Cháu Tiên Pale Ale
Cháu Tiên USA

Cháu Tiên Pale AleCháu Tiên Pale Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Cháu Tiên USA
 
California, United States
Style:
English Pale Ale
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 10.76%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
19
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 02, 2013
Added:
Apr 09, 2007
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
Back in 1985, a Dragon and an Angel visited me in a dream. The Dragon was swirling around the Angel, protecting Her, and blowing fire, turning white clouds into pink and red ones. The Angel then instructed: "Tuan, your destiny is to become a great brewer." The Dragon symbolizes the Emperor and the Angel symbolizes the Queen. It was such a powerful dream that I awoke and scripted the image on a napkin on my desk and it embraces my beer logo. To fulfill that vision, I began my journey in search of the finest brewers in the land. I found Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, California, and there... there, America's first Asian beer, Cháu Tiên® Pale Ale was born and brewed until the end of 1987.

From 1988 to 1998 Cháu Tiên® was brewed in Modesto, California and Dubuque, Iowa. Since 1999, Cháu Tiên® has been brewed at Santa Clara County and Mendocino County regional California breweries.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jereb33:
Photo of jereb33
Rated by jereb33 from Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

Dec 13, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by arfenhouse from California

Mar 02, 2013
Photo of GRG1313
Reviewed by GRG1313 from California

3.92/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Note: This bottle identifies the brewer as Anderson Valley Brewery, Boonville, California. However, same as lable on picture here on BA.

Identified as a pale ale, this pours a clear but dark brownish amber with a white head.

Nose is light malt, light toast and pleasant, almost elegant.

Mouthfeel is medium/thin but with great balance and light, small bubble carbonation that is actually very inviting.

Flavors are medium bodied/medium assertive light burnt toast, yeast, biscuit and hints of burnt fruit.

Finish is light burnt toast bitter. All in all, the beer is, taken all together, very drinkable and appealing.

A great example of the whole being better than the sum if its parts. Nice bitter pine finish.
Oct 23, 2010
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a brilliantly clear amber color with a two finger head that sticks reasonably well and leaves a few strands of lace as well

Smell: Toasty, tea-like malt character with a hint of caramel

Taste: Caramel and toast, up front, with a growing malty sweetness that is almost altbier-like in character; very fruity after the swallow; with a bit of grain in the back

Mouthfeel: Medium body, verging on full, with a moderate dose of carbonation

Drinkability: I would have guessed this to be an alt in a blind tasting but it also has some EPA characteristics; worth a try but I wouldn't seek it out again
Oct 05, 2010
Photo of peacebone116
Reviewed by peacebone116 from California

3.86/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a bottle of this beer at the Anderson Valley Brewery--it may have been sitting in their fridge for a while.

A: Poured a cloudy, copper/honey color with a nice head into a pint glass.

N: Not a very complex scent; nose is biscuity with prunes and a hint of smoke.

T/M: This beer is very smooth, albeit not a very complex pale; reminiscent of fruit filled (maybe grape jelly...) biscuits. As it warms, the flavor becomes more rich and noticeable.

I believe that this beer was a bit older--the label implies that the beer should be very floral and hoppy--I did not pick this up at all, although it could have lost the floral with age. However, the beer was very good. It actually reminded me of a multidimensional/unfiltered Asian style beer. I can see this beer going really well some delicious sushi, and maybe even a sake bomb...well, at least being a nice compliment to some rice wine.
Sep 10, 2010
Photo of augustgarage
Reviewed by augustgarage from California

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Heh, thought I could check Vietnam off of my country list, only to discover this is brewed in my own state - oh well:

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tall ice-tea/pilsner glass; enjoyed with a large meal.

Bronze, clear liquid topped by a thin layer of ivory foam - average to poor retention. Pleasant thin sheets of lacing blanket the sides.

"Rich, fruity, malty aroma" printed on the side of the bottle - not sure I agree. Certainly not rich, though there is a candy sweetness that could be likened to fruit. There are light grassy hop notes along with the pale malt, though I was surprised to learn that Cascade and Centennial were used, as the qualities I associate with these varieties were absent in this beer. Perhaps it was an older bottle?

Lightly toasted (European/English?) malt on the palate, but then there is a wave of light sourness which brings to mind adjunct. Very light floral bitterness with a crisp dry finish - not bad really.

Smooth, light-bodied, well carbonated.

