Summer Pale Ale
Port Brewing

Summer Pale AleSummer Pale Ale
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From:
Port Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
6%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 7.77%
Reviews:
38
Ratings:
175
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 23, 2020
Added:
Jun 09, 2014
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  20
Summer Pale Ale (SPA) is our version of the iconic West Coast style Pale Ale.

Life's better at the water's edge. Be it a beach, a lake, or a sweltering day by the pool. Each of these situations is improved by friends, conversations, and a crisp pale ale. Our SPA is brewed with a juicy and boisterous blend ot hops including Chinook, Amarillo, and Cascade. SPA begins with a bouquet of citrus and peach aromas, then leads to refreshing orange and grapetruit-like dryness, with just a kiss of sweetness on the finish.

Hops: Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, CTZ, Simcoe.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by micromaniac129:
Photo of micromaniac129
Reviewed by micromaniac129 from Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This was a good beer from start to finish.
The color of the beer was straw with orange high lights and was slightly hazy.
On the pour a generous head forms. It's tall with a tight sticky looking head leaving plenty of lacing in it's wake. Lots of carbonation bubbles cascade to the top.

The aroma is for the most part all hops. Aromas of tropical fruits like lemon pineapple and mangos are present. They have a sort of candied fruit quality.

The taste is hoppy but not like in the nose. Here the hops are dank and muddled. Lightly malted.
The first half of the tasteing is dominated by a sweet maltiness fading to a hoppt semi dry finish.
It's pretty clean in that the bitterness doesn't linger in the aftertaste.

Overall, a pretty damn good beer.
Looks nice and has a pleasant aroma. The taste is the one delta in this experience withit's lack of flavor. But there could be many reasons for that.
A great beer that s easy to drink.
Jul 06, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of rex_4539
Reviewed by rex_4539 from Greece

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L: Slightly hazy amber color, two and a half finger white head, messy lacing, light carbonation.

S: Malts, bread, biscuity, hops.

T: Malty, bready, biscuity, hoppy, bitter. Old school American Pale Ale.

F: Light to medium bodied, tons of malt and hop flavors.

O: Takes you back to the old days.
Sep 23, 2020
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
“Freshest by 10/07/2020”
Super dank. Super resinous. Definitely an OG west coast IPA as hoppy and filtered as they come. The IBUs on this are surprisingly high, as it finishes quite bitter. Delicious and drinkable and very much traditional.
Jul 20, 2020
Photo of drtth
Reviewed by drtth from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The chill hazed but otherwise clear golden amber-colored beer pours out into a Duvel glass with a 1 1/2” white head that recedes slowly but visibly as it leaves behind a thick web lacing that includes some rings as well. Eventually the foam becomes a cap and then a ring and thin island of foam on the surface and some of the rings persist to the end of the beer. Sipping creates some closely scattered legs and small patches of lacing.

The aromas include some piney, citric hops with some peach, grapefruit and a bit of orange or tangerine showing against a light malt background that also seems to include some spiciness.

The flavors are much as expected from the nose with the grapefruit, orange, some resin, a bit of spice, some peach and a light caramel sweetness that is way in the background and does not conceal the zesty, spicy, resinous bitterness.

The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and slightly creamy with the smooth finely bubbled carbonation. The finish is long and bitter dry ending on the back of the palate.

Overall a nice expression of both the Amarillo and a couple of the classic C hops that focuses on the hops against a light malt backbone. Drinkable, enjoyable, and would be happy to have again.
Sep 01, 2019
Photo of JRed
Reviewed by JRed from New Jersey

3.27/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Hazy golden body with white bubbly on top. Pine, lemon, plastic, and grass in the nose. Tastes of citrus, lemon, light mango, rind, pine, light spearmint, bitterness swoops in to finish. Light bodied with medium carbonation.
Aug 11, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by PJCarnell from Massachusetts

Jun 17, 2019
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.34/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Clear golden yellow with a persistent ring of foam in the tall goblet. Plain malt taste with a resiny edge. I wouldn't call it very aromatic. Watery body. Dry finish.

