Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale

12 oz. bottle in trade from mar- thanks! Served in shaker- poured a faded copper, nice foamy white head one finger thick formed and stayed around for a few minutes with moderate lacing, low carbonation, aroma of earth, malt, and citrus. Hits the mouth with a medium body, malt is there but some odd bitterness is in the background, finish is bitter but still has that odd taste to it. Up for a re-rate down the line...

Sample at Yard House in San Diego. This brew is a rich amber color with a medium and frothy white head that recedes steadily. Stringy lacing. Citrus and hops in the nose. Medium-bodied with flavors of citrus and earthy malt, and unfortunately a strong model glue flavor. The finish is very astringent and the acetone/model glue character permeates throughout. I have to assume the fault is the lines or some other QC issue but will have to try again sometime to verify.

Pours a beautiful amber color with a thin head, but does not dissipate quickly. Aroma of toffee, smoke, and a light touch of citrus. A full-mouth taste that spreads out quickly with nice hoppiness. A very nice beer from Deschutes.

On cask at public house in Portland. Amber with thn white head. Floral hop aroma. Dry and slightly malty.

12oz Bottle Best by: 5/21/08 Received in a recent trade with russpowell, thanks for the big ol’ boxes Russ! Mirror Pond Pale is a polished copper bordering on orange with a good deal of fine particulate suspended throughout. A finger and a half worth of cotton white head formed on the pour but quickly dropped to a skim coat with not much more of a ring. The head leaves some patchy lacing but nothing out of the ordinary. There’s a good deal of toasted grains right off the bat, I even get some dry but muted nuttiness. The hop additions bring about a decent amount of orange oils with a little grassiness and earthiness in the background. Very balanced pale ale, unfortunately I’d enjoy a little more hoppiness. The flavor rolls right along with the aroma. Toasted grains with a slight drizzling of caramel frame the orange oil hoppiness with grassiness here and there throughout. Mirror Pond is a very balanced pale ale, just not really my style. A good pale none the less. There’s good body on this beer. Medium bodied with a smooth somewhat creamy mouthfeel. The carbonation is soft and pleasant. Mirror Pond is easy to put down. Something you don’t really have to think about but that’s enjoyable to put away. Deschutes brews some quality beer. This isn’t one of my favorites from them but it is a solid pale ale. This is a very well balanced pale ale. 5/11/08