Cambridge Tall Tale Pale Ale

Brewed by Cambridge Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Cambridge, Massachusetts USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker

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Hazy pale amber pour. Tight white head. The nose is soft. Floral and citrusy dry hop with a light dry crackery malt character. Lightly resinous on the back but its quite a lovely lightness. Fresh and fruity with a soft bitterness and light fruity character. Orange peel and a bit of spicy zest. A pretty solid cask really.

On cask at the brewpub with Glacier dry hops. Nice and prickly, but with a definite butter sensation. There’s a goaty overall grain flavor I find detracting and unclean. Otherwise, a moderate pale ale. Probably one of the more presentable and drinkable beers on tap.

Tap at the brewery. Light golden pour with a minimal white head. 3. Nose of grassy hops. 7. Flavor is very hop forward, like chewing on a citrus-grass hop cone with lingering bitterness. The malt is there but the hops definitely dominate. 7. Medium palate 3. O: 16 Cask version, same night: Hazy golden pour 3. Nose of tangerine and mandarin oranges. 8. Thin in the mouth but a blast of bitter orange rind, sweat socks, and bitterness in the mouth. 7. Even still it’s enjoyable because it’s well made. P: 3 O: 16

On draft at the brew pub. Hazy yellow color with a light white head. Nice hoppy refreshing pale ale. Just a little undercarbonated.

Definitely more hoppy than your typical east coast IPA, Cascade and Centennial prevalent... Piney notes... Very good pale ale, not overly watery or sweet, definitely in the likeness of a west coast pale.... Solid

2/10/2011 on tap @ CBC (2011-486)

Little cloudy golden beer, small white head, unstable, adhesive with nice lacing. Aroma: fruity, touches of pineapple, toasted malts, but in all very faint. MF: very soft to no carbon, light to medium body. Taste: fruity start, citrus touches, grapefruit turning to quite hoppy bitter. Aftertaste: very dry and bitter, citrus touches.

A: The pour is a relatively clear golden color with a finger of white head on it. S: Definitely has the nice citrusy aroma that I like in a pale ale. Heavy on the lemon and grapefruit (especially grapefruit zest) with a few floral notes mixed in. A nice bit of bready malt in there for substance. T: Not much deviation on the palate. Plenty of lemon zest and grapefruit flavors. The bitterness is moderate and the malt flavor comes through nicely without being overly sweet. M: On the lighter side of medium with a medium carbonation. O: A well done pale ale. Nice hop character while retaining some malt flavor as well.

Tap, at brewpub. Pours a slightly hazy light copper with a wispy off-white head. Light floral hops, a touch of citrus, and some toasty, lightly caramel malt. The flavor has decent floral hops with a touch of bitterness. Some sweet caramel maltiness below. Not exciting, but it’s clean. Mouthfeel is a touch clingy with fizzy carbonation. Decent, a very drinkable APA.

Sample, draught, on the premise, trip to the Boston Beer Summit with Luc Bourbonnière, savoured on April 17 2011; eye: caramel, lightly hazy, nice off-white head, nice lacing; nose: malt, floral hops; mouth: malt, light floral hops, light pine, light citrusy, finale in light bittering hops, medium body, good carbonation, lightly bitter but more than expected, lightly grainy texture; overall: nice surprise FRANÇAIS Échantillon, en fût, bue sur place, voyage au Boston Beer Summit avec Luc Bourbonnière, savourée le 17 avril 2011 œil : caramel, légèrement voilée, petit anneau de mousse blanc cassé, bonne dentelle; nez : malt, léger houblon floral; bouche : malt, léger houblon floral, léger pin, léger citrique, finale en houblon légèrement amérisant, corps moyen, bonne carbonatation, légèrement amère mais plus que prévue, texture légèrement granuleuse; en résumé : belle surprise

Draught at the brewpub. Big American hop aroma. Rich malt with caramel and a bit of chocolate. Nicely bitter flavor, well-balanced and earthy with some citrus and maybe pine. A bit heavy, but reliable stuff.