Chesapeake Pale Ale
Alewerks Brewing Company

DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

3.56/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A hop-forward American-style IPA. Lovely citrus aroma. This bright gold brew has a multi-hop attack, and its the Western hops--Cascade, Amarillo and Chinook--that give it a citrus rind bite. Not bashful in its hop presence, it's a wake up call in a glass.

Nov 20, 2020

ramseye4 from Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a delightfully cloudy yellow orange with a fluffy head. Completely opaque. This is a damn fine looking beer and one that looks enticing sitting on the counter.

Aroma is piney hops, with some bready malt floating around. It smells good, but the aroma is a bit faint.

Tastes more bitter than a typical APA, more along the lines of the bitterness of an IPA without the aggressive hop profile. It has a bit of a pineapple note to it, tons of grassy taste with some hop resin, pine, and biscuit.

Mouthfeel is pleasantly carbonated and the finish leaves a bitter aftertaste. I like it.

Overall it looks great, smells weak, has a surprisingly good taste to it with a mouthfeel that brings it all together. It’s solid.

Oct 12, 2020

Delmarvabeer from Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drinking primarily from a chilled bottle. Bottled 3/26/19?
L: Yellow and somewhat hazy, somewhat the color of hay. Decent head white approx. 1 finger head


S: Citrus and subtle passionfruit. Somewhat sweetness possibly honey. some floral notes


T: Very solid American Pale Ale flavor with some mild citrus up front, some pine and earthy notes on the back end. Bitterness is what you'd expect with a normal APA, again with hoppy bite on the back end.

F: Carbonation feels right for what you'd expect with a APA or IPA. Generally light body that will let you feel free to drink another beer.


O: Solid APA that's perfect on the beach, being outside on a warm day etc. I would drink this again.

Jul 02, 2019

StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.79/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

a pleasant and well made pale here, sort of flirting with the ipa line just a little bit, some hop bitterness rising up about midway through each sip, but i like its robustness, its old school complexion, and found it enjoyable and drinkable. medium brassy color to this, maybe a copper hue in the right light, some malt to it obviously, but the aroma is all hops, fresh pine and a lesser limey and melon element, fresh and zesty but also obviously somewhat bitter. the head is tall and white and the lace is leaves is gorgeous, a very pretty beer in the glass at each stage. northwestern high alpha hop character all the way through the flavor, a soft slightly sweet malt base with a medium body to it, a trace of honey, and a baked warmth that really softens the intensity of the hops, especially as it warms up. balanced in a very nice way, professionally done, the lightest almost english ale yeast note is there in the swallow too, not totally flavorless. great mouthfeel on this too, highly carbonated and bright feeling, i love that in hoppy beer, and its relatively dry for how much malt flavor this has all the way through. a nice bottle of beer here!

Feb 10, 2019

Tone from Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy maize color. 2/3 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong resin, piney hops, spicy hops, and a hint of grass. Fits the style of an American Pale Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong resin, piney hops, spicy hops, hint of sweet malt, hint of yeast, and a hint of grass. Overall, good appearance, feel, body, and blend.

Aug 01, 2017

Cavanaghty from Maine

3/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served on tap in a pint glass.

Appearance: Golden with a thick white head.

Smell: Light hops and citrus.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth medium bodied. Taste of bitter hops with a hint of citrus.

Overall: Good IPA. I would have this one again.

Jun 09, 2017

TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

3.94/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Light honey slight haze finger of White fluff settles to film good lace. Lemony citrus and toasted bread. Lemon tea and slight herbal hops. Little bubbles, light plus body very drinkable. Tasty beer that I would certainly have again. Walks a fine line between its components, well-balanced and refreshing.

Jun 07, 2016

vabeerguy from Virginia

3.67/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a nonic glass. There was no bottled date or drink by date but based on the taste and smell it did not seem to be out of date.

Poured a cloudy orange/yellowish color. Did not notice any aromas that would be deemed bad or good. Taste was nice. Subtle hop/bitterness balance.

Overall, a very drinkable beer. Will be adding this to my "to buy again" list.

Nov 05, 2015

WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

3.71/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured a hazy pale gold little head, but nice lacing on the sides. Maybe mango on the nose, taste very citrus-y and mango. Minimal carbonation and slightly dry in the end. Solid pale ale.

