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Metolius Dolly Varden India Pale Ale
Portland Brewing Company
- From:
- Portland Brewing Company
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- Not listed
- Score:
- 75
- Avg:
- 3.16 | pDev: 15.51%
- Reviews:
- 42
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 31, 2014
- Added:
- Oct 28, 2007
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by scruffwhor:
Reviewed by scruffwhor from Illinois
3.57/5 rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
3.57/5 rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
First time I've seen this beer, and it was at my local Jewel. Had to pick up a sixer.
Pours a clear iced tea amberwith moderate, tiny, and slow bubbling. All beneath a nice starter head of three fingers that recedes to a full film of foam with a little stickage. Nice look, but a pretty land aroa of some faint hops and a little biscuity malts. Pretty standard and pretty hard to detect. Tea like hops hit the palate first, very nice orange peekoo. The malt sorta hits the backburner of the palate. But the toasted crystal malts let you know they're there with a soft bready note. Crisp, bitter, and very sessionable. Nice, cheap, IPA with good flavor and drinkability.
Jan 31, 2009Pours a clear iced tea amberwith moderate, tiny, and slow bubbling. All beneath a nice starter head of three fingers that recedes to a full film of foam with a little stickage. Nice look, but a pretty land aroa of some faint hops and a little biscuity malts. Pretty standard and pretty hard to detect. Tea like hops hit the palate first, very nice orange peekoo. The malt sorta hits the backburner of the palate. But the toasted crystal malts let you know they're there with a soft bready note. Crisp, bitter, and very sessionable. Nice, cheap, IPA with good flavor and drinkability.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by fezmeister from California
2.81/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.81/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
I didn't have an appropriate receptacle to decant this bottle, so I'm drinking it out of the bottle. Sticking my nose down the bottle neck didn't give me much - some grassy hop scent, which turned vaguely floral as the brew warmed a bit, but definitely not a remarkable nose. Tastewise, the malts are mostly covered by hop flavor, which is fine for this hop-loving reviewer, but the hops mostly taste bitter and grassy. There just isn't the rich complexity of fruity/floral/pine/citrus that one can get with good hopping. I'm wondering if the hops were mostly added late in the boil, imparting mostly bitterness and less flavor....
At least the beer is very drinkable. The carbonation and crisp (=bitter) lack of complexity makes a brew that is easy to knock back. Provided you like knocking back IPAs. Good, but not stellar.
Jan 23, 2012At least the beer is very drinkable. The carbonation and crisp (=bitter) lack of complexity makes a brew that is easy to knock back. Provided you like knocking back IPAs. Good, but not stellar.
Reviewed by NickRivers from California
3.53/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A&S - Pours a light amber with a finger of eggshell colored head. Smells mostly of malt, and some yeast. No hops coming through on the nose.
T&M - Light malt and citrus hops on the front, as the hop bitterness grows, so does the alcohol burn on the malt. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, however the hops sort of bite a little more than expected, so as it warms it can be a little unappealing.
O - Overall a decent session IPA if its available around you, the somewhat aggressive hop characters in the hop presence may turn off some drinkers, but for a hot summer day this brew really hits the spot. Cheers!
Aug 22, 2011T&M - Light malt and citrus hops on the front, as the hop bitterness grows, so does the alcohol burn on the malt. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, however the hops sort of bite a little more than expected, so as it warms it can be a little unappealing.
O - Overall a decent session IPA if its available around you, the somewhat aggressive hop characters in the hop presence may turn off some drinkers, but for a hot summer day this brew really hits the spot. Cheers!
Reviewed by Durge from Connecticut
3.3/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.3/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A solid amber colored brew with a fair white cover and decent lacing. The aroma says subtle bubblegum fruit medley going on with an accent on alcohol tinged pineapple. The flavor brings fruit nougat sweetness with a hayseed hop, rye biscuit flavors mixed nicely. It’s medium bodied, a tad resinous with a fine but thorough carbonation. The taste seems to end up being kind of non-descript, maybe a touch of banana in there. A little watery perhaps. Overall, worth a try but not a future favorite for me.
Aug 18, 2011Reviewed by wschmit from Illinois
2.96/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
2.96/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle into a Perfect Pint.
A: On the bronze side for a pale ale, perfectly clear and very effervescent, supporting a pretty creamy white head. Pretty nice looking, if a bit dark.
S: I don't get too much hops on the nose--just a mild grassy and metallic bit, with the barest touch of bready malt. Pretty meh, though I have no idea how old this is....
T: I kinda wish this were only bready malt--the hops are not that good, and taste as metallic (or more) than they smell. There's some redeeming bitterness in the finish, but otherwise, this is not all that good for an IPA.
M: Perhaps the best aspect of this beer: good carbonation and full mouthfeel. A bit of alcohol is apparent, but mild.
O: I'd pass this up.
Aug 02, 2011A: On the bronze side for a pale ale, perfectly clear and very effervescent, supporting a pretty creamy white head. Pretty nice looking, if a bit dark.
S: I don't get too much hops on the nose--just a mild grassy and metallic bit, with the barest touch of bready malt. Pretty meh, though I have no idea how old this is....
T: I kinda wish this were only bready malt--the hops are not that good, and taste as metallic (or more) than they smell. There's some redeeming bitterness in the finish, but otherwise, this is not all that good for an IPA.
