Alpha Pale Ale
Matilda Bay Brewing Co.
- From:
- Matilda Bay Brewing Co.
- Australia
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #960 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #29,868 - Avg:
- 3.74 | pDev: 10.96%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 36
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jun 25, 2021
- Added:
- Sep 27, 2005
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
Alpha Pale Ale derives its name from the alpha acids in hops which, added early in the boil, impart a distinctive bitterness. Cascade and Amarillo hops are used to make this beer. Hops are added early and late in the boil and then dry hopped in late fermentation. They contribute a wonderfully complex fruit and citrus aroma. Pale malts round off this beer with a fuller malt character.
55 IBU
55 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Mosant from Australia
3.69/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I had a 330ml bottle bottle.
Appearance: pours golden and clear with 1cm White head. Looks very approachable as a session able beer.
Aroma: floral and citrus aromas present, not over powering.
Flavour: great clean refreshing to drink, good carbonation and well balanced hop bitterness on the finish.
Overall: very enjoyable beer. Not as heavy on the hops aroma and bitterness as some in its category but that makes it eminently drinkable and a beer you can have a few of in a session. It hold its at a 5.2% ABV. Recommended.
Dec 17, 2014Appearance: pours golden and clear with 1cm White head. Looks very approachable as a session able beer.
Aroma: floral and citrus aromas present, not over powering.
Flavour: great clean refreshing to drink, good carbonation and well balanced hop bitterness on the finish.
Overall: very enjoyable beer. Not as heavy on the hops aroma and bitterness as some in its category but that makes it eminently drinkable and a beer you can have a few of in a session. It hold its at a 5.2% ABV. Recommended.
Reviewed by SmashPants from Australia
3.73/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Format: an embossed light brown 330mL bottle with a reasonable semi-boutique label.
Appearance: deep amber in colour with reasonable visible carbonation. A small white head drops quickly to a thin cap. Good lace down the glass.
Aroma: those normal APA aromas of grapefruit and lemon citrus with biscuit malt backing. There is also something sweet behind, which is a really nice addition.
Taste: again the grapefruit and citrus flavours, along with some honey, which I think was the added sweet aroma. Really rather nice.
Aftertaste: a nice, lingering finish with sweet honey and only a touch of the hop bitterness.
Mouth feel: a medium body with moderate carbonation. Brings the flavours through nicely.
Overall: this is definitely one of Matilda Bay's best beers, and probably in the top five APAs I have had to date. Very easy-drinking and well-rounded. The honey flavour really adds something to it too. The only problem is that it's AU$94 a case, which is a lot for an APA. I'd pay $70, but not that. A pity, really.
Dec 11, 2014Appearance: deep amber in colour with reasonable visible carbonation. A small white head drops quickly to a thin cap. Good lace down the glass.
Aroma: those normal APA aromas of grapefruit and lemon citrus with biscuit malt backing. There is also something sweet behind, which is a really nice addition.
Taste: again the grapefruit and citrus flavours, along with some honey, which I think was the added sweet aroma. Really rather nice.
Aftertaste: a nice, lingering finish with sweet honey and only a touch of the hop bitterness.
Mouth feel: a medium body with moderate carbonation. Brings the flavours through nicely.
Overall: this is definitely one of Matilda Bay's best beers, and probably in the top five APAs I have had to date. Very easy-drinking and well-rounded. The honey flavour really adds something to it too. The only problem is that it's AU$94 a case, which is a lot for an APA. I'd pay $70, but not that. A pity, really.
Reviewed by magpieken from Australia
3.5/5 rDev -6.4%
3.5/5 rDev -6.4%
345ml bottle. BB 12 Aug 14. Poured a mid amber colour with a billowing, light beige head which lasted very well. Full, pine, hop aroma. So far, so good for an American Pale Ale. Initial whack of hop bitterness on tasting it and with a mildly bitter aftertaste. But it also has a pretty thin body and no complexity. Smells good, looks enticing and very easy to drink but in an unsatisfying way. This could have been a cracker.
