Fresh Hop Pale Ale | Great Divide Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Great Divide Brewing Company
Colorado, United States | website
Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.10%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Todd on 10-07-2005
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 682 | Ratings: 1,548
3.35/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22 oz. bottle. Reviewed from Notes.
(Appearance) pours a thick 2 finger billowing head of a very rough sea foam texture, color is a deep cream tone. Retention is a medium, and lacing is spotty. Color is a pale orange with some medium haziness. Carbonation is plentiful and spritely. 3.5
(Smell) A medium hop tone, about 75% citrusy and 25% grassy. Aroma is quite wet by nature and pairs pretty well with a medium bready malt bill. It's a mild wet hop aroma, pleasant and mild overall. 3.5
(Taste) A very grassy hop aroma and even less citrus suggests that the hop content has largely faded, leaving a murky hop and malt aroma behind, not terrible but not too satisfying. Fruit tones are present but in low supply. There manages to keep a pretty good balance still of bitter to sweet without overpowering either. Decent. 3
(Mouthfeel) Mild citrus aroma and a little chewy but pairs quite nicely with the medium tones of this harvest ale. Light/medium body, low to no alcohol presence. 4
(Overall) Pretty good brew but there's certainly a marked difference between a fresh batch and one that has been around for a while. Get this and enjoy it as fresh as possible, or miss out on a lot of content. 3.5
★ 1,204 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22 oz. bottle. Reviewed from Notes.
(Appearance) pours a thick 2 finger billowing head of a very rough sea foam texture, color is a deep cream tone. Retention is a medium, and lacing is spotty. Color is a pale orange with some medium haziness. Carbonation is plentiful and spritely. 3.5
(Smell) A medium hop tone, about 75% citrusy and 25% grassy. Aroma is quite wet by nature and pairs pretty well with a medium bready malt bill. It's a mild wet hop aroma, pleasant and mild overall. 3.5
(Taste) A very grassy hop aroma and even less citrus suggests that the hop content has largely faded, leaving a murky hop and malt aroma behind, not terrible but not too satisfying. Fruit tones are present but in low supply. There manages to keep a pretty good balance still of bitter to sweet without overpowering either. Decent. 3
(Mouthfeel) Mild citrus aroma and a little chewy but pairs quite nicely with the medium tones of this harvest ale. Light/medium body, low to no alcohol presence. 4
(Overall) Pretty good brew but there's certainly a marked difference between a fresh batch and one that has been around for a while. Get this and enjoy it as fresh as possible, or miss out on a lot of content. 3.5
★ 1,204 characters
3.35/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22 oz. bomber, good to see another GD beer in the Southland,
A: Pours a clear copper with a mild white head, which leaves some surprisingly good lacing.
S: Earthy pine with some lemon, raw and rustic.
T: Bitter grapefruit with a lot of lemon. Hint of ethanol on the back end with a lot of cedar oil. Nice, if not particularly expressive.
M: Soft mouthfeel on medium-bodied beer. Nice long hoppy aftertaste which is always a joy.
D: Not a standout in the wet hop beers by any means. While not a bad beer, when I can get the world class Hop Trip and High Tide or even Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale for a dollar or more less, I'm always going to go there in the future.
★ 667 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22 oz. bomber, good to see another GD beer in the Southland,
A: Pours a clear copper with a mild white head, which leaves some surprisingly good lacing.
S: Earthy pine with some lemon, raw and rustic.
T: Bitter grapefruit with a lot of lemon. Hint of ethanol on the back end with a lot of cedar oil. Nice, if not particularly expressive.
M: Soft mouthfeel on medium-bodied beer. Nice long hoppy aftertaste which is always a joy.
D: Not a standout in the wet hop beers by any means. While not a bad beer, when I can get the world class Hop Trip and High Tide or even Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale for a dollar or more less, I'm always going to go there in the future.
★ 667 characters
3.36/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nice medium orange color, capped off with some generous white foam. Nosing this one, based on past experiences with this style, I was expecting nothing but huge hoppy aromas; not the case here. I got some light grassiness, citrus and a touch of pine. On the palate a little bit of caramel and sweet biscuit malt, along with lemon zest and grapefruit. A decent effort, but not even close to the hoppiness I was expecting.
★ 428 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nice medium orange color, capped off with some generous white foam. Nosing this one, based on past experiences with this style, I was expecting nothing but huge hoppy aromas; not the case here. I got some light grassiness, citrus and a touch of pine. On the palate a little bit of caramel and sweet biscuit malt, along with lemon zest and grapefruit. A decent effort, but not even close to the hoppiness I was expecting.
★ 428 characters
3.38/5 rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Had 8.8.09
This beer poured a clear copper color witha one finger of thick rocky head to it, leaving ample lacing along the glass on the way down. Nose is of some pale malts, floral and piney hops. Taste is somewhat muted. For a pale ale, close to spot on, but with the Fresh hop billing, hop presence should have been more prevalent. Hops are indeed fresh upfront - floral and citrus goodness, and then the beer falls flat, somewhere in the middle the taste just drops and isn't balanced well. Medium to light bodied, medium carbonation, crisp clean feel to the beer.
