19:15 | More by glid02

beerthulhu

New Jersey

2.58/5  rDev -25%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: A pristine clarity of pale orange color has a spacious and slow rising effervesce within. A bubbly and frothy ivory colored head retains moderately while leaving a thin speckled spot of lacing on the vessel.

S: Damp pale grains, fresh sunflower, shrubbery hops, with a pinch of dried stale honey malt and pale oranges bring a flowery sense to the aroma.

T: First impression was a bit watery, things happen to thicken up a bit on subsequent sips. Damp pale grains, musky sunflowers brings a moldy, flowery hop flavor as with the nose, but again doesn’t mean its tasty. The flavor and body seems thin, with pale oranges, dried honeymalt that wimpers on the swallow with a watery finish.

M: holds a bit more substance then the flavor delivers, slippery syrupy malt base with some sour orange flower hop fade off the tongue. Very low carbonation factor fails to bring the zip and snap to the palate.

O: Maybe this was a bad bottle. Overall lacks crispness with a sour orange and dried honey malt flavor that is thin and watery. The hops are a bit strange, weeds and wildflowers and not one I would drink as a summer ale or one I could recommend per style. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 22:27:14 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

3.64/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a light brass hue with a two finger frothy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured soft doughy malts and a light herbal hop.

The taste consisted of clean grainy malt, a touch if honey and a crisp herbal bitterness.

The mouthfeel was light and clean.

Overall a tasty, quaffable spring beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2013 23:43:55 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After those light beers, I am ready for a beer, bottle have to go with this one since I don't have any CANs on deck.

From the bottle: "As days grow longer & warmer, we celebrate the seasonal transition with our spring offering, Pollenator. Pollenator features a medium amber body balanced with a modest amount of Willamette hops. This spring ale is highly drinkable, flavorful and finishes clean and crisp. Enjoy!"

My pour garnered two solid fingers of off-white head with great retention. Color was a deep golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a very grassy quality underlain with a honey-like sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium and it had a grassy, earthy taste on the tongue which was kind of unexpected and quite welcome. Finish was also grassy initially and then giving over to a pleasant honey sweetness on the extreme finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 18:51:30 | More by woodychandler

Brad007

Vermont

3.73/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

20th Anniversary release. I've never even had this beer.

Pours a dark golden color with a one-finger head into my fluted Piraat goblet.

Aroma is full of honey, sweet malt and very mild hops. Not bad so far.

Taste is sweet with honey, sweet bready malt and very mild hops. Simple. Easy to drink.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering bitterness, honey and sweet malt. Not bad but a bit harsh.

A classic from Long Trail. I'm not sure I'd buy it again but it's tolerable enough to drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 04:32:12 | More by Brad007

gford217

Georgia

3.28/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of VanillaMike.

Pours a clear golden amber with a short-lived white head that doesn't leave many remnants behind.

The aroma is lighted toasted caramel with some lemon zest and honey. It's not the most striking nose.

The taste isn't far off from the aroma with the light malts underpinning a nondescript sweetness that might have some honey in there. The hops are present but pretty muted.

The mouthfeel is light bodied and clean in the finish with decent carbonation.

This is a fairly refreshing beer, but there's not much complexity in it and the body isn't quite up to snuff. Not one I would seek out.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 03:09:09 | More by gford217

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 8/26/09. Bottle. Pours a clear light orange-yellow with a small white head. Aroma of honey and toasted and crackery malt. Flavor of the same crackery, toasted malt with some fruity sweetness in the finish. Overall, it's just ok, a little sweet, although better than its 2.79 average would suggest.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2009 01:28:32 | More by LilBeerDoctor

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Got this average beer for an average price of 1.00 for the single.

A - Carbonation throughout making a 1/2 inch of head that pulls back to a sticky lace ring. Color is a very dark orange yellow color kind of like honey.
S - Dry honey like smell with sweet malts and a touch of grains. Smells light with little to no hops on the nose.
T - Dry honey like flavor layered with a metallic twang of grainy bitterness. Sweeter malts fill in the finish making it somewhat enjoyable. Could use more balance.
M - Light to medium. Not bad.
Overall for a dollar it's either hit or miss and I believe I got my moneys worth. An easy drinking beer with somewhat interesting flavor. Maybe could use more honey like malts to balance out the grainy bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 22:34:00 | More by DrDemento456

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to edbeer for sharing this one. 22oz. bottle served in my Allagash tulip. Poured a golden-orange with a thin skim and a cluster of bubbles around the perimeter of the bowl. Some spots of lacing, but no legs. Nose reveals honey and a grassy character. Taste is lemony, wheaty and grassy. Mouthfeel is light bodied and mildly effervescent with a clean finish. A pleasant, easy-drinking lawnmower beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 00:17:36 | More by Jwale73

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a deep golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, a touch of hops. Taste is also mild, some malts, lightly hopped for the style, mellow flavor. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a mediocre beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 14:19:19 | More by tone77

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a crystal clear medium golden yellow in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a half finger tall white head that reduces to a large patch of extremely thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer (which is centered) and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate lacing is observed.

S: Moderate aromas of floral hops along with lighter notes of some pale malts and grains.

T: The flavor starts out with pale malts and some light amount of honey sweetness. There is a light amount of bitterness that seems to be contributed by a combination of floral and spicy hops.

M: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Clean.