Jul 21, 2014
Reviewed by doktorhops from Australia
3.05/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
3.05/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Yes, yes, yes, one of the few beers I've yet to review by Matilda Bay, who I still think are alright chums, even if they have lost their way a little in recent times. Alpha Pale Ale is one of the few beers Matilda Bay has made that hasn't been a bit pandering-to-the-masses, i.e. a real beer for real craft beer drinkers, that and Dogbolter - which I have tried but am yet to review.
Poured from a 345ml bottle into a nonic pint.
A: Clear copper body with an off-white lace on top. Appealing? A bit, I'm not fussed about head on my beers.
S: Some nice bold citrus and pine hops, plenty of bite in the aroma, with a toasted biscuit base. Quite your typical APA fragrance here, but then that's kinda the point, to which it succeeds.
T: Not as much hops as expected, and I've had this beer before, either it has changed or my memory of it has. I suspect it's got much less hopping than the original Alpha Pale Ale. It tastes almost like Fat Yak, but the last time I had it (years ago) the hops were more pronounced. Citrus/pine hops and toasted biscuit base as expected, no surprises there. Long dry finish with some faint bitters lingering in the after-taste.
M: Watery, for an ale, body with fizzy carbonation, more like a soft drink than a beer.
D: I don't like what's happened with Matilda Bay, their beers have become tamer as a result of cost cutting or appealing to a mass audience, either way my respect for them has dropped significantly and whereas a Little Creatures brew still tastes the same today as it did five years ago the same cannot be said for any of the Matilda Bay brews. Sorry Matilda Bay, you guys are the new macro craft brewer.
Food match: Beef vindaloo or a chicken tikka masala with basmati rice and a paratha.
Feb 27, 2014Poured from a 345ml bottle into a nonic pint.
A: Clear copper body with an off-white lace on top. Appealing? A bit, I'm not fussed about head on my beers.
S: Some nice bold citrus and pine hops, plenty of bite in the aroma, with a toasted biscuit base. Quite your typical APA fragrance here, but then that's kinda the point, to which it succeeds.
T: Not as much hops as expected, and I've had this beer before, either it has changed or my memory of it has. I suspect it's got much less hopping than the original Alpha Pale Ale. It tastes almost like Fat Yak, but the last time I had it (years ago) the hops were more pronounced. Citrus/pine hops and toasted biscuit base as expected, no surprises there. Long dry finish with some faint bitters lingering in the after-taste.
M: Watery, for an ale, body with fizzy carbonation, more like a soft drink than a beer.
D: I don't like what's happened with Matilda Bay, their beers have become tamer as a result of cost cutting or appealing to a mass audience, either way my respect for them has dropped significantly and whereas a Little Creatures brew still tastes the same today as it did five years ago the same cannot be said for any of the Matilda Bay brews. Sorry Matilda Bay, you guys are the new macro craft brewer.
Food match: Beef vindaloo or a chicken tikka masala with basmati rice and a paratha.
Reviewed by Breeza from Australia
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Clear dark honey colour, beige head has very large bubbles throughout. Head lingers and leaves a light lacing. Moderate carbonation.
S: Floral and herbal, bit of citrus, hops. Mouthwatering.
T: Very rich with hops, herbs, toffee, yeasty, and very bitter. Very strong bitter aftertaste too.
M: Excellent balance.
O: Matilda Bay has some nice beers but think this is one of their stand out ones. I find it really complex in taste and smell and will probably come back to it not just because I love it but to see if I pick up different things each time.
Feb 14, 2014S: Floral and herbal, bit of citrus, hops. Mouthwatering.
T: Very rich with hops, herbs, toffee, yeasty, and very bitter. Very strong bitter aftertaste too.
M: Excellent balance.
O: Matilda Bay has some nice beers but think this is one of their stand out ones. I find it really complex in taste and smell and will probably come back to it not just because I love it but to see if I pick up different things each time.
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