Charleston Pale Ale
Carolina Beer Company

Charleston Pale AleCharleston Pale Ale
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From:
Carolina Beer Company
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
5.7%
Score:
78
Avg:
3.25 | pDev: 14.46%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
29
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 08, 2009
Added:
May 02, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by marc77:
Photo of marc77
Reviewed by marc77 from California

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Dark copper hue w/ a light haze, topped by a one fingered off white persistant head that manages lace. The aroma is dominated by pungent, citrusy Cascade, w/ medium caramel malt sweetness secondary. Dry biscuit malt rounds the aroma out. Moderate hop bitterness upfront gives way to a medium caramel malt sweetness, which is contrasted by dry, toasted malt and notes of butterscotch. Hop flavor is grapefruit like, but not overly assertive. Lightly bodied, w/ a mouthfeel that approaches being watery, but full enough to facilitate overall crispness and good drinkability. Finishes w/ a snap of sweetness ceded by bready malt. A surprisngly well balanced and drinkable pale that exhibits no flaws, but Charleston Pale possesses no outstanding qualities except for a hop bitterness slightly above the norm.
Oct 15, 2002
More User Ratings:
Photo of Durge
Reviewed by Durge from Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had this at the Carolina Ale House at the RDU Airport. Pours a yellow amber color with a big bubbled decent off-white head and very nice lacing. The aroma is of very light citrus wheat and vague bready malt. Not very bold but OK.the flavor is crisp citrus hop and biscuit wheat, bright and refreshing with excellent effervescence. It's very drinkable but the flavor is nothing out of the ordinary, decent but not memorable. It does have a nice feel for the style, on the light side but well suited for a drinkable pale ale. The hop character does seem to improve as you go, pretty dry. And you do pick up some caramel, near butterscotch qualities. So actually I would say this an alright APA, worth trying and well suited to a quick bite to eat between flights.
Oct 08, 2009
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

2.68/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
Pours a dark cider color with a cloudy body and only a cap of head. Something is off in tthe smell as it is dominated by malt and barely a whiff of hops. What kind of pale ale is this? Fresh yeast and a touch of alcohol also make their presence known but its still a vary unfamilar APA odor.

Caramel malts and a nutty, sweet finish are the first noticeable attributes of the taste. I can also detect some kind of vegetation in there and it's not helping out much. Mouthfeel is reasonable and helps this brew retain some dignity. This isn't absolutely terrible, but pale ale it isn't. It reminds me a lot of the current incarnation of Pete's Wicked, which is a weak, hopless, spineless brown ale. 'Nuff said. Pass.
Oct 01, 2006
Photo of Enola
Reviewed by Enola from North Carolina

2.26/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Oh no. I am not sure what the brewers were intending here. This beer looks good going into a pint glass but is goes south pdq. The beer is a browninsh color with fine floaters. The smell is herbal and medicinal. The taste is bitter and there is a molasses taste. The mouthfeel is bitter and dominated by the bad aftertaste. There is alos the taste of carrots in the aftertaste. I would not drink this again. This beer is more of a brown ale than a pale ale.
Aug 23, 2006
Photo of wcudwight
Reviewed by wcudwight from North Carolina

2.62/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
Appearance is like that of an IPA. Kind of a red/orange/brown in color with a sticky off-white head. The head has decent retention. Is this beer bottle-conditioned? There's quite a few floaties in it.
Smell is pretty good and more hoppy than I expected.
Taste starts off wonderful. Similar to Highland's St. Terese Pale Ale. But thin something happens. The flavor becomes undrinkabley bitter and off. It leaves a putrid aftertaste in the mouth.
Medium bodied. Nothing to exciting in the mouthfeel, but nothing to complain about either.
This beer is undrinkable due to the horrid finish and aftertaste
Not recommended.
Aug 12, 2006
Photo of Cresant
Reviewed by Cresant from Kentucky

2.87/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Poured this undated 12 oz. into an IPA glass. Created a 2 finger head that slowly faded to a tiny ring. Clear brown/copper/amber body.

Smell was like opening and breathing in from a loaf of Earth Grains sandwich bread. Sweet.

Tasted mirrored the smell, with some mild hop pine needle raspiness.

Tiny pin-prickle zestiness on the tongue. Drying finish.

