Desert Pale Ale
Indian Wells Brewing Company

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From:
Indian Wells Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
4.7%
Score:
75
Avg:
2.68 | pDev: 38.81%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
11
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 21, 2014
Added:
Jun 21, 2008
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by gpogo:
Photo of gpogo
Reviewed by gpogo from California

2.85/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A- Clear amber with small off-white head that dissipates into a ring. Left no lacing.

A- slightly bitter malt aroma

T- It's mostly malty, followed by a bit of bittering. There isn't much of a hop flavor. I wonder if this bottle is old and the hop flavor has mellowed(though I bought the bottle straight from the brewery).

M- Medium body and moderate-low carbonation.

D- Interesting take on an APA, though generally APAs are a bit more hop flavored to the point where the malt is less noticeable. Try it if you get a chance, but I plan on sticking with other APAs.
Jun 21, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of jbuckhead
Reviewed by jbuckhead from California

2.64/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Visited he Indian Wells Brewery today on my way back from a ably Scout fishing trip, so I couldn't sample anything while there. Too bad for me because I bought a mixed case of the two I've tried so far this place is shaping up to be a disappointment. Expected this to be a pale ale since that's what it's called, but the color was closer to amber. Taste was like one of my first extract brews I made at home, little depth, not quite fully fermented. Not something I would try again (that is after I finish the other five bottles from the six pack).
Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 1.75 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Jan 09, 2013
 
Rated: 1.75 by t0rin0 from California

Oct 14, 2012
 
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

1.51/5  rDev -43.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1
Indian Wells mix pack provided by Bobby.

A: The beer pours a slightly hazed golden-orange with a thin white head.

S: Sugary and candy like citrus peel. There's a lot of metal going on here/ There's quite a bit of rotten fruits and toffee, too. Maybe a touch of butter. A little bit of floral character, too.

T: Tastes like chewing on a metal trash can. There's some green tomato flavor and a bit of salt. Stale hops and bread maybe a bit of bitterness.

M: The body is light and watery with a moderate carbonation.

D: Like almost all Indian Wells beers, this is not worth drinking.
Feb 21, 2011
Photo of largadeer
Reviewed by largadeer from California

1.91/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
12 oz bottle generously shared by alfrantzell.

Pale and golden in color with decent clarity and a thin white head. This isn't a bad looking pale ale, though head retention is poor.

The smell, on the other hand, is quite bad. Intensely buttery with a smattering of caramel, this is entirely too reminiscent of butter toffee. There's not much in the way of hops, but I do get notes of buttered bread and honey.

Buttery and slick on the palate while simultaneously grainy and vegetal, with a slight and certainly odd astringent finish that could be mistaken for hop bitterness, but ultimately reminds me more of tannic grain husk. The diacetyl is rather intense, making for a godawful and nearly undrinkable pale ale.

Indian Wells never disappoints. These guys are quickly becoming one of my favorite craft breweries.
Jun 23, 2010
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

1.81/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
C+, really? Above average for the style? Wow, people are lenient.

12oz bottle, big thanks to alfrantzell on BA for sharing this.

Decent appearance - clear copper with a small white head and average retention.

Aroma is fairly faint with sweet malt and orange notes. Some butteriness.

Flavor is gut-wrenching. There is a harsh orange/mimosa note reminiscent of their nasty Orange Blossom. Butter, soap, vegetables, and sweet malt back it up.

Harsh astringent palate with medium-light body.

Chalk up another clunker for Indian Wells. Drizzain to da pizzour. The crazy thing is that this is actually one of the better beers I've had from them.
Jun 18, 2010
Photo of JBogan
Reviewed by JBogan from California

2.82/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours a like copper with a very small head. Almost no lacing is left on the glass.

Smells of cascade hops and caramel.

Taste is also mostly hop forward, with a bit of pine balanced by a hint of citrus and sweet malt. Actually it sounds better in words than it tasted.

Mouthfeel was smooth but flat.

Not one of the better pale ales out there. Not a beer I'd be interested in having again.
Feb 16, 2010
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.58/5  rDev +33.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: pours a clear orange color with a 2" head. Some spotty lacing develops.

Smell: caramel, fruit sweetness, and a soft floral bitterness.

Taste: a slightly bready profile. Caramel, ripe red fruits, orange slices, and a mellow bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp throughout. Aftertaste is short-lived.

Drinkability: this pale ale is a bit above average but not as refreshing as I like as the bitterness is a bit to mild.
Apr 01, 2009
Photo of cbrown1
Reviewed by cbrown1 from Pennsylvania

3.82/5  rDev +42.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
I received this beer through a beer of the month club and after emailing the company I was complelled to write a review on here because this beer is better than previously stated. This is an easy drinking well balanced brew. There is a front end hop flavor to it with a slight honey flavor followed up by the malty back end. This APA doesn't overpower you like some IPA's or Double Pale Ales. You could definitely drink a few of these without feeling like you are chewing on a hop plant. I like what they did with this brew.
Aug 28, 2008
Desert Pale Ale from Indian Wells Brewing Company
Beer rating: 75 out of 100 with 11 ratings