Across The Nation Upper Reaches
Central City Brewers + Distillers
- From:
- Central City Brewers + Distillers
- British Columbia, Canada
- Style:
- Fruit and Field Beer
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 82
- Avg:
- 3.56 | pDev: 9.55%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 12
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 20, 2018
- Added:
- Apr 30, 2017
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
Collaboration with Beau's All Natural Brewing Company
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Borbly:
Reviewed by Borbly from Canada ()
3.36/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.36/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours to give a clear, bright amber body with a nice half inch fine head that sustains itself pretty well. On the nose, notes of spruce, piney hops, some light fresh peach, and a bit of noble malt characteristics are present, making for a pleasant balance as the hops aren't too sharp and the peach isn't sweet. On the palate, a vague hoppy bitterness starts things out followed by a strange chemical-tasting grassy hint. It does combine to give a fresh, slightly peachy tone with time, but it is still a bit out of touch. The finish isn't bad, but it does have a soapy bitterness which lingers through, which I can't say I like. Not terrible - not good. Probably one of the poorer performers from an otherwise great mix pack.
Jul 01, 2017More User Ratings:
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
3.87/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Straw with very little haze, lots of soda like carbonation and a finger of off white head.
Smells of apples, honey, and cinnamon.
The taste is of menthol, sage, slightly sweet and is very earthy.
Light body, moderate carbonation, and a dry, tannic finish.
Got with the Across the Nation pack, drinking in Muskoka, ON, March 20th, 2018. Very unique, not really getting peaches but its very earthy and herbal.
Mar 20, 2018Smells of apples, honey, and cinnamon.
The taste is of menthol, sage, slightly sweet and is very earthy.
Light body, moderate carbonation, and a dry, tannic finish.
Got with the Across the Nation pack, drinking in Muskoka, ON, March 20th, 2018. Very unique, not really getting peaches but its very earthy and herbal.
Reviewed by TheHammer from Canada (ON)
3.57/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.57/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: A very cloudy, almost mustard seed like yellow with brown highlights that shows steady carbonation. Only a half finger of head that did leave two brief rings of lace before departing far too soon. Hits some notes right but others leave me skeptical.
Smell: Smells fruity as peach is upfront and centre backed by a dose of spruce. Who would have thought that a beer brewed with peaches and spruce tips would smell as such? Anyways, there is a bit of a caramel malt in the background and warming didn't really help or hurt it's case.
Taste: Once more, who would, nay could have thought a beer brewed with peaches and spruce tips would taste as such? Alright, I'll stop. The beer peach, honey and caramel malt starts us off with the barest hint of spruce who then rises to face it's peachey adversary and low, by the barest note due to reinforcements from a peculiar pepper note and some form of hops come forward leaving only a spruce snap in the aftermath as a sign of it's victory.
Mouthfeel: Points get deducted for the lack of head, but the carbonation helps out the entire beer and the transitioning is fairly good. The spruce oil aftertaste that seems to cloy at the end of it I wish was milder.
Drinkability: Very easy to drink, very light on the system and if not for it's aftertaste, would make the perfect late spring guzzler. That said, given this was a one off, I don't think that will ever be the case.
Final Thoughts: I initially didn't realize this beer was brewed with peaches and spruce tips. I thought this seemed awfully fruity for a pale ale, and I kinda like where this is going. For the most part, I liked it and wouldn't mind seeing more of it's ilk come to pass. Thumbs up, but that said...maybe fewer spruce tips next time.
Jan 24, 2018Smell: Smells fruity as peach is upfront and centre backed by a dose of spruce. Who would have thought that a beer brewed with peaches and spruce tips would smell as such? Anyways, there is a bit of a caramel malt in the background and warming didn't really help or hurt it's case.
Taste: Once more, who would, nay could have thought a beer brewed with peaches and spruce tips would taste as such? Alright, I'll stop. The beer peach, honey and caramel malt starts us off with the barest hint of spruce who then rises to face it's peachey adversary and low, by the barest note due to reinforcements from a peculiar pepper note and some form of hops come forward leaving only a spruce snap in the aftermath as a sign of it's victory.
Mouthfeel: Points get deducted for the lack of head, but the carbonation helps out the entire beer and the transitioning is fairly good. The spruce oil aftertaste that seems to cloy at the end of it I wish was milder.
Drinkability: Very easy to drink, very light on the system and if not for it's aftertaste, would make the perfect late spring guzzler. That said, given this was a one off, I don't think that will ever be the case.
Final Thoughts: I initially didn't realize this beer was brewed with peaches and spruce tips. I thought this seemed awfully fruity for a pale ale, and I kinda like where this is going. For the most part, I liked it and wouldn't mind seeing more of it's ilk come to pass. Thumbs up, but that said...maybe fewer spruce tips next time.
Reviewed by Poljazz22 from Canada (QC)
3.29/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.29/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Review #10 from the 12 pack mix from Across the Nation
I'm sorry I am not a fan of spruce beer so this wont get my votes. It is a nice peachy colour with a white head. There are some peach aromas and some spruce. I like the choice of malts not too sweet with some nice carbonation. But The spruce tips turn the beer into toothpaste...so not for me
Sep 23, 2017I'm sorry I am not a fan of spruce beer so this wont get my votes. It is a nice peachy colour with a white head. There are some peach aromas and some spruce. I like the choice of malts not too sweet with some nice carbonation. But The spruce tips turn the beer into toothpaste...so not for me
Rated by ewpass from Canada (PE)
3.66/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Hazy orange with small head. Fresh peach and light malt on the nose. Malt with a little pungency from the spruce to taste. Some sourness to finish.