Not bad but I would not purchase another bottle.
Aug 05, 2006
Photo of bjohnson
Reviewed by bjohnson from Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at Soiree in Mooresville, NC.

A: Pours a copper color with a one finger white head that has slight retention, but leaves no lace.
S: Slight hop presence of fruit hits the nostrils first with an undertone of bready malt that follows. Not very powerful, but noticeable.
T, M, & D: A bit of hoppyness and maltyness but just an average tasting pale ale. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mouthfeel is pretty good. Slick with a no bitter aftertaste. Goes down very smoothly. Definately a highly drinkable session type beer. Refreshing. I would have this again if I had the chance.
May 15, 2006
Photo of jimbotrost
Reviewed by jimbotrost from Michigan

2.69/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Sampled from bottle purchased in mix 6 pack at Southern Market in Myrtle Beach. Sampling done 03-23-06. The liquid is a deep copper to amber color with a medium white/off white head. Carbonation level is nice. Nose is malty but diacetyl is lurking not far beneath. Flavor is malty with tones of under attenuation or age, not sure which. Finish is long and sweet and lacking hops. Makes me think this was old.
Mar 25, 2006
Photo of mentor
Reviewed by mentor from Colorado

3.54/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle provided amid a bunch of stuff given to me for volunteering at 2005 GABF. Thanks, I appreciate the opportunity to try the craft beers provided in my package. Pours a half finger tan head over a murky orange-brown liquid. Smells like pine-sol. Uh-oh. This appears to have used the piney hops that I'm not too fond of. Well, my appreciation is growing with each piney beer I try, so let's give it a go. Smells lemon peel oil, pine needles, and a citrus acid sting. Tastes smokey when pulled in, then piney hops with a light oil to balance. The smoke was a weird start, but the pine and orangish oil was a really interesting combination. The soapy hops give way to a pine hop finish that's complimented by a caramel sweetness. The aftertaste is lemon floral hops with a pine edge. Despite the piney hops, I'm enjoying this beer. It's got a nice assortment of flavors and they all work together in complimentary ways. Md-light carbonation and md body. Mouthfeel is thick, almost like you'd get in an oatmeal stout. Not silky like an oatmeal stout, but thick creamy like an oatmeal stout.
Oct 14, 2005
Photo of hustlemuscle
Reviewed by hustlemuscle from Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Oddly brownish orange. Thin but even head. Cloudy, minimal carbonation.

Pungent fruit and light bready malts greet the nose, a similar taste greets the toungue. Mildly hopped, to say the least. Overall a bit watery and thin, and bland. Like the skeleton of a good beer, unfortunatly.
Aug 24, 2005
Photo of Stimack
Reviewed by Stimack from New York

2.67/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Was able to try this brew while on a trip to NC. Glad that I tries a number and did not stick with this Charleston brew as I found it mediocre at best. This brew pored to a dark amber color with an off-white to light beige colored head. The retention was fairly good, over all it was not a bad looking brew. The aroma is of hops leading to a fruit like smell and some roasted malts. Normally this mix of aromas would interest me greatly but something about the aroma makes it somewhat off for me, just not sure what it is? The taste is definitely highlighted by a hop like characteristic but I also sense something else as the brew finishes, almost like the brew having a flat like characteristic. I am glad that I tried some other local brews while I was in NC; this was brew did not live up to what I expected.
Mar 01, 2005
Photo of Backer2004
Reviewed by Backer2004 from North Carolina

3.77/5  rDev +16%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
So much for this being a Pale Ale by appearance. Could be confused with an amber or red ale. No carbonation or head rentention. Tastes of bitterness and floral hops that supports my claim as Carolina Beer and Beverage as one of the best all around brewers in the United States. Not too difficult to drink but it's not for everyone, espcially those who don't like the bitter taste. Enjoy.
Dec 31, 2004
Photo of oberon
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Have had this beer a few times and at times really enjoyed it and other times it seemed to really fall flat,the best I ever had was on tap at Laddy and Dukes down the street where the fruity malt flavors came thru more than any other time.Pours a copper/amber with a decent head most of the time aromas of toasted malt and some caramel really malt accent in the aroma not any hop presence at all I think.Taste as well in malt accented fruity and caramelly I pick up some late lingering hop bitterness but its really light.I go back to this brew alot its quite cheap and accessable but it by no means knocks my socks off.
Oct 27, 2004
Photo of Dogbrick
Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
From City Beverage in Winston-Salem. Pours a lightly hazy pale amber color with light effervescence. Thin off-white head and minimal lacing. The aroma is lightly hopped with a little caramel added. The body is on the light side and rather fizzy, with a light hops flavor throughout, and an underlying sweet maltyness. The finish falls a little flat and makes the beer a kind of bland overall. This could be better, because they have the foundation for a decent beer here.
Dec 22, 2003
Photo of Shiloh
Reviewed by Shiloh from Canada (ON)

