Bass Pale Ale

Brewed by Samlesbury (InBev UK)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Preston, England

Serve in English pint

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UPDATED: FEB 22, 2006 Earlier Rating: 12/21/2002 Total Score: 3.1
The romance and history attached to this ale means it is a must have for any beer lover. It’s been featured in more famous paintings than any other beer, the artists including Toulouse Lautrec and Manet. The red triangle is famous as the world’s first registered trade mark.
Bottle. "Our Finest Ale". 4.4% abv This is a mass market beer which largely exploits the famous history of this once classic brew. The brewing method and the yeast has been changed. This pasteurized bottle provides consistency, but no life - it is a clean easy drinking beer that is often on special offer. Tasted blind this would get an average on most people’s ratings - it is pleasant without being distinctive. [2.8]
Draught Bass, Cask. 4.4% abv The draught is unpredictable but, being live, tasty when it’s kept well. Often on special promotion and can be had very cheap. At its best it could be described as smooth, at its worst thick and artificial. [2.9]
American Versian. Bass Pale Ale. Bottled. 5.1% abv Despite being stronger and with more hops than the British Bass this is a bland product and bears little resemblance to the original. [2.5]
Belgian Version. Bass Pale Ale. Bottled. 5.2% This is a tasty version. It is sweeter, yet also hoppier - all round a better balanced beer. After a comparison with The Beer Station’s Iron Horse and Worthington White Shield, I have notched up the rating of the Belgium Bass. {3.7]
Re-rate. Cask, The Ship On Shore, Isle of Sheppey. Lovely condition. 2nd day on. Some sulphur in the nose - pleasantly whiffy. Soft & fruity flavour, finishing with a gentle dry earthy tang. Very enjoyable. [3.3]
Rating is a sort of average of all the versions under all sampling conditions.

Pours light copper with thin head. Slight sweet aroma. Taste is biscuity malt and thin hop bite that fades quickly. Nothing fancy, just a simple pale ale. Or bitter, I guess, as they’d call it on the other side of the pond. Does provide a cool reminder of just how different the common west coast, hoppy beers are to their forebears.

Pours golden-orange with average head. Smell is really nice right out of the bottle - banana and clove-like - then upon sitting in the glass for a bit, it’s still somewhat fruit and pleasant, almost like a light Belgian. Taste is where it goes downhill - little bit of malt and hops at first, but it fades in about four seconds, leaving only the tiniest bit of aftertaste that doesn’t linger much. Yawn. World’s first pale ale, so it has a great history, but now it’s just another pale ale.

Let's be honest. Bass is best reserved for those moments when there's nothing better at the bar to drink. And that's not to say its terrible (it's not) but the simple fact is its just not that good. Malty sweet with just enough hop bitterness to make it palatable. Shallow depth of flavor. A backup beer in every sense of the word. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Copper colored, smells like a flower bed urinated on by sweet english malt. A classic. Goes wonderfully well with the other stinky ole lad guinness.

Creamy head...strong carbonation. Floral nose. Very smooth and drinkable. A classic.

on tap orangey amber colour with white creamy head that lasts . aroma is slightly floral and some malt . taste i ssweetish fruity maltness . very smooth palate . a reasonable inoffensive bitter

Poured into a pint glass. Transparent amber color with a half finger of white head and left some lacing as it retreated. It smells like whiskey and apple juice. I was surprised by this, but I like it. Slight sour apple taste with a little bitter kick at the end. Not a whole lot going on, but it tastes nice. Smooth and lighter body with low carbonation. It is nice but not exceptional. Apparently it is the World’s first pale ale and a world-wide icon.

Golden copper pour into thick, orange-ish off-white head that slowly dissipates into melting lacing as carbonated bubbles rise from the bottom of the glass into a pool of swirling foam. Aroma of malty biscuit and light citrus. Initial flavor of malted caramel that fades into a buttery, yet bitter finish.

Light malty brew with slight hoppy notes. Generally good unlike other InBev beers. Thick head, dark amber color.

This was a favorite of mine for years and I still drink it for nostalgia, even if it pales compared to the many stouts and ales that have replaced it in my heart. Bass is very mild, and not particularly distinct, but this is the beer that changed my life in that it got me to start seeking out imports and craft brews.