Berkshire Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale

Brewed by Berkshire Brewing Co.
Style: American Pale Ale
South Deerfield, Massachusetts USA

Pretty sure I got a bad draft from a bartender at Westwood Pub, who was not too knowledgeable. This one poured pretty flat and only had a strong malty aroma. Flavor was much of the same with almost no hoppiness detected. Somthing went wrong with the batch, or this just isn’t a pale ale.

Not very exciting, I’ll say that much. I hate how brewers make their "flagship beer" their blandest one. American Pale Ale... it was pretty much doomed from the start. Anyway, this is a lighter beer, decently crisp but lacking any kind of punch. Pass.

(draft) Clear straw body with white head. Aroma is medium sweet, apple, faint herb/grassy. Taste is medium sweet, apple, light grassy. Watery light body with light crispness.

Lots of resin and some sweeter citrus, orange oil, maple syrup, candied nuts, very nice malt complexity, smooth, mild mouthfeel, clean sharp finish.

For rating #100, I pulled out an old favorite from my college days while visiting my brother back on campus. Bottle. Pours a light pale golden color, fluffy white head, good lacing. Body is completely transparent, some light bubbles. Nose is fruity and malty, strength on the light side. Gently sweet in the mouth, a slight bitterness from the hops in the finish, but good balance with some apricoty overtones. Mouthfeel is crisp, light, nicely carbonated. My buddies and I used to drink this by the pitcher at our local college pub, and I always had a bomber in the fridge back home. It’s one of the beers that really got me into drinking great beer, so a good deal of nostalgia in this one (and a fitting beer to celebrate joining the 100 club). Here’s to the next step!

Acquired via trade. Light amber color with a medium off-white head and stringy lacing. Malt and some floral hops in the nose. Medium body with mild bitterness, sweet malt and hops along with a bit of fruit flavoring. None of the flavors is very assertive but it is a refreshing concoction. The finish is dry and hoppy. Pretty simple overall and it would make a very good lawnmower beer.

On tap in Western Massachusetts. Yellow in color with little head. Looks unfiltered. While much too bland to be one of my favorites, it did have a reasonable taste and lots of nice citrus flavors. Mild hops and good malts. This is not as good as most of the lighter craft brews we have out my way, but it is quite drinkable.

Aroma:good mixe of light citrus and pineapple hops,light caramel... Appearance:light hazy gold small head... Flavor:light citrus hops flavor,watery....