O: This beer is very easy to drink, enjoyable, and quite sessionable. While the beer is not amazing, it is very drinkable and with the lower ABV it is definitely a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 20:00:06 | More by dbrauneis

ngeunit1

California

3.68/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a clear golden-copepr color with a finger of frothy white head atop. The head fades down to a thin layer leaving behind some lacing on the glass.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet caramel malts and honey. There is also a bit of citrus hops in the background that come through.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet caramel malts and some honey sweetness. Through the middle, a bit of hops and some deeper malt comes through. The finish is a mix of sweet malt and honey that linger.

M - Medium bodied with moderate-low carbonation. Feels fairly smooth, but a touch empty. The finish has some honey sweetness that lingers.

D - Very drinkable. Could have used a bit more punch and comes off a bit empty. It does not feel watery or thin though.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 20:46:23 | More by ngeunit1

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Long Trail- Pollenator

A- Light yellow with a huge chunky sea foam head. Thick lacing down the glass.
S- Light touch of honey and lemon with a light sweet buttery grainy malt and light citrus.
T- Light sweet honey touched buttery grainy malt with an even lighter lemon and orange citrus hop body. Sweet honey iced tea flavor in the end.
M- Very light and sweet with a slick buttery feel and a light crisp citrusy finish.

Overall- very light but crisp and easily drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2009 00:24:59 | More by NJpadreFan

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.48/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a bright, crystal-clear, honey-yellow coloring with only a sparse, filmy coating of head and a decent cling along the glass. Aromas are honey sweet, slightly toasted grains, and a subtle hopping. Flavors are heavily roasted, with a slight peppering at the end of the profile. Honey sweet backbone with a tangy, spicy hop presence that cleans the palate, and a citrus blend of lemon and tangerine throughout. The beer is light and bubbly in mouth, leaving a slightly filmy finish. Sweet and peppery aftertaste is like a kick of lemon pepper all over the palate. Decent beer, and very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 22:36:31 | More by GarthDanielson

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Out of a 20th Anniversary bomber this beer was honey/amber color. The two finger head retained fairly well and left lacing in nice bands. The aroma was sweet, full of honey with some floral hops notes tucked in there as well. The flavors were similar with lots of honey, bready and biscuit-like malt, floral hops and a little caramel malt. The finish was crisp and just a touch bitter. Totally spring-ish and well named. The mouthfeel was good, the body medium and the carbonation crisp.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 14:22:00 | More by thekevlarkid

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear gold with a large white head. Consistent, sparse retention. Smells like herbal hop and honey.

Tastes like it smells. Light grain and honey with a summer afternoon feel.

This is the anti big beer. It's good yet humble and simple, very sessionable, and $3 for a 22oz.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2009 18:32:26 | More by donkeyrunner

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle stamped 012312. Sampled on March 23, 2012. It pours golden yellow with moderate carbonation leading up to a full white head that lingers. The aroma is pelasntly balanced with roasted barley malts talking up the more shy crisp hoppy character in the background. The body is light but not thin. The taste is refreshing with a fine balance opf malts and clean hops. Moderate bitterness. This is the epitome of a spring pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 21:01:59 | More by puboflyons

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Golden/copper body. Big, rocky, frothy white head. A honey beer where you can smell the honey. Along with a good dose of malt, and some hops. Good mouthful of malt rounded off nicely by the honey flavor. Little apparent hop flavor, but in this case that's alright. Slight metalic aftertaste. Maybe we do need more hops. Like Geary's, this is another not too wimpy summer seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2002 17:08:53 | More by RonfromJersey

alleykatking

Indiana

3.65/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Split this bottle with my buddy Josh after a short tattoo session on me. Got in a trade with VanillaMike. Thanks for everything once again Mike! 22oz bottle. Review from notes.

A- Pours a clear light copper/deep golden yellow color. 1 finger white head dies rather quickly leaving some lacing on the sides of the glass.

S- I have to agree with the people who say it has a semi sweet nose to it. Grainy malts with a light earthy tone to it. The sweetness sneaks up in the back end of this beer with the malts and maybe honey or something else.

T- This pretty much tastes like how it smells. Light earthy tone to this with some pale malts in there. There is a sweetness on the ending of this beer that does come from somewhere other than the caramel malts that I taste in other beers. Think this really was brewed with honey.

M- Lighter mouthfeel. Carbonation is there and does a nice job with the beer. Crisp and clean in the mouth and in the after taste. Leaves sweet malts in the mouth after the sip is gone from the palate.

D- This is a pretty drinkable beer. I was glad I got to try this one. Would love to maybe have another time.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 18:20:46 | More by alleykatking

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

on tap at the dublin house in red bank

Pours a hazed golden color with some darker burnt orange tones. A thinner layer of white head retains with film, leaving some spots of lacing.

A pretty faint, weak scent with some lemon grass and peel, a touch of herbal hops, and a bit of sweet metal.

Soft hop profile coupled with grassy lemon sweetness. Some odd metallic flavors with a bit of peppery spice and floral hops. Cracker-like malts with another bit of homogenized fruit sweetness, finishes a bit dry.

Lighter medium body, higher carbonation...I don't know about this one. Long Trail can be hit or miss, and I ordered this in an attempt to avoid the macro offerings, but this was just as bad. Poor flavor, weak nose, and not something I'd want again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2011 21:03:52 | More by xnicknj