Tag Archives: pale ale

HIGH & MIGHTY XPA

Chameleonic ‘extra’ pale ale not far removed from a summery saison on the fruity end and a German helles bock on the toasted cereal grain side. Boasting ‘English refinement with American swagger,’ its honey wheat sugaring contrasts soured apricot-apple-peach-orange tartness and bittersweet pink grapefruit scamper. Ancillary pineapple, mango, guava and kiwi tropicalia receives herbal respite above veiled sourdough breading.

 

BAXTER PAMOLA XTRA PALE ALE

Middling canned ale suffers from tinny astringency, bland crystal malting and understated stylistic approach. Mild roasted hop bittering usurps casual orange-red fruiting. Tealeaf, lemongrass and citrus undertones soften bread-floured bottom of sessionable straw-hazed springtime fodder. On tap at Ambulance, sour yellow-fruited dry body goes awry due to musty barley graining, rotten vegetal musk and dirty earthen bottom. Lemony pineapple tartness and infrequent herbal spell lose steam to crusty rusticity. 

BOULDER HOOPLA PALE ALE

Politely soft-tongued with light piney bittering reminiscent of IPA and perfect as crossover fodder. Easygoing lemon-dropped apple, peach, pear, tangerine, mango and grapefruit illusions pick up tingly marzipan sweetness plus minor grassy-hopped herbal-floral spiciness appending wood-dried fruited finish. Chamomile tea, caramelized rye, hop resin, celery, rhubarb and fennel illusions make cameos.