Pale Ale Challenge (Sierra Nevada, Victory, Widmer, Keith's)

Pale Ale Challenge, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Oh what to do on a rainy Wednesday afternoon... I know, I'll blind taste four pale ales (two I know I like and two newbies).
#1- pale golden in color, nice head and retention...nice nose of bread and spice and fruit.... flavors of grain, spice and resiny hops.... mouth was medium in body with very active carbonation....nice bitter finish
#2- pale golden in color, better head than #1... similar nose with citrus added in for good measure...flavors mirrored the nose with a bready base and resin/citrus hops over top... rich feel, little bit more creamy than #1... clean long finish highlighting the complex hop flavors
#3- amber brown (this is a pale ale?), nice sticky head, similar nose to #2.... flavors were similar as well but the malt was more pronounced, this made for a fuller richer flavor.... feel was medium in body with good carbonation.... Finish was slightly sweeter than #1 and #2
#4- pale golden color, decent head (didn't last long)... Grain and corn on the nose, no real hops found?!.... Muted, sweet bread/malt with an adjunct overlay that I couldn't taste past....slick and somewhat still in the mouth...finish was yucky (technical beer term)
So, what did I like best?
(in order favorite to least favorite)
#2 Victory Headwaters Pale Ale
#3 Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale
#1 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
#4 Alexander Keith's Nova Scotia Style Pale Ale

It was no surprise to me that my favorite was the Victory, I'm a big fan. The Widmer was a surprise though, it was a close call between it and the Sierra. In the end I went with the denser, fuller Widmer (although I would be happy with either). I had never tried the Keith's before... I doubt I will ever again.
CHEERS!
-Mitch

Beer 365 #222 Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale

Beer 365 #222, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #222 Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale
Pours a hazy amber color with long lasting sticky white head.Blend of citrus and floral hops up front on the nose with minimal malt showing. Body is medium in weight with subtle effervescence. In contrast to the nose, the malt seems to take the lead on the palate for a second or two before the grassy, piney, citrus hops kick in. Finish in mild and pleasant. (5% ABV)

Beer 365 #201 Harpoon UFO Pale Ale

Beer 365 #201, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365 #201 Harpoon UFO Pale Ale
Pours a cloudy (the U and F of UFO stands for unfiltered) golden/amber color. The nose is faint with wisps of grassy hops. The mouthfeel is mid weight with ordinary carbonation. Well balanced with mild hops resting upon slight malt. Not a bad beer, just nothing to write home about. (5.3% ABV)

Super Bowl

Once again the “Big Game" is upon us. It is a time to gather with friends and family, fire up the big screen, and root for your favorite pigskin professionals. Of course no Super Bowl gathering would be complete without the necessary football fare. From light snacks to wicked wings to super sub-sandwiches, we all know that the food is as important as the game itself. But what about the frisky fluids to wash down all that glorious grub? Wine? Whiskey? Water? Nah… nothing says “Super Bowl Sunday” like a cold brewski. Now the real difficult decision begins; which beer to choose from the multitude of beers available. The Super Bowl is an American institution, so I suggest offering a selection of American beers. For snack food I prefer lightly hopped amber ales such as Rogue’s American Amber Ale. This brew has more forward flavors and will pair nicely with everything from chips and dip to zesty potato skins. If you want your mile high grinder to be the star of the show, then I suggest a beer with a less aggressive flavor profile. Sierra Nevada’s Kellerweis would be perfect. Its delicate flavors will allow the savory sub to shine through. If you have a passion for fiery hot wings or chili, then I suggest a porter such as Stone’s Smoked Porter Ale would be a great choice. With great food and great beer it is sure to be a great game, no matter which team wins. to help control the heat. For an all around crowd pleaser that will pair well with just about anything, you can’t go wrong with a Pale Ale. Berkshire Brewing’s mildly hopped Steel Rail Pale Ale would be a great choice. With great food and great beer it is sure to be a great game, no matter which team wins.

Beer 365 #180 Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale

Beer 365 #180, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #180 Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale
Nice gold/amber color with sticky off white head. Nose is all hopped up, mostly pine with some citrus. Mouth is light and nimble with crisp carbonation. Dry, bitter hops right upfront, no real noticeable malt, hoppy dry, finish. (6.1% ABV)

Beer 365 #179 Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop Ale

Beer 365 #179, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #179 Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop Ale
Pours a darker amber with off white head. Nose has mild spicy hops, some citrus, and a touch of mellow malt. The mouth is rich in feel with balancing bubbles. The flavor is very well balanced between the hops and the malt. Don't get me wrong though, the hops are the focal point and stars of this beverage. Very Nice! (6.2% ABV)

Beer 365 #165 Switchback Pale Ale

Beer 365 #165, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365 #165 Switchback Pale Ale
Pours a slightly hazy amber orange with sticky white head. Fresh, clean citrus on the nose. The body is light with crisp carbonation. Very user friendly flavors of slightly sweet malt with zippy citrus hops. (5% ABV)

