Bells Midwestern Pale Ale

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: American Pale Ale
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tulip

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12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a clear golden color. Aromas of some hops- citrus. Hops apparent but not overpowering. Very creamy mouthfeel which is interesting. Good balance. Not bad

Appearance: Super hazy, gold appearance. Very nice head that amounts to about 4oz of foam, and it stays for a long time. As nice as the head is though, it doesn’t seem to like clinging to the glass much. Smell: Something about it is quite strange... I think it’s the heavy amount of grass and dirt I pick up in it, but the traces of spice and malt bring it up. Taste: First sip was very good, but then the reality came in ... Midwestern Pale Ale is unfortunately only an average beer. I get that nice mouthfeel on the beginning of each sip, and then the malt. As you’d expect from a pale ale, pretty muted. The finish is kind of putting me off with this one the more I drink it... there’s more bitterness than anything, and seemingly grass in place of hops in the flavor department. As some other reviewers have said and as the bottle says... "BLONDE ALE" is what comes to mind with this beer more than anything. Midwestern Pale Ale is a respectable pale ale. Many people find pale ales to be on the boring/uninteresting side, and I agree... but I like a good one every now and then. If you like pale ales that are more on the bitter side, try this one from Bell’s ... though be expecting to drink more of an American Blonde Pale Ale.

Poured a slightly cloudy, golden color with a finger of off white head and a lot of carbonation. Had earthy aromas, and a lot of grain and hay. Had a sour taste, and a bit of a lingering hop bite. Not a good example of an APA, but not undrinkable.

Presentation: 12 oz. brown bottle, bottling date on the back label. Served in a seidel. Appearance: Rich gold color, fairly cloudy, but not too much. One finger of head that leaves strong thick lacing all over the glass even at the bottom when you finish up, it’s beautiful. Very much alive, when swirled it brings up the aromas and a strong amount of foam to the top.The strongest point of this beer. Smell: Not much smell from this one. Just a plain scent, mostly of grain with a bit of hops and a floral hint. Taste: Very strong in the hop department. Some floral taste can be perceived and a certain spiciness as well. It’s quite bitter, a bit too much from what I’ve perceived in this style (APA). It leaves a spicy taste in the back of the tongue after every sip. Mouthfeel: It’s full and strong, not what I’ve grown accustomed to with Pale Ales. I wish I could say it’s a "nice" surprise but it’s not. There’s a good amount of carbonation and the finish is smooth. Overall: It’s a decent beer, but not a very good American Pale Ale. I can’t say I disliked it, but it didn’t blow me away either. I’d recommend this to people that find most Pale Ales lacking a certain "kick", but not to the average beer drinker.

My least favorite offering from bells, almost no hop character in this pale ale. Bells almost always impresses me with how close they stick to style, or even improve upon it. Very malty for a pale in both aroma and taste, I wont drink this again but certainly will continue to buy two hearted, Kalamazoo, and expedition.

Served on tap, pale golden (I think! dark tap room) and a little hazy. No head, light carbonation. Subtle sweet malt aroma... don’t notice any hops. Smooth but slippery on the palate. Sweet maltly moves onto mild hoppy then pleasant bitter finish.

Bottle. Yeasty bready malt and light orange aroma. Cloudy golden yellow with a small white head, heavy suspended sediment. Sweet bready malt and harsh herbal hops flavor. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Rather disappointing offering from Bells.

Not a great pale ale. Aroma is mediocre. Light transparent color. Generic choppy flavor. Twohearted kicks this beers butt.

Man, what a huge disappointment. We’ve all had great brews from Bells, but this certainly isn’t one of them. Pours way too blond for my taste, with almost no hop presence or flavor. Tastes like a poorly made craft lager, and it might as well be in my book. Extreme fizziness, and unpleasant flavor.

Pours a cloudy golden with a quickly fading white head. Bread, floral/grassy, and slightly musty aroma. Pale malt flavor is dominated by the floral hops. Slightly fizzy carbonation and a crisp, dry finish. Tasty, but nothing special.