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Hawaiian Style Pale Ale
Spearhead Brewing Company
- From:
- Spearhead Brewing Company
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #578 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,305 - Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 8.81%
- Reviews:
- 50
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 09, 2023
- Added:
- May 28, 2011
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 22
Aloha from Toronto! As the name suggests, this bold, hoppy West Coast pale ale is brewed Hawaiian style—with pineapple. It is naturally carbonated, unfiltered and dry-hopped to provide a delicate carbonation and complex flavour and bouquet. This perfectly "imbalanced" pale ale has a fresh citrusy character with hints of tropical fruit, zest and pine and a refreshingly dry finish.
60 IBU
60 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by LoveBeerNo7:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by swim from Canada (ON)
3.81/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: Translucent copper orange with a thin head and some bubbles
S: Faint floral perfumy spicy hoppy citrus
T: Bold lightly resiny piney grapefruit pith citrus hops and toasty caramel malts. A touch sweet with moderate bitterness. Not really detecting any pineapple.
F: Medium body and nice carbonation, frothy and moderately dry.
O: Great tasting and well balanced IPA but I wouldn't have guessed it was made with pineapple.
May 07, 2022S: Faint floral perfumy spicy hoppy citrus
T: Bold lightly resiny piney grapefruit pith citrus hops and toasty caramel malts. A touch sweet with moderate bitterness. Not really detecting any pineapple.
F: Medium body and nice carbonation, frothy and moderately dry.
O: Great tasting and well balanced IPA but I wouldn't have guessed it was made with pineapple.
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)
4.23/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I bought a can at lcbo in Ontario poured a 2finger head .
taste is pineapple and citrus and hints of fruits
very smooth and refreshing.
overall I'm liking this beer and probably would buy it again someday.
cheers
Nov 02, 2020taste is pineapple and citrus and hints of fruits
very smooth and refreshing.
overall I'm liking this beer and probably would buy it again someday.
cheers
Reviewed by InspectorHound from Canada (ON)
3.7/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Very pretty earthy copper with hints of brown. Slightly hazy. This beer catches the light in all kinds of interesting ways. Pours with a 2 finger rocky with with copper hints head. The only disappointment looks wise is the head retention isn't great after 5 minutes the head has faded leaving a ring of lace around the sides of the glass.
Smell: Floral notes. Very little pineapple. Strong bubblegum aroma.
Taste: Sweet and earthy with a damp muskiness. A little snap of bitterness on the back end. Somewhat sharp and unbalenced at the end as well. Best served cold. As it warms the bitterness and sharp edge becomes more prominent. Any pineapple flavours are reminiscent of the husk and head of the pineapple and not the fruit. I taste more mango and cantaloupe.
Feel: Rich creamy body. Plays all over the tongue.
I wanted to love this beer, as pineapple is a favorite of mine. Promising from the look and smell, but the taste left something to be desired. This beer earns a B.
Aug 28, 2020Smell: Floral notes. Very little pineapple. Strong bubblegum aroma.
Taste: Sweet and earthy with a damp muskiness. A little snap of bitterness on the back end. Somewhat sharp and unbalenced at the end as well. Best served cold. As it warms the bitterness and sharp edge becomes more prominent. Any pineapple flavours are reminiscent of the husk and head of the pineapple and not the fruit. I taste more mango and cantaloupe.
Feel: Rich creamy body. Plays all over the tongue.
I wanted to love this beer, as pineapple is a favorite of mine. Promising from the look and smell, but the taste left something to be desired. This beer earns a B.
Reviewed by PorterPro125 from Canada (NB)
4.1/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Serving Type: 473 mL Can
L- Pours a hazy slight amber, topped by a 1 finger white foamy head. Excellent retention and heavy lacing.
S- Caramel malt and the distinct scent of sweet pineapple.
T- Caramel malt, pineapple, slight citrus bite.
F- Medium body and moderate carbonation. Thin steams of fine bubbles.
O- Overall an excellent brew. Great flavour and great "drinkability".
Mar 04, 2019L- Pours a hazy slight amber, topped by a 1 finger white foamy head. Excellent retention and heavy lacing.
S- Caramel malt and the distinct scent of sweet pineapple.
T- Caramel malt, pineapple, slight citrus bite.
F- Medium body and moderate carbonation. Thin steams of fine bubbles.
O- Overall an excellent brew. Great flavour and great "drinkability".
Reviewed by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)
3.58/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Clean copper with enthusiastic effervescence and a light lacing as the beer is consumed.
The nose is bereft of pineapple despite that being an ingredient. Mild floral hops
Slight and pleasant sweetness on the tongue with a broad spectrum of floral, mild grassy and tropical fruit notes. Still, no distinct pineapple presence.
Medium bodied with bright carbonation.