From their website: "Tuan has a hunger for more knowledge and he is willing to ask for help. He is dissatisfied with one's self and open to spiritual perspective." I like his attitude and am curious to try their barleywine sometime - but I do have to say this brew has room for improvement (unless I got a stale bottle).
Feb 07, 2010
Photo of BeerManDan
Reviewed by BeerManDan from California

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The color when poured in a glass was a deep amber with some foam, but no lace retention at all. The smell of roasted malts, citrus and a hint of caramel fill the nose with a pleasant aroma. The taste was of roasted malts, hops and had citrus notes. The a nicely balance pale ale with a bitter citrus and finish along with sweet roasted malts, with a touch of hops.
Aug 14, 2009
Photo of Georgiabeer
Reviewed by Georgiabeer from Georgia

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I finally picked one of these up after seeing them around for a few years. I've been curious to try one but also a little dubious. I must say I was pleasantly surprised at what I found in the bottle- I was expecting some sort of trash euro-lager clone, but this is indeed a pale ale, and a solid one at that. I guess it helps that its contract brewed by a solid brewery as well. Picked this 12oz bottle up from Ledgers in Berkeley. Poured amber with a nice, tan, pancake head. Smells quite fruity with yeasty esters, some citrusy and earthy hops, and some bready maltiness. Tastes pretty solid. Very fruity with citrus and a slight cherry taste; some orange, lemon, and grapefruit from the hops; and a nice dose of sweet malt that cleanly and harmoniously balances the whole package. In the mouth its smooth and on the bready side with some light lingering bitterness. Quite a decent beer. I would be ecstatic to find this as an offering at various Asian restaurants instead of the usual suspects.Should be quite food friendly, especially with spicy food.
Aug 11, 2009
Photo of bcm119
Reviewed by bcm119 from California

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Tasted at Boonville festival and then reviewed from a bottle from Ledgers. A deep amber color with a substantial off-white head. Fruity aroma reminiscent of Boont Amber. Fresh malt fruitiness with hints of apricot. Soft carbonation lends a light, delicate mouthfeel. Hops are clean and bitter, drying up the finish without interfering with the fruity malt theme. A clean, malty pale ale with enough complexity to keep me interested for more than one glass. Seems like a leaner version of Boont amber, with a bit more hop bitterness and drier finish. Would make a great session beer.
May 08, 2009
Photo of htomsirveaux
Reviewed by htomsirveaux from Texas

3.03/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz. bottle tried 20 Jan 2008.

Large creamy eggshell colored head. Almost flat. Very nice deep auburn color. So this is what 'only the best ingredients' smells like, some caramel, slightly metallic and a whiff of lychee. Starts caramely, some oak, and the lychee again. Fairly malty throughout and light on the hops until the finsh, which is moderately bittersweet. Sticky mouthfeel. Moderate alcohol.

Decent but nothing too exciting.
Feb 25, 2009
Photo of Zorro
Reviewed by Zorro from California

3.82/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear amber brew with somewhat high carbonation level.

Smell is sweet and very fruity almost lots of esters wonder how warm this was fermented? There is a clear apple and caramel nut scent to this.

Taste is sweet and fruity with a banana taste and some roasted malt flavor but not like a brown ale or Hefeweizen. Bitterness balances the sweetness out but isn't all that strong.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Nice drinkable brew looks like this is brewed under a license.
Dec 03, 2008
Photo of aforbes10
Reviewed by aforbes10 from Iowa

4.07/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle picked up at Ledger's in Berkeley, mainly because i didnt know what the heck it was. Pours a clear matter brown with good carbonation and a quarter inch off white head. Head falls off fairly fast to a sparse covering. Smells of nice sweet malt, hint of cloves, grassy/piney hop. Nicely aromatic. Taste is just what i look for in a pale ale. Not madly hoppy, not trying to be an IPA. Slight hop bite though, more flavorful than bitter. Lemony, clove and sugar taste on top of a nice malt base. Medium bodied and eminently drinkable. Where did this come from? Its really quite good.
Nov 18, 2008
Photo of Offa
Reviewed by Offa from California

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is a tasty, richly malty beer with interesting flavour and character.

Bright red-amber, it has a big, light tan head slowly shrinking to a lasting thin foam and some pretty good, lasting lace.

The aroma is very malty, fruity with apple and dried fruit, leafy with hints of caramel and pine, a hint of citrus (mostly grpaferuit and maybe orange marmalade), plus a general, faint English quality to it.

The taste is interesting, with a quality that is intriguing and engaging yet hard to pin down. it's sweet and a little oily up front with light balancing bitterness building by the finish. It has a lot of caramelized fruit with toasted white bread, grain (rice, esp.), a little grapefruit, leaes, pine. It's very tasty, a bit oily yet also lightly zesty, nicely balanced, and very drinkable.
Oct 24, 2008
Photo of illidurit
Reviewed by illidurit from California

3.07/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle from 99 Bottles in Santa Cruz. Decidedly amber color, too dark for a pale ale. Watery tan head leaves some minimal lacing. Prune juice aroma with some dark bread crust. Flavor is red fruits, pumpernickel, and the always cloying sweetness of crystal malt. Smooth mouthfeel, underhopped, clean, boring.
Oct 23, 2008
Photo of Maudite
Reviewed by Maudite from Texas

3.87/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
A- Had to knock off a few points for the color...it is certainly a Pale Ale, however, it is a few shades darker than one should be (perhaps too much specialty grains). Exactly the colour of an ipa, a reddish caramel with a nice light tan head, foamy and heavy, about 1 finger thick.

