Game Day Beer Review: Green Room Pablo Beach American Pale Ale

(5.00% ABV) Pablo Beach was poured on draft at American Social in Fort Lauderdale, Florida into a much-too-cold glass that sapped the beer of most of its head, and likely a fair bit of its smell, as well.  

Because the beer's scent was virtually non-existent. We mean nothing; nothing at all.

It was interesting to taste, however.  Pablo Beach had a vaguely citrusy sweetness mellowed by a bread-like aftertaste, followed by just enough hoppiness in the finish to keep it interesting. We would describe this as very well-balanced, basic beer. A solid B from a small brewery up by north Florida way.

Game Day Beer Review: Moa Brewing American Pale Ale

Ed's Beer May Be Kiwi, But His Tatstes are Pure American

(5.50% ABV) Life is good as I'm sitting here in sunny San Fran watching the preliminary action for the America's Cup and enjoying some of New Zealand's Moa Pale Ale.  The brewer's flagship beer has an IPA feel, but it's just slightly milder with hints of citrus and sunshine. 

 

As I drink away, the wind carries some ocean cold over the bay and the youth teams whip by.  In the distance, the Italian entry, the Luna Rosa, goes full bore with it's motor entourage doing their best to keep pace.  These boats are 75 feet long and can move at an astonishing 45 knots as they rise up and literally fly across the bay.

 

Moa is a nice brew that I would surely try again.  But the brewery and its investors have global ambitions that according to news reports are running into a strong head wind.  Can Moa tack back in the right direction, and keep up with their lofty goals?  Maybe, but distinguishing themselves will be difficult, and as all the racers on the bay know, forcing it is no recipe for taking home the Cup.

Game Day Beer Review: Sam Adams New Albion American Pale Ale

Sam Adams recently paid homage to the beginnings of the American craft beer industry with the release of its New Albion Pale Ale.  New Albion was a famed California brewery begun by Jack McAuliffe in 1976 -- the dawn of the modern day craft beer movement.  To celebrate where we came from, Boston Brewing returned to the very beginning -- borrowing even the original label art for its latest beer.

Poured into a tulip glass at the home office on a recent work night.   New Albion appeared a goldish-orange with a thick white head that dissipated fairly quickly.

The beer smelled of mild grains and yeast. It was mildly fruity on first taste, with a mellow, floral finish.   It was clean and fairly well carbonated. 

As the first craft beer, New Albion was a long way from the extreme beers that have dominated the headlines in the beer world recently. Drinking this beverage in a world filled with extreme beers was like being harkened back to older and gentler times, when all someone wanted was a good, clean-tasting, well-made beer that didn't get in the way of the moment. New Albion succeeded then, and it does now, as well. B

Game Day Beer Review: Bayou Teche Brewery LA-31 Bière Pâle American Pale Ale

Drunk on a gloriously beautiful Thanksgiving Day in Northwest Florida. Sunny skies, a cool breeze and 70 degree sunshine deserve a national holiday in their own right, so it made the day doubly special.

There is little to report on the sight or smell of the beer as it was drunk directly from the bottle with the intriguing Louisiana logo. LA-31 Bière Pâle displayed an aggressive bitterness upfront, followed by a malty, bready finish. It was cool, crisp and refreshing, and a perfect match for the weather. The beer had a thinnish mouthfeel, and a steady hoppiness that lingered from first impression to the final exhale. The only down note was a slightly metallic aftertaste. B

Game Day Beer Review: Boothbay Craft Brewery 633 Pale Ale

(7.00% ABV)  633 Pale Ale poured a honey brown with no head. It was drunk from a clear plastic cup while sitting outdoors at a New England clambake during a fabulous afternoon spent on Cabbage Island, Maine.  The spectacular setting, and the delicious feast of lobsters and steamers could have marginally influenced our opinion here, but those are the kind of risks we take for you daily here at farlieonfootie in order to bring you the very best from the worlds of footie and craft beer.