Jun 13, 2015

Davepoolesque from Massachusetts

2.64/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Golden orange in color. Fairly clear in appearance. Nothing really happening in this beer. Subtle nondescript hop flavors. Blah. Why would someone willingly drink this?

Mar 27, 2015

Moondoggy68 from Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed this pale ale many times a few years ago while on a business stay in Colonial Williamsburg. It was particularly good with the cheese tray appetizer!

Mar 13, 2015

Zraly from Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Light honey gold with a white head. Faint hops in the nose.

Sweet malt with nuanced hop notes of pine, citrus, and spice in the finish. Medium-light bodied and easy to drink. Carbonation is appropriate for style. Nice, dry finish. Clean profile.

A tasty pale ale. Local for me. Not too heavy, and not too light in terms of style. I recommend, especially if you can get it relatively fresh in Virginia. (Rating edited on 12/29/18)

Feb 26, 2015

Brewndruid from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +10.5%

Excellent pale ale, highly recommend it! For me, not only is this a will buy again, it is a must buy again! Well balanced, Easy to drink, and very refreshing.

Nov 14, 2014

patre_tim from Thailand

3.23/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A: Golden and hazy with no carbonation, a finger of yellowish head.

S: Fruity, sweet, honey, light pine quality, light pineapple, apples.

T: Light fruitiness like a slight pineapple quality, pears, light sweetness, light pine and light bitterness.

M: Medium lightly syrupy body, medium carbonation.

O: A nice brew I got at the Cheese Shop in Williamsburg, VA.

Jun 25, 2014

leantom from Indiana

3.56/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Love Alewerks and decided to give its pale ale a try. Here goes:

A: OK, nothing special. The beer pours a cloudy orange with very little head. There's modest lacing but nothing special.

S: Again, OK. I can easily detect the presence of Chinook and Cascade hops, making this a definite American Pale Ale (as opposed to the English styles). The beer smells of lemons, grapefruit and orange peel; not much malt character as the hops predominate.

T: Very good for what it is. Very mild, a definite pale ale (and not an IPA). Can taste a light malt backbone with a faint smattering of Pacific Northwest hops. The hops impart a taste of lemons, orange peel, pine and grapefruit. Very drinkable.

M: OK, kind of resembles the appearance. Not a lot of carbonation or protein content. Goes down smoothly with little character.

O: A nice beer. Nothing to brag about but it does its job well. Might get it again.

Jun 21, 2014

StaggerRollRoll from South Carolina

3.41/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Fairly clear color with a touch of orange to it.
S: Smelled a little skunky when I paid attention to it, otherwise nothing too out of line.
T: Has a pleasant bite, not too much of an alcohol taste.
M: Nice tingling though a little flat. Head dissipated quickly, but could also be the crappy glass I pulled from the hotel room dishwasher.
O: A good, drinkable beer. I could put a few more of these down at will, though I probably won't go out of my way to seek it out.

May 21, 2014

hophugger from Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A run of the mill Pale Ale but still a contender amongst young brewerys and brewers. Good flavor with the just the right asmount of bitterness. Feels good on the palate, but good feel dissipates fast. Enjoy very cold for optimum flavor. Good Job, Alewerks

May 02, 2014

slusk from Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a golden, clear with a modest white head. Good head retention and very nice lacing.

S: Nice upfront spicy hop with citrus notes. mostly grapefruit. A bit of malt sweetness, but balanced more toward the hop side.

T: Nice bright citrus, grapefruit hop flavor backed up by a muted malt sweetness that takes a backseat. It tastes as a pale ale should with a hop forward balance. Good bitterness, but not overwhelming, A dry finish with a pleasant aftertaste.

M: light bodied and refreshing. Medium carbonation.

O: I like this beer. I'd like to taste a little more character in the malt, some fruity undertones would round out this brew nicely. The hop aroma and bitterness are spot on but it misses the mark just a bit on the overall malt flavor. I would have no problem buying a sixer of this brew. Nicely done overall.

Apr 29, 2014

chinchill from South Carolina

3.08/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle (no date but purchased yesterday) served in a lager glass.

Pours apricot-amber in color, hazy and with plenty of sediment in suspension. It looks much better at the top where it is crowned by a tall, creamy head that has excellent retention and leaves the glass well coated with lacing.

Aroma: too musty and earthy, although some of this no doubt comes from the hops.

Flavor: better than the nose, with a mildly bitter balance although slightly sweeter than usual for this style. Fruity with sweet and bready grains underneath.

