Millstream Warsh Pail Ale

Formerly brewed at Millstream Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Amana, Iowa USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tulip

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hazy translucent copper color, pours nicely with a cheery effervescence; aroma of citrus hops that translates into something a little bitter in the throat. This is a pretty good pale ale!

On Tap at Millstream. Auburn in color,floral hops in the nose and floral and citrus hops in the mouth. Toasted malt, a touch of caramel and maybe almond in the flavor profile. Unfortunately, this is a summer seasonal beer.

On Tap; Cascade nose is welcome anytime in front of my nose! Strong and flowery/perfumy! Light pale malts don’t make this very balanced, but that’s ok as long as the hops at the finish are strong and clean, as they are here. Refreshing and quite a pleasant surprise!

Now in 12 oz. bottles. Light bronze color with a tall beige head. Initial aroma is pure fresh, rolled in the hands hops. Some light tobacco and mild citrus come out as the volatiles evaporate. Earthy whole grain bread start with a mild hop sack backdrop. An interesting brew, with some english components. I would respectfully disagree with beermatrix: this is a pale ale, not an IPA, not a strong APA, but a respectable pale ale. I have not been a big fan of this brewery, but this one does seem to give me hope.

Liter bottle flip top: Pours out to a auburn copper color, slightly hazey body with a creamy thick, lumpy ivory head about a finger high; cobweb lacing sticks. Aroma is warming of a toasty breadyness, crunchy fresh floral hop tone to it that has a dry leafy whisp brushed over it. Very slight citrus notes of dark orange emerge as it sits. Taste is a full frontal labotomy of toasty caramel and whole grain bread crusts. Way more then needed for a pale. Its good, but not as hoppy or as clean as I prefer. Hops are there making its flavors mostly in the back half of the beer with the tamest of tame bitterness earning a small hint of very dry pinewood. Mostly leafy and crunchy with a fresh floral blend drying off the finish with some slight metallic notes. Feel is quite bold and malty full, again, too much so, at least for my liking; smooth and toasty with a certain malt twang which even continues once the hops kick in. This actually reminded more of some Vienna style brews then anything or even a hefty amber. But as a Pale Ale, nah. Perhaps I’m being over critical with the whole style thing, but I thoroughly enjoy a cleaner, hoppier version. I’d drink this again no prob, just don’t tell me its a Pale.

UPDATED: AUG 1, 2007 Came in a cool one liter bottle with a stopper. Has a dark red color and a slightly yellow head. Strong aroma of flowers, oranges and maple. The taste is more subtle. It has orange peels, bread and a little pepper spice. This is a great offering from Millstream. Now this is availble in 12 oz. bottles. I prefer the draft version as the hops seem to be a little more lively. The 12 oz. bottles are now available and this beer gets better all the time.

Tap, Iowa City Beer Festival. Delicate cascade hop aroma. Soft creamy mouthfeel, light touch of caramel malt flavor. Quite pleasant.