Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: American Pale Ale
Bend, Oregon USA

Sampled on draft at the pdx pub. One of my first favorite PAC NW IPA’s. Still good after all these years. Nice, light, floral hop presence.

Poured from Bottle into Pint glass. Pours a light amber color that is slightly hazy with a fluffy finger of head that eventually dissolves and leaves a nice layer atop the glass. The aroma has caramel malt and a floral bouquet of hops. Flavor pretty much mirrors the aroma with a gentle citrus bitterness that lingers. Its medium bodied with the right amount of carbonation. I’ve had this beer numerous times, both from the bottle and on-tap, its definitely my fall back beer if nothing else is looking appetizing.

Pours slightly hazy golden color with good sized white head that leaves nice lace. Nose is very citrusy-hoppy, especially lemon and grapefruit. Palate is somewhat sharp with the citrusy-hop profile again, though the malt sweetness in the background is quite pleasant. This is one of the easiest drinking hoppy ales I’ve encountered in a long time.

bottle. pours a cloudy, dark yellow with a thick white head. has a flowery and bit skunky aroma. carmel in flavor with a warm, smokey finish. might have been a bit flat.

12 oz bottle from the Bayou. Pours a deep amber color with a large white head. The aroma is rich caramel malts, light hops are present. The flavor is rich and earthy; caramel malts, light hops and very little bitterness. A nice easygoing brew for sure.I love these Deschutes labels.

On tap at the Yardhouse in San Diego. Pours a lightly hazed, orange body with a thin, creamy, white head that leaves a good amount of layered lacing. Aroma is a rather straightforward, leafy and earthy hoppiness balanced with a light caramel. Flavor is pretty assertive, but well balanced with light caramels creating a light bodied pale ale. More earthy, but not very dense. Not very sweet and finishes dry with a long lingering taste and some soft grass. Overall, a solid, lighter bodied, balanced pale ale with enough taste to satisfy.

12oz bottle. A really solid pale ale which is nicely balanced between the caramel malts and hop flavors. It has a nice lingering finish with the hop flavor and is a little drying too.

On tap at Flying Saucer Austin. Has a clear amber with a small frothy off white head with good sticky lacing along the glass. The aroma is a raisin malt with caramel and honey. Thin mouthfeel with a light malt taste and a nice bitter finish. A good american pale ale from Deschutes.