Acme California Pale Ale

Growler poures a light orange with a small white head. Aroma is light hops. From this point on things seem to go awry. The taste is somewhat flat and overall very disappointing. I was really expecting more.

12oz bottle with redhead trapeze chick on the label. Brassy straw color, nearly opaque with carbonation run amok. A solid ivory lather begins at an inch plus, and soon doubles in depth, suggesting a good percentage of flaked barley or wheat in the grist. Light toasty, citric, wheaty nose, not very exciting. The flavor is similar... weak toast with puffed wheat ceral and green appleskin. A fleeting tart/citric finish leads to a metallic aftertaste and an extremely long-lasting, moderately bitter (in respect to the beer’s wimpyness) ashtray bitterness. Creamy foam beefs up an otherwise light, sharp palate. Overall pretty bland; reminds me of Boddingtons, but hopped with Chinook I’m guessing. Not good... I expected so much more from North Coast. And 89 points from the BTI makes me wonder what makes them qualified to judge/rate anything other than mass-market pale lager.

12oz bottle. Overall, a pretty weak pale ale. A pale yellow pour with minimal head. A faint nose of citrus and musty hops. Light in body and a crisp finish.

short 12oz bottle. Pours a perfectly pale golden color, with a white froathy head. Aroma is of pale malts, spruce. Flavor is rich, crreamy, caramel malt. Finishes with a nice hop bitterness. Lingering bitterness. Top beer for this top style.

Bottle from Total Wine on Broad Street in Richmond. Clear orange pour with a two-finger head. Malty aroma with a hint of hops. Taste is slightly tart and grassy. Medium body.