Four Peaks Pitch Fork Pale Ale

Brewed by Four Peaks Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Tempe, Arizona USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker

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Sampled on tap at 1702, Tucson; April 2011
The beer arrives from the tap with a frothy one-finger thick head, that is a pale tan color and even leaves some wispy lacing on the sides of my glass. The beer has a rich gold / pale- amber color to it that shows a clear, copper-gold when held up to the light. The aroma smells of grapefruit and orange zest hop notes up front, and it picks up soapy note in middle though this seems to dissipate (and makes me think it might have been from something other than the beer). A second look has much more tropical fruitiness to it; with a concentrated peach, touches of guava, a big lychee character and a Kerns apricot nectar character that seems like a perfect descriptor at times.

The beer tastes dry and somewhat bitter up front. Tropical fruit and apricot juice play big role in middle even though the flavor remains fairly dry. The finish has a solid, though not gripping, bitterness to it, some carbonic bite from the carbonation and a lingering apricot flavor. It is light bodied but, at times seems viscous, especially in the finish where, couple with the apricot notes, it really reminds me of kerns apricot nectar. The bitterness has a touch of resinous, pine hop character to it, but only just a touch.

The expressive hop character is really quite nice in this Pale Ale. I have never had a hop focused beer with such a distinct apricot character. If you like fruity hop focused beers I highly recommend this one.

Copperih pour. Average pale. Biscuity malts, dull hops, caramel. Nothing offensive at all but not spectacular either.

Four peaks pitchfork pale. 3/3/11 @ taste of tops Orange gold w/ small white head. A floral, grain, 4p hoppiness and faint citrus. F is the same... Dry,clean and crisp. Really easy drinking since it us very middle of the road.3.6