Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale

this beer is by far one of my favorites to take to parties because you get that great hop flavor with a real smooth citrus finish that even non beer drinkers admire.

Has that classic hazy amber look that is synonymous with American Pale Ale. Nose is moderate, standard grapefruit and wood stuff. This beer has always underwhelmed me out of the bottle, whereas on tap and cask I’ve been a big fan. Flavour is moderate bitterness, orangey notes, bits of whole wheat bread malts and a litlte phenolic note that I often find when cascades begin to oxidize a bit. As I said, in bottle this is a pretty ho-hum example, going straight down the middle of the style.

Draft. Very disappointing. Not much aroma or flavor. I didn’t find it worth drinking.

Bitter enough that, for me, drinking it was a chore, but overall this was not that bitter for a US Pale Ale. Floral/herbal hops. Nice label.

Cask - BitterCreek in Boise. Pours a murky golden orange color. Aromas of citrus hops, caramel malts. Flavor is bitter and hoppy with a touch of pepper/grapefruit with sweet malt.

(Bottle) Pours a lightly cloudy amber body with a moderate beige head. Aroma of fresh citrus and caramel. Flavor of clean, juicy citrus and caramel with a mildly bitter, somewhat dry finish. Enjoyable APA!

Dark gold, with a white head. Nice bittering, slight grapefruit hops. Crisp finish. A decent pale. Good balance, nice hop presence. Doesn’t try to be an IPA and doesn’t feel watered down.

A somewhat lighter version of Sierra Nevada Pale to my taste. The finishing hops are a little more prominent in this brew, mostly due to lack of underlying complexity. Nice golden/copper color, but quite unexceptional activity and head. Very good nonetheless! All of the Deschutes’ brews that I’ve tried (Twilight and IPA) have offered a very interesting and satisfying change of pace. Not mainstream, but very good.