cbkschubert (1945), Cochise Co., Arizona, USA Dec 8, 2006 12 oz. bottle from Plaza Liquor - Pours an amber color with an average size off white head. Light spotty lacing. Has a citrus and pine aroma. Has a very notiveable grapefruit flavor. Strong bitterness up front. Medium body. Tastes more like an IPA. A very nice beer. Try it if you can find it. unclemattie (2370), Georgia, USA Oct 26, 2006 Bottle courtesy of asteele8. Deep copper color. Wow, what an aroma. Heavy grapefruit. Sharp bitterness with a slight malt in the background. Very, Very hopped. Just the was it should be. Very hopped! I think harvest ales should be their own style. I really enjoy the green hop taste. asteele8 (270), Mukilteo, Washington, USA Oct 14, 2006 Bottle. Pours a red-brown with a slightly off-white head on top. Aroma is hoppy, citrusy, and hints of grapefruit. Flavor is full of hops. A very nice fresh hop bite from start to finish. I would classify this more as an IPA than an amber ale just off the first initial sip. A dry bitter finish at the end is very nice. A decent beer that is quite enjoyable. A nice way to celebrate the harvest season. jake65 (1657), Williston, North Dakota, USA Oct 1, 2006 On Tap: Reddish brown pour with a medium off white head. Taste is a well balanced hoppinness, caramels, and toasted malts. More hops than a typical amber ale and very tasty as a result. OldMrCrow (1179), Seattle, Washington, USA Sep 30, 2006 Updated: Oct 19, 2006Tap at the Latona pub in Seattle.
Pours a clear caramel brown with red highlights and nice reddish tan head. The aroma is all herb garden - mint and thyme. The flavor follows, strong herb hops, slightly oily through a middle, hints of cleaning fluid unfortunately, powerful grapefruit rind bitterness. I get some booziness on late side along with a nice lip-drying finish. There’s not a ton of balance here and the malts are basically running for cover, but this is nonetheless among the better Hales offerings that I’ve tried.
Addendum: Upon a Mid-october revisit (two pints worth) at Atlas, this one continues to grow on me. I didn’t find the cleaning fluid this time around, just a rich herbal almost cidery harvest flavor and malts that provide enough backbone to make the whole balance out very nicely. I was additionally impressed to find this one served at close to cellar temperature with quite modest carbonation that really made this feel like a great draft harvest ale. My favorite Hale’s offering by a long margin. beerinmarch (2781), Alabama, USA Sep 19, 2006 A nice little fresh harvest ale, sweet citrus hop aroma clean and crisp. Very light bitterness up front with a bold bitter finish with lots of green hop taste. Mild diacetyl hits you up front, but I don’t notice it much in the bitter finish. HumbertHumbert (77), Denver, Colorado, USA Sep 17, 2006 Draft- the Front Door, Boise, ID. Nice fresh hop bite, but the diacetyl was a little distracting. Better after about a half pint. Nice looking beer and would have been much better without the butter. pinkzambia (986), Boise, Idaho, USA Sep 13, 2006 Bottle:Murky amber color with a small off-white head. The aromas are abundantly hoppy for an amber - Sweet citrus mixed with juniper shrubs mainly. The taste is hop loaded as well. It seems to me this gets pretty close to an IPA. It has a weird aftertaste thing - kind of like cardboard mixed with a hint of anise with a tin foil finish. It isn’t to overpowering, but nevertheless there. The feel is great and it is a yummy beer to have as we enter the harvest season.
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