M: Perhaps the best aspect of this beer: good carbonation and full mouthfeel. A bit of alcohol is apparent, but mild.
O: I'd pass this up.
Reviewed by matjack85 from Illinois
3.17/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.17/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Just in case you're wondering, dolly varden is a species of fish from the char family, common in the Pacific Northwest, hence the picture of the fish on the label. 12oz brown bottle with no freshness date to be found. Picked up a 6-pack of these at the local Jewel/Osco store in Glendale Heights, IL for $6.99. I never heard of this beer before so I got it to cure my curiosity.
The beer poured a honey-gold color with a touch of orange in it and made a nice 1½-finger white head that lasted a little over a minute. Lacing was decent.
Even with a few swirls, I swear I couldn't smell anything in this beer.
Definite malt sweetness and even more definite hop bitterness, yet no real pizzaz to this one. It's OK, but bland. I can taste the pale malt and the hops are a mix of grapefruit and pine, but there just isn't enough of them in here.
Crisp and well carbonated mouthfeel. Light to medium in body.
Not an in-your-face hoppy IPA, but easy to drink and enjoyable for the price.
Jun 12, 2011The beer poured a honey-gold color with a touch of orange in it and made a nice 1½-finger white head that lasted a little over a minute. Lacing was decent.
Even with a few swirls, I swear I couldn't smell anything in this beer.
Definite malt sweetness and even more definite hop bitterness, yet no real pizzaz to this one. It's OK, but bland. I can taste the pale malt and the hops are a mix of grapefruit and pine, but there just isn't enough of them in here.
Crisp and well carbonated mouthfeel. Light to medium in body.
Not an in-your-face hoppy IPA, but easy to drink and enjoyable for the price.
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois
3.23/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.23/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Served in a Buffalo Bills shaker pint glass.
Thanks to some LZ fishermen BAs for sharing this bottle!
What better beer is there to accompany the consumption of some hand-caught rainbow trout, eh? It pours a clear sunrise semi-russet-amber topped by a finger of dirty white foam. The nose comprises apple juice, orange zest, and flowers. The taste holds notes of orange zest, caramel, ruby red grapefruit, and orange peel. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta syrupy feel. Overall, an okay IPA at best, one that really doesn't pop in any way, though it also doesn't really offend, either.
Apr 12, 2011Thanks to some LZ fishermen BAs for sharing this bottle!
What better beer is there to accompany the consumption of some hand-caught rainbow trout, eh? It pours a clear sunrise semi-russet-amber topped by a finger of dirty white foam. The nose comprises apple juice, orange zest, and flowers. The taste holds notes of orange zest, caramel, ruby red grapefruit, and orange peel. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta syrupy feel. Overall, an okay IPA at best, one that really doesn't pop in any way, though it also doesn't really offend, either.
Reviewed by SDtastentune from California
2.96/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.96/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A - Kinda thin & golden, no head or lacing.
S - No hops really, kinda pale ale'ish with a hint of malts or some bread.
T - Taste is light ale malts mixed with maybe one kind of hops, basically a very light ipa with a better aftertaste then the initial taste. LIGHT IPA.
M - Feels a little fizzy and light for an ipa, but not too thin. Aftertaste is the best I think with more hop coming on stonger than in your mouth.
O - Very light IPA with some flavor, but needs more hops. This would be great for a beginner to IPA's and not for the hop head. Good aftertaste, better than mouth/tounge taste. Light but balanced, not bad for some people maybe... but not at the price.
Apr 08, 2011S - No hops really, kinda pale ale'ish with a hint of malts or some bread.
T - Taste is light ale malts mixed with maybe one kind of hops, basically a very light ipa with a better aftertaste then the initial taste. LIGHT IPA.
M - Feels a little fizzy and light for an ipa, but not too thin. Aftertaste is the best I think with more hop coming on stonger than in your mouth.
O - Very light IPA with some flavor, but needs more hops. This would be great for a beginner to IPA's and not for the hop head. Good aftertaste, better than mouth/tounge taste. Light but balanced, not bad for some people maybe... but not at the price.
Reviewed by Vdubb86 from Illinois
3.23/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.23/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This was drank for the sole-purpose of trout fishing. This beer is a golden body with a white foam on the surface. The aroma is of hops, but they smell old and weak. The taste is really weird it starts out upfront like a average malty pale ale, and finishes with hops on the end of the tongue. There is very bitter and very dry. It's confusing because it really doesn't start out that way. This beer was thin and bitter in the wrong kind of ways. I was really disappointed in this beer overall. It was okay, but it sure as hell was a terrible IPA.
Apr 03, 2011Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
2.86/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
2.86/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Is next...swim wear...Is next....so so pale ale. I had this pale after having the Amber and Blond ale. Pale ales tend to be my favorites....and this one is just ok. I appreciate the attempt to give it some West coast character, but it falls short of being a good pale ale. The color is a cloudy golden with thin white head with some lacing. There is a pine citrus undertone to the aroma as well as the taste. I certainly could drink alot of this beer if necessary, but it would certainly not be my first choice.
Mar 12, 2011
Metolius Dolly Varden India Pale Ale from Portland Brewing Company
Beer rating:
75 out of
100 with
52 ratings
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