3.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A cloudy copper offering with a body that is full with active carbonation. The taste has a definite malt sweetness to it. I'm picking up ginger with just a faint hint of carmel.
It finishes well with a salute to the hops.
My first impression was unfavourable...that has changed. I liked it.
That said, I don't think I could consume more than a couple at any one sitting.
Oct 08, 2003
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.51/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The ale poured to a slightly hazy copper color with a mediocre off-white head. The aroma was nice, but I expected some more floral accents. The taste was slighlty unbalanced as the maltiness overran the hops, but not enough to upset me since the hops were definitely present. The malt lingered on the tongue, and the there was a slightly bitter aftertaste. I found this to be quite drinkable. The carbonation was perfect and the head formed a nice lace on the glass.
Sep 10, 2003
Photo of beerguy101
Reviewed by beerguy101 from California

3.58/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pale Brown color, small head. Mild malty aroma. Medium bodied pale ale. Mild malts and fairly hoppy. Good mild flavor. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is crisp and clean. Aftertaste is slightly bitter. Very drinkble milder Pale Ale, but not really outstanding.
Aug 06, 2003
Photo of kbub6f
Reviewed by kbub6f from New York

3.92/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bought at Bill's Liquor Store, Sea Island Parkway in Beaufort, South Carolina, 1800 miles in my trunk.

The medium-size, cream-colored head is somewhat dense, leaving minimal, dissolving lacing. The beer is a hazy, dark-amber brown. Woah. Hoppy nose! Some sweetish malt and a touch of chocolate in there too. The chocolate front gives way to a full malty middle. Nice and creamy when warm. The finish turns from bitter hops to nuts.

This is a tasty beer. Plenty of creamy maltiness balances the strong hopping (just don't drink it too cold). Very enjoyable.
Jul 04, 2003
Photo of aaronh
Reviewed by aaronh from Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Twist off cap, freshness date not marked.

This beer pours a hazy, medium orange amber topped by a cream colored, one-inch head. The head quickly fades to a thin layer of foam that sticks around forever, leaving a nice lacing on the glass. The aroma is mostly sweet roasted malt with some caramel notes and just a touch of earthy hops. The taste is maybe a bit off, and doesn't match the aroma very well. There is an overpowering woodiness to this beer, like trying to eat mossy oak chips covered with a fine layer of humus. The sweetness that the aroma promised must have checked out early, becuase I can't find it at any temperature in this beer. Just a dominating oak profile that tastes like the smoking woodchips I use in my barbecue grille. However, the hops are assertive enough to make their prescence known on the finish. The mouthfeel is decent, but the drinkability suffers due to the feeling I'm chewing on a stick like a dog that's tired of playing fetch. It's a beer that teases the senses with a promise of a sweeter malty ale, then disappoints and delivers a shovelful of forest debris.
Mar 27, 2003
Photo of LarryKemp
Reviewed by LarryKemp from Texas

3.67/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This pale ale poured a hazy brown rather than golden or amber with an average white head. The head retention was okay and left little lace.

Although I cold smell the hops, the malt predominated the aroma. But the taste was far different. The hops grabbed the tongue at first touch. The bitterness was good but not overpowering. Then the malty sweetness crept in and equalled the hops. But at the finish, the hoppiness lingered for a long time.

The mouthfeel was light and not overly thirst quenching. The flavors played more on the mouth than the liquid's properties.

This beer is quite drinkable and I would recommend it as a pale ale to understand the style.
Mar 04, 2003
Charleston Pale Ale from Carolina Beer Company
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 29 ratings