M: soft and smooth with medium carbonation.

O: a fruity, easy drinking APA with a relatively poor aroma.

Feb 01, 2014

tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. has a caramel color with a 1/2 inch head and some floaties in it. Smell is hoppy, some malts as well. Taste is balanced, some fruits, a touch of sweetness, flavorful and tasty. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is an enjoyable brew.

Jan 23, 2014

farrago from New Jersey

3.34/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Modest head, under a finger, just off-white, moderate pour yields a good amount of larger bubbles, likely contributes to rapid dissolve, the lacing is a touch wispy but does cling nicely. The liquid is a semi-cloudy metallic yellow to ochre, very few bubbles and the filminess makes them hard to see anyway. The nose has a pleasing stiffness to it, dried orange peels, salt, pretzel dough, good mix of grass and flowers, as it warms it delivers more peach, apricot, yellow apple fruit scents, average length. In the mouth it’s medium-bodied, low on the carbonation yet leaves a certain dryness behind. This hinders the flow of that apricot, pineapple, peach fruit, blunted sweetness and tartness. Very earthy to downright dirty, not in a bad way but clearly it is not going for maximal smoothness. Saline and grassy elements trump the orange, grapefruit citrus, even as the latter has kick and tries to lend sweetness. Chooses to get sticky on the palate rather than refresh and cleanse. Maybe the hops are too aggressive for an easy drinking APA, or there’s too little counterbalancing malts. Not bad really but nor is it memorable.

Jan 17, 2014

obywan59 from Virginia

3.71/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Purchasesd on vacation from Wine Cheese & More, Chincoteague Island, VA

Light yellow-gold in color with a white chunky head and thick sticky lacing. Hazy with swirls of sediment and rising bubbles.

Fruity and sweet in the nose. Peach or apricot. Floral perfume and pine. Biscuity.

Lightly sweet with over ripe citrus or doughy bread. Bitter hops from middle to end with a brief spike of tropical spice.

Medium bodied, leaning towards full. Rather syrupy and mostly smooth with light pepper. Slightly warming. Drying and lightly astringent.

Good to very good. If the spice had been more pervasive, and there were better balance between sweet and bitter (a bit sweeter), it would have been a solid "very good".

Oct 30, 2013

Smakawhat from Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A bit dull opaque orange to muted yellow body color, with some faint carbonation. Slightly hazy and murky. Head forms real nice and fluffy with a three finger tall head, that has good retention and staying power. Speckeled lacing coats the glass while drinking very nicely.

Great nose on this beer. Ripping hop marmalade and bitter apricot fruit with lots of herbal tea aromatics. Pure orange pekoe and wonderful hop fruit sensing. Very enjoyable.

Palate matches much of the nose with a bit of a neutral palate. Malt density is noticeable without too much sweetness or sugar. Moderate carbonation with a juicy fruit marmalade action. Finishes very clean and a good pine hop bitter to match, hinting at honey sweetness on the finish. Chewy fruit rind and zesty to go with the tea like hop herbality.

Overall a real solid pale ale, and a good one to have in the arsenal and know about.

Oct 10, 2013

beerthulhu from New Jersey

2.54/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

A: A billowy off white head sits atop a cadmium orange colored body. Visible carbonation is strong, fast and vibrant while the lacing sticks well in an encompassing band.

S: Lemony pale grains, lightly dry, not much else here. Weak, monotoned, disappointing.

T: The flavor was lemon, tastes a bit dirty and old hop and grain wise. Lemon grass, stale hop flowers, seems again old with a chemical lemon hint.

M: Mouthful was decent carbonation wise, medium body, bready feel, but leaves with a washy feel.

O: Overall not really crisp, not flavorful, very muddled, a homongenous mess with no definable aspect of quality or sharpness. Lacks in almost everything a good pale ale should be. a simple avoid.

Oct 02, 2013

ckollias from Maryland

3.77/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a clear golden hue with a medium, white, 3-finger head that slowly dissipates down the side of the glass, leaving a nice trail and ending in a solid lace.

S: Malty aroma up front followed by some citrus notes and finishes slightly hoppy.

T: Equal mix of sweet and bitter. Malt and hops mix well together with some mild citrus notes.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Decent pale ale – nice combo of the malt and hops to be a well-balanced beer.

Feb 26, 2013