A plain and grainy sort of ale. The aftertaste dissolves into a lengthy bitter affair. Then you want another sip and it starts all over. From the 16 oz can purchased at Barons Market.
Dec 17, 2018
Photo of monkist
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary

4.46/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Port Brewing is one of my favorite breweries, remarkably SoCal. This PA follows its name, it's perfect for the summer, perhaps a bit more than any other pale ales due to its light body, its citrusiness, grapefruitiness and it's hop freshness both in the aroma and in the taste. Needless to say that - just like every other Port brewed beer - the quality is flawless and masterful.
Sep 30, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by TrojanRB from Texas

Sep 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Aug 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by mrcraft from California

Aug 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.52 by BAsbill from California

Aug 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.63 by IdrinkGas from Pennsylvania

Jul 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by SmashAdams from New Jersey

Jul 09, 2018
Photo of BucannonXC5
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

4.07/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Type: 16-oz. can
Glass: Clear 16.5-oz. Belgian ale tulip
From: Trader Joe’s in La Mesa, Calif.
Price: $2.00
Purchased: June 15, 2018
Consumed: June 16, 2018
Reviewed as: American Pale Ale
Misc.: Freshest by Oct. 5, 2018

Couldn’t believe I hadn’t had this one before. Had seen in stores or so I thought. Anyway, at one point Port was my favorite brewery (I separate Port and The Lost Abbey for my sake). Can description read, “Life’s better at the water’s edge. Be it a beach, a lake, or a sweltering day by the pool. Each of these situations is improved by friends, conversations, and a crisp pale ale. Our SPA is brewed with a juicy and boisterous blend of hops including Chinook, Amarillo, and Cascade. SPA begins with a bouquet of citrus and peach aromas, then leads to a refreshing orange and grapefruit-like dryness, with just a kiss of sweetness on the finish.”

Poured a pale semi-clear color with three fingers of rocky white head. Lots of bubbles coming from the bottom of the glass at a fast speed, reminding me of a shaken up snow globe. Excellent foamy lacing. Perfect foamy retention. (Sight - 4.75)

No hiding the West Coast in this beer. Got Chinook, woody pine, resin, green leaf, pine sap, almost burnt maple syrup like, herbal, grapefruit peel, papaya, tangerine and black pepper. From the can got more pronounced hops, Chinook for sure, and also was getting the Cascade (not the Amarillo yet). Pepper, pine and sweet caramel also from the can. (Smell - 4.00)

Taste followed the nose for sure, still a straight up West Coast piney bomb. Got Chinook, woody pine, resin, black pepper, Cascade, red grapefruit rind, bitter green leaf, chewed aspirin, herbal, papaya, tangerine and toasted caramel. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Wow. Surprised at how much I liked this. Nice to have an old school West Coast beer instead of the new age hazy style beers. (Overall - 4.00)

4.07 | 91 | A-
Jul 09, 2018
Photo of Ronl12
Reviewed by Ronl12 from Massachusetts

3.62/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
16 oz can into IPA glass. Freshest by date of 10/1/18.
Clear golden yellow look. Light fruit lemon nose with little bready malt note. Taste follows nose with little lemon fruit and hop bite at end. Fairly light feel. Pretty nice summer pale ale. May buy again.
Jul 04, 2018
Photo of spamspam
Reviewed by spamspam from California

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I am a big Port Brewing Mongo (double ipa) aficionado. On a lark I gave the Port Brewing Summer Pale Ale a try. Big surprise. I find most pale ales disappointing. Flat, bleh,and meh. This beer has punch. Look and aroma: hey guys, its summer. I drank this out of the can. Taste: Yeah! Big, lemony hops go that straight to a wonderfully lingering bitter aftertaste. What is your problem guys with the bitter? Its a pale ale. This bitter is great. Feel: Low carbination straight to a lovely lingering clean clean bitter aftertaste. Now that I experience it, low carbination makes sense for a summer session beer. Enjoyable. Overall: It is a session beer but: there is something there; it real; it is an experience to imbibe it.
Jul 01, 2018
Photo of HalfFull
Reviewed by HalfFull from California

3.11/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
16 oz. can poured into a pint glass. Pour is a clear golden in color and sports a half inch of nearly white foam. Light in color with no caramel notes.

Aroma of slightly dank hops on the nose along with some bready malt notes. Aroma is pleasant but thin and a bit searching, bit less elusive after some agitation. Taste follows and is a bit thin up front yet with more biscuity notes on the finish, accompanied with a hint of lemon.

Mouthfeel is a bit chalky and mealy at times. Hop factors with a lack of support from some balancing malts. So so.
Jun 24, 2018
Photo of JamFuel
Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden

4.06/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
FRom the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass.

Pours an unclear orange, with thick billowing foam.

Smell is piney, with plenty of citrus and resin.

Taste is floral and piney, with a hefty bitterness backing up. Sort of West Coast IPA Lite.

Mouthfeel is medium, well carbonated.

Overall, a great summer pale ale, drinkable and flavorful.
Sep 19, 2017
Photo of jzlyo
Rated by jzlyo from Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Aroma is slightly perfumed/floral, citrus and malts. The flavor is fruit/flowers, citrus, malts and a tart/mildly spicy/bitter hop finish.
Sep 14, 2017
Summer Pale Ale from Port Brewing
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 175 ratings