A middling to good Pale that is dissaponting if only for the lack of pineapple that is expected.
Jan 27, 2019The nose is bereft of pineapple despite that being an ingredient. Mild floral hops
Slight and pleasant sweetness on the tongue with a broad spectrum of floral, mild grassy and tropical fruit notes. Still, no distinct pineapple presence.
Medium bodied with bright carbonation.
A middling to good Pale that is dissaponting if only for the lack of pineapple that is expected.
Reviewed by TheBierdimpfe from Canada (QC)
3.73/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Medium: Canned.
Opacity: Slightly hazy and cloudy.
Color: Dark gold/light amber with moderate activity.
Head: Foamy and slightly creamy beige 3 finger.
Legs: Good with nice swirl reaction.
Smell: Pineapples/Butter.
Taste: Caramel/Grapefruit/Dry hops.
Feel: Grainy/Tropical/Citrusy.
Body: Slick and smooth medium to full.
Carbonation: Moderate crisp.
Overall: Cross IPA and APA, still quite fresh at first before the bitterness hits. Very good quality.
Visual 8/10 - Flavors 7/10 - Sensations 8/10 - Balance 7/10 -
Freshness 7/10 - Intensity 8/10 - Complexity 8/10 - Appreciation 7.5/10
Dec 31, 2018Opacity: Slightly hazy and cloudy.
Color: Dark gold/light amber with moderate activity.
Head: Foamy and slightly creamy beige 3 finger.
Legs: Good with nice swirl reaction.
Smell: Pineapples/Butter.
Taste: Caramel/Grapefruit/Dry hops.
Feel: Grainy/Tropical/Citrusy.
Body: Slick and smooth medium to full.
Carbonation: Moderate crisp.
Overall: Cross IPA and APA, still quite fresh at first before the bitterness hits. Very good quality.
Visual 8/10 - Flavors 7/10 - Sensations 8/10 - Balance 7/10 -
Freshness 7/10 - Intensity 8/10 - Complexity 8/10 - Appreciation 7.5/10
Reviewed by Jesterr44 from Canada (ON)
3.43/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a virtually transparent amber colour with a tall fluffy, almost sticky looking beige head which fades to a thin beige sheet at a medium pace. Sticks to the glass at the edges; I expect some lacing. Aroma includes some pineapple and other fruit, but also a dull sweet malt which makes me think I shouldn't expect too much from this beer. The first sip lets the fruit shine through and the sickly-sour malt I'm bracing for does not show itself. Some pine towards the finish & only a touch of astringent bitterness. Subsequent sips however allow a metallic lager-like flavour to overwhelm the good flavour from the hops and this winds up being a beer which does not deliver in the way the label suggests. Enjoyable enough, not quite a 'regular beer' but neither a beer without boundaries as the label promises.
Dec 12, 2018Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.24/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
3.24/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
I can't fault this beer for good concept and creative marketing; but, its recipe seems to pander with too much bitterness to the North American palate.
But there is truth in advertising: the can calls it "imbalanced." While it Looks and Smells above average, the unnecessary bitterness takes the beer downhill from there. And I like the can's "Beer Without Boundaries" slug on it. But, they let the hops over-run the malts on this one. It is Spearhead's cash cow, just not one I'd give my cash to again.
Aug 12, 2018But there is truth in advertising: the can calls it "imbalanced." While it Looks and Smells above average, the unnecessary bitterness takes the beer downhill from there. And I like the can's "Beer Without Boundaries" slug on it. But, they let the hops over-run the malts on this one. It is Spearhead's cash cow, just not one I'd give my cash to again.
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio
3.6/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
473 ml can
Served in a tulip glass
This beer pours a brilliant amber color with burnt orange highlights. It is topped with two inches of tan head that leaves spotty lacing.
The smell is light citrus with hints of pineapple. There is plenty of malt aroma to balance the beer.
The taste starts out with bready malt up front. I get some citrus through the middle. The finish is bitter and piney. The pineapple is subtle but detectable from time to time.
Medium mouthfeel
It's an average pale ale. I probably would have rated it higher five or six years ago. Now I am more picky and there are vastly more options.
Jun 22, 2018Served in a tulip glass
This beer pours a brilliant amber color with burnt orange highlights. It is topped with two inches of tan head that leaves spotty lacing.
The smell is light citrus with hints of pineapple. There is plenty of malt aroma to balance the beer.
The taste starts out with bready malt up front. I get some citrus through the middle. The finish is bitter and piney. The pineapple is subtle but detectable from time to time.
Medium mouthfeel
It's an average pale ale. I probably would have rated it higher five or six years ago. Now I am more picky and there are vastly more options.
Hawaiian Style Pale Ale from Spearhead Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
130 ratings
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