Aug 16, 2017
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.61/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.61/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
330 ml bottle served cold into a pint glass. This collaboration with Beau's out of Vankleek Hill in Ontario. Review from notes.
Appearance - Amber with orange hues. Long lasting finger of white head. Some haze throughout.
Smell - Hints of peaches and honey. Not much else and subtle but welcoming. More intense aromas as it warms.
Taste - Fairly sweet, again with peaches and honey. Thinness to the flavor and alcohol is imperceptible.
Mouthfeel - Fairly light, but a a touch cloying. Carbonation is reasonably expressive.
Overall - Pretty decent for a collaboration pack. Light and summer fun and more cohesive than you'd think. Even still this isn't one I'd go out of my way to get again.
Jul 25, 2017Appearance - Amber with orange hues. Long lasting finger of white head. Some haze throughout.
Smell - Hints of peaches and honey. Not much else and subtle but welcoming. More intense aromas as it warms.
Taste - Fairly sweet, again with peaches and honey. Thinness to the flavor and alcohol is imperceptible.
Mouthfeel - Fairly light, but a a touch cloying. Carbonation is reasonably expressive.
Overall - Pretty decent for a collaboration pack. Light and summer fun and more cohesive than you'd think. Even still this isn't one I'd go out of my way to get again.
Reviewed by andrenaline from Canada (ON)
4.1/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I really liked this one, best of the bunch IMO. The spruce tips are strong but flavourful and the peach juice is subtle but complements well. It's one of those love it or hate it beers and I'm lovin' it.
Jul 22, 2017
Reviewed by StormAles from Canada (ON)
4.33/5 rDev +21.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +21.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Frankly, I don't understand the hate boner for peach and spruce tips. This pale ale hits it out of the park for me, the light citrusy fruity sweetness of the peaches compliments the fruity hopped character, while the spicy wild spruce compliments the piney hoppiness provided from bittering additions. The character of this pale ale is spot on, and critics seem to just be looking for something to find wrong with the beer.
Jul 16, 2017
Rated by spinrsx from Canada (ON)
3.18/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
3.18/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
Bottle from the LCBO for around $2
Jul 10, 2017
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.55/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.55/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
330 mL bottle from the LCBO; one of six included in their "Across the Nation Collaboration (East)" mixed pack. Dated Mar 28 2017 and served slightly chilled. Happy Canada Day!
Pours a clear orange-amber colour, capped off by a half-cm of loose, bubbly white head that vanishes within 60 seconds; a sickly-thin collar of foam is the only remnant. The aroma is fairly subtle, with hints of conifer resin/oil, apricot and peach coming through, but not a whole lot else - perhaps some bready malts, graininess and light caramel sweetness. Underwhelming so far.
The taste is a step up, but only a slight one - as others have suggested, spruce tips and peaches were an odd combination to go with, but I did find this to be an interesting sipper. The malts are bready, imparting some caramelized sugar sweetness as flavours of peach and apricot begin to come into focus by mid-sip. Hops and spruce tips dominate the back end, with pine resin and conifer needle flavours combining with earthy, herbal, slightly floral hop bitterness at the finish. A brief surge of peach juice appears in time for the aftertaste, fading quickly and leaving only some spruce tip astringency to linger on the palate. Light-medium in body, nearing medium; the carbonation levels are moderate, and the overall mouthfeel is fairly smooth and satisfying.
Final Grade: 3.55, a B grade. Upper Reaches is far from the strangest beer in the Beau's portfolio, but it's still a pretty weird one. The spruce tips just don't really work with the juicy-sweet peach flavours - they clash with each other, rather than being complementary, and the end result is a muddled brew that leaves much to be desired. OK at best - not something I'd discourage other BAs from trying, but I don't think I'd recommend it with much enthusiasm, either.
Jul 01, 2017Pours a clear orange-amber colour, capped off by a half-cm of loose, bubbly white head that vanishes within 60 seconds; a sickly-thin collar of foam is the only remnant. The aroma is fairly subtle, with hints of conifer resin/oil, apricot and peach coming through, but not a whole lot else - perhaps some bready malts, graininess and light caramel sweetness. Underwhelming so far.
The taste is a step up, but only a slight one - as others have suggested, spruce tips and peaches were an odd combination to go with, but I did find this to be an interesting sipper. The malts are bready, imparting some caramelized sugar sweetness as flavours of peach and apricot begin to come into focus by mid-sip. Hops and spruce tips dominate the back end, with pine resin and conifer needle flavours combining with earthy, herbal, slightly floral hop bitterness at the finish. A brief surge of peach juice appears in time for the aftertaste, fading quickly and leaving only some spruce tip astringency to linger on the palate. Light-medium in body, nearing medium; the carbonation levels are moderate, and the overall mouthfeel is fairly smooth and satisfying.
Final Grade: 3.55, a B grade. Upper Reaches is far from the strangest beer in the Beau's portfolio, but it's still a pretty weird one. The spruce tips just don't really work with the juicy-sweet peach flavours - they clash with each other, rather than being complementary, and the end result is a muddled brew that leaves much to be desired. OK at best - not something I'd discourage other BAs from trying, but I don't think I'd recommend it with much enthusiasm, either.
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
2.89/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
2.89/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Bottle: Poured a clear amber color ale with a medium size foamy head with OK retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of light sweet cereal notes is quite bland. Taste is a mix of cereal with some residual sugar notes and very little else noticeable. Body is light with OK carbonation. Not very interesting and mostly bland.
Jun 24, 2017
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