S- Like the label reads, a fruity, malty aroma. Alot of ale yeast esters going on here... Some fruit reminiscent of cherry, yeasty, rich and bready. The malts stand out here, too, with sweet, caramel notes. Hop presence is slight, but definitely there. i get a tad bit of grass, a very subtle citric floral quality, perhaps herbal...almost like lemon grass. Great nose on this distinguished pale ale. Going by style guidlines, not quite typical, so I should knock some points off, but it is inventive and wonderful, so...

T- Much like the nose, the malts and yeast are the stars in this pale ale. The hops hide until the very tail, where they come in very dry and pleasant, floral like honeysuckle. Bready, malty, slightly fruity. This is alot like an English pale more than an American, even more so towards an ESB even. Great tasting ale with some interesting and delicious characteristics.

M- A little lacking in the mouth... Some slight sticky sweet from the malts, a coating effect from the yeast (that stays in the palate longer than anything), and some drying from the hops.

D- This is a very enjoyable beer. I've had it with dinner and with a warm Bay Area day. Good for all occasions. Recommended.
Jun 08, 2008
Photo of GClarkage
Reviewed by GClarkage from California

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
04/08/08- Purchased at Ledger's Liquors in Berkeley, CA.

Presentation- 12oz bottle with no visable freshness dating. Poured into my Anderson Valley pint glass.

Appearance- Deeper copper colored pour, slighly clouded and yeasty. 1/2 inch head, in which a slight ring stays for the duration. Leaves very light lace circles and spots.

Smell- Kinda smells like a macro IPA if such a thing exists. I get a real nice whiff of tropical fruit hoppiness and even a few herbal notes, but on the other hand I get a rice nose as well. The fruit flavor carries the scent though.

Taste- Reminds me of a hoppy and more refreshing tasting Sapporro. Is this a lager or an ale? The sweetness of the malt is what hits first, followed by the Sapporro rice taste and lastly with a decent punch of floral and fruity hops.

Mouthfeel- Pretty nice carbonation level with a slight bitter hoppy aftertaste.

Drinkability- If the sweetness level of the malt was brought down just a bit, this would be a fabulous session beer, in particular with spicy foods or sushi. As is a nice beer with some different qualities.
Apr 11, 2008
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle received via I Want That BIF 2 from lou91. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, forming a 1" beige head over the cloudy orangey amber brew. Dense head hangs around nicely, with lots of sticky lasting lacing. Aroma is rich fresh grain with light hoppy character. Taste is deeply worty, not that there's anything wrong with that, with only the lightest bitterness to close. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both very nice. Some would bash for the wort character, but all in all it's a nice quaff and I'd gladly have a few.
Aug 05, 2007
Photo of IntriqKen
Reviewed by IntriqKen from California

4.36/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Originally brewed at Sierra Nevada until the brewer moved to Anderson Valley for his brew. Advertised as an Asian Pale Ale.
Poured a moderately dark amber in the glass...really tea colored.... with a full two-finger head that melts slowly to very sticky lacing.
Aromas are mostly sweet malts with some breadiness.
Taste is sweetly toasted amber malt, some bread in the middle, then a minor splash of hop bitterness and drying. Just a splash, however. This beer is mostly about the sweet malt and borders more ESB than a Pale Ale.
Refreshing none the less...just a bit sweet if you are expecting some of the hoppiness in an APA. All in all a wonderful session brew, however.
Jun 13, 2007
Photo of DogFood11
Reviewed by DogFood11 from California

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On the side of the label it says "Made by Anderson Valley Brewing Co, Boonville, CA". A contract brew I would guess but for now this is a good spot to place it. Its a pale ale according to the label but it seems to lean towards an Amber in my book. Poured into a tulip it forms a tan head that leaves sliding lace behind. Amber body.

Plenty of toasted malts giving it a wheat toast feel to it. Earthy, followed by a sweetened backside. Carbonation tends to sizzle the taste in a bit and the bitterness is a quick flash about halfway through. Maybe seeing that its brewed by Anderson valley has me thinking of this similarity but the boont amber ale cant be but two shades away from a dead hit, if not a dead hit on this offering.

Notes: Not your typical hoppy pale ale. This leans mightily towards the softer malt bill.
Apr 09, 2007
Cháu Tiên Pale Ale from Cháu Tiên USA
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 19 ratings