Beer 365 #162 Stone Pale Ale

Beer 365 #162, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #162 Stone Pale Ale
Pours a ruby amber color with thin dirty white head. The nose was more malt than hop. The body was mid-weight with adequate carbonation. The flavor profile was more malt driven than what I expected. Nice bisquity notes with subdued pine resin hops. Finish is clean. (5.4% ABV)

Beer 365 #154 Geary's Pale Ale

Beer 365 #154, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365 #154 Geary's Pale Ale
Pours a dirty burnt orange with white head. The nose is slightly sweet, malt, some citrus. The mouth is light to medium with crisp effervescence. Flavor starts with crisp citrus notes then flows straight to leafy hop bitterness that turns metallic on the finish. (4.5% ABV)

Beer 365 #143 Otter Creek Pale Ale

Beer 365 #143, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365 #143 Otter Creek Pale Ale
Pours a a slightly hazy copper/orange with a thinning dirty white head. Mild nose of fruity/citrus hops with a meek malt presence. Medium bodied with crisp effervescence. Flavors are a little disjointed... a slight soapiness with glimpses of pineapple and citrus/banana fruit, strong metallic bitterness moves in quickly and over stays it's welcome. Stale wet cardboard finish. (4.6% ABV)

Beer 365 #122 Boulder Hazed and Infused

Beer 365 #122, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #122 Boulder Hazed and Infused

Pours a slightly hazy copper/gold with ample off white head. Nice floral hops on the nose, piney, citrus, pale malt notes as well. Nice medium bodied feel with good spritz. The hops are up front, grapefruit, some pine, solid malt on the backside, slight bitterness on the finish. Nice, easy to drink pale ale. (4.8% ABV)

Beer 365 #105 Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale Ale

Beer 365 #105, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365 #105 Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale Ale
Pours a golden orange color with nice white head. Signature Lagunitas nose, dense, sappy piny hops with hints of citrus. Medium bodied feel with lively effervescence. Very complex hoppy flavors, piny, citrusy. Nice malt sweetness sneaks in near the dry hop finish. Very, very drinkable! (6.4% ABV)

Beer 365 #75 River Horse Hop Hazard Pale Ale

Beer 365 #75, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #75 River Horse Hop Hazard Pale Ale
Pours a honey golden color with tan head.
Clean faint nose of banana with hints of nothing else. Light and slight in the mouth. Really light flavors with the hops dominant near the back of the palette.
If I was at a party, opened this and drank it without thinking much, I would enjoy it. (5.5% ABV)

Beer 365 #64 Brooklyn Pennant Ale '55

Beer 365 #64, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- Brooklyn Pennant Ale '55
Pours a burnt orange with thin tan head. Fruity sweet nose, slightly sour and medicinal. Sour fruit flavors, awkward hops abruptly appear in the finish. Not a fan. (5% ABV)

Beer 365 #61 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Beer 365 #61, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #61 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
What can I say about this beer that hasn't been said before. I think this is the best large production Pale Ale period! Pours a nice rich golden color although I often drink this beer from the bottle. Nice clean nose of malt and hops, with the fruit from the hops stealing the spotlight. Great well balanced "crowd pleasing" flavors, just enough malt to counter the citrus hops. Very easy to drink. (5.6 ABV)

Beer 365- #49 DFH Shelter Pale Ale

Beer 365- #49, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #49 Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale
Pours a nice copper color with thin white head. Some citrus in the subtle, faint nose. Interesting sweet malts paired with present but mild hops. Not as balanced as I would like. Drinkable but not my favorite PA, a bit disappointing for DFH. (5% ABV)

Beer 365 44/365 Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

Beer 365 44/365, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #44 Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale
Nice copper color with thick creamy off white head. Nice hoppy nose, pine/citrus with hints of malt peeking through. Awesome balance of semi-sweet caramel malt and spicy dry hops. Great lingering bitter finish. Very drinkable. (6.7% ABV)

Beer 365 40/365 Oskar Blues Dale's Pale

Beer 365 40/365, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #40 Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
I really wanted to like this ale. I love the fact that Oskar Blues cans instead of bottling. Since I didn't care for their Old Chub I thought perhaps I could support them by enjoying this beer. Pours a dark rusty amber color with thick white head that quickly disappears. Hints of citrus buried in sweet malt on the nose. Not much in the way of fruit on the palate, just syrupy sweet malt quickly followed by over the top metallic hppiness. I have another in the fridge, perhaps my taste buds were off, I'll try another and report back. (6.5% ABV)

Beer 365 29/365 Rogue American Amber Ale

Beer 365 29/365, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- #29 Rogue American Amber Ale
Slightly hazy amber color, Nice clean nose of fruit, light in the mouth with good balance between fruit and hops flavor. Nice quencher bitter finish. Quite drinkable. (5.6%)

Beer 365 26/365 Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale

Beer 365 26/365, originally uploaded by mitchancona.

Beer 365- Beer #26 Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale

Enjoyed this pale ale while at my Mom's this past Sunday (Mother's day, hence the card and flowers)
Nice light drinkable pale ale. Nothing to write home about but it would be a great session ale. (5.8% ABV)