A view of Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Before we get to the review, the story behind the beer is fairly interesting, as well: although the Boothbay Craft Brewery is a relatively small operation -- emphasis on the word small -- it has some rather big friends in the craft beer industry.  Sam Calagione, the founder of the Dogfish Head Brewery (as regular readers of this space know, Dogfish is one of our absolute favorite American breweries for its delicious beers and no-holds-barred approach to brewing) spent many of his formative summers in and around Boothbay Harbor, Maine.  Due to his love of the area, Sam repeatedly returns to the area on family vacations. 

Somewhere along the way, Sam got to know the founder of the local craft brewery in Boothbay, and has given him an active helping hand in getting the operation off the ground.  In fact, on a recent Friday in August when we visited the brewery, we witnessed Sam deep in conversation with the team at Boothbay, proving two things: 1) he's a loyal friend who's still helping out; and 2) some of Sam's advice must be working, because the beer is damned good.   Staying true to their local roots, the brewery's flagship beer is called 633 because those three numbers are the telephone prefix for Boothbay. 

633 had a nice floral smell on the nose.  On tasting, the beer started out a bit sweet with some beautiful floral notes, then evolved into something a bit stronger and hoppier in the middle, before fading into nice, mellow finish.

It was exceptionally well balanced, and dangerously sessionable for a 7% ABV pale ale.  Definitely try it -- if you can find it. A-

Game Day Beer Review: Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale

(4.7% ABV) Poured on draft into a pint glass, and sampled at a beer bar.  Flying Fish XPA arrived an orange-tinged gold color, with just the slightest of white heads. Active carbonation was evident from visual inspection of the glass, well before the beer ever touched my lips.

XPA had a mild smell, although a bit of citrus did come shining through.

The beer was a bit sour tasting right off the bat.  There was the strong taste of citrus in the middle, followed by  bready flavors at the very end.

It was refreshing, to be sure, but I'm not certain it's on point for the style.  For a beer that's supposed to be a pale ale, I'm getting much more of a mild Belgian White type of vibe....  B

Game Day Beer Review: Oskar Blues Brewery Dale's Pale Ale

Photo by Bernt Rostad on Flickr

Beer: Oskar Blues Brewery Dale's Pale Ale

Appearance: Strong orange – copper with a thick white head and impressive lacing.  Looks like an IPA.

Smell: Very hoppy, with noticeable hints of pine and a little citrus.  Smells like an IPA.

Taste: Prominent but not overpowering west coast style hops flavoring with restrained notes of citrus and pine and a nice malt overlay to balance things out.   Tastes like an IPA – a really good IPA.

Mouthfeel: Thick and substantive; but also smooth if that make sense.  Satisfying after one, but sessionable as well.

Overall: These wonderful cans seem to be almost replacing Sierra Nevada as the de facto Pale Ale, at least in the towns I frequent.  And with good reason – this is a big, bold hoppy pale ale but not overpowering like the stronger IPA’s.  Both flavorful and drinkable.  A+  

Game Day Beer Review: Stevens Point Brewery Point Cascade Pale Ale

Photo by soundfromwayout on Flickr

Beer: Stevens Point Brewery Point Cascade Pale Ale

Appearance: Surprisingly clear, light golden beer with very thin head and not much lacing.

Smell: I get some fruit/citrus overtones, but mostly yeast.   Again, surprising for this style.

Taste: The word that comes to mind is bland, perhaps the blandest pale ale I’ve ever had.  It is over carbonated and certainly crisp, but tastes more like a summer lager than a pale ale.

Mouthfeel: Very thin – soda water.

Overall: Huge disappointment from a brewery I respect.  I really like their marzen but this is just flat out poor.  Served in the environmentally favorable container –  a can –  that many craft breweries are moving to, so they do get props for that.  Otherwise, a big disappointment.  Maybe something decent on a hot summer day, but that’s about it:  C-

Game Day Beer Review: Short's Brewing Prolonged Enjoyment American Pale Ale

(3.50% ABV).  Poured on draft at Aerie, overlooking the beautiful Grand Traverse Resort, Prolonged Enjoyment appeared a crystal clear orange/yellow, with a thinnish white head that lasts. The beer's smell is all pine, all the time.  When it hits my mouth I'm getting citrus and pure pine needles.  It's pleasantly dry, very smooth, and eminently drinkable. B.