★ 568 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Had 8.8.09
This beer poured a clear copper color witha one finger of thick rocky head to it, leaving ample lacing along the glass on the way down. Nose is of some pale malts, floral and piney hops. Taste is somewhat muted. For a pale ale, close to spot on, but with the Fresh hop billing, hop presence should have been more prevalent. Hops are indeed fresh upfront - floral and citrus goodness, and then the beer falls flat, somewhere in the middle the taste just drops and isn't balanced well. Medium to light bodied, medium carbonation, crisp clean feel to the beer.
★ 568 characters
3.38/5 rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
32oz Growler from Beverage World. Fresh 2012 release. Served at around 45F.
Pours clear golden amber with a one finger white head that leaves some spots of lacing and holds a small cap.
Aroma is fruity hops, grassy, herbal, good deal of honey bread and caramel malt as well. Balanced. Very good strength.
Flavor starts with resinous hops, grassy and herbal, moves to a substantial malt backbone featuring honey, bread and caramel, generally mirrors the aroma. Smack of bitterness on the finish. Minimal alcohol. Again, very well balanced.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, oily, moderate carbonation.
This is one that I’ve wanted to try for years, but always passed it up for some reason. Decent fresh hop ale, but not my favorite as it is more balanced than I like, fairly malty.
★ 781 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
32oz Growler from Beverage World. Fresh 2012 release. Served at around 45F.
Pours clear golden amber with a one finger white head that leaves some spots of lacing and holds a small cap.
Aroma is fruity hops, grassy, herbal, good deal of honey bread and caramel malt as well. Balanced. Very good strength.
Flavor starts with resinous hops, grassy and herbal, moves to a substantial malt backbone featuring honey, bread and caramel, generally mirrors the aroma. Smack of bitterness on the finish. Minimal alcohol. Again, very well balanced.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, oily, moderate carbonation.
This is one that I’ve wanted to try for years, but always passed it up for some reason. Decent fresh hop ale, but not my favorite as it is more balanced than I like, fairly malty.
★ 781 characters
3.4/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Slightly hazed honey apricot color with streams of fine bubbles rising up and a firm cap of dimpled foam that lingers.
Aroma of cinnamon and honey, some corn and toffee, plus subtle floral notes.
Biscuity malt flavors with mild floral and grassy hops, slightly metallic finish, tastes a bit stale. Mild bitterness, a piney bitter lingers.
Full and rich and creamy mouthfeel, very satisfying.
Low drinkability, this may be an old bottle. Unfortunately it's not dated. I'll hunt down another and edit this review.
★ 515 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Slightly hazed honey apricot color with streams of fine bubbles rising up and a firm cap of dimpled foam that lingers.
Aroma of cinnamon and honey, some corn and toffee, plus subtle floral notes.
Biscuity malt flavors with mild floral and grassy hops, slightly metallic finish, tastes a bit stale. Mild bitterness, a piney bitter lingers.
Full and rich and creamy mouthfeel, very satisfying.
Low drinkability, this may be an old bottle. Unfortunately it's not dated. I'll hunt down another and edit this review.
★ 515 characters
3.41/5 rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Served chilled in a traditional pint glass.
Poured a translucent, totally filtered light golden amber that produced a very froathy head which fleeted to a tremendously nice consistent lacey layer. Smells are of slight hop, freshness, slight undiscernable citrus and minimal malt. The smells are not very robust. The taste follow suits with a tad of hoppy bitter awesomeness. It has hints of earthiness to it. The tastes fade quickly leaving a dry bitter bite. A decent beer but it was lacking something. The bottle notes 'Grassy' and 'Citrusy' characteristics with 'Grassy' being triumphant. It did lack a bit of hoppiness that I look for in a good PA. A bit pricey at $6.99 I feel. It's worth noting that the bottling date is in early Sept. A few reviews I briefly overviewed mentioned October or later. Hoppy beers are better the fresher they are, in my limited opinion. Nonetheless, I'm glad I tried it.
Enjoy!
★ 915 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Served chilled in a traditional pint glass.
Poured a translucent, totally filtered light golden amber that produced a very froathy head which fleeted to a tremendously nice consistent lacey layer. Smells are of slight hop, freshness, slight undiscernable citrus and minimal malt. The smells are not very robust. The taste follow suits with a tad of hoppy bitter awesomeness. It has hints of earthiness to it. The tastes fade quickly leaving a dry bitter bite. A decent beer but it was lacking something. The bottle notes 'Grassy' and 'Citrusy' characteristics with 'Grassy' being triumphant. It did lack a bit of hoppiness that I look for in a good PA. A bit pricey at $6.99 I feel. It's worth noting that the bottling date is in early Sept. A few reviews I briefly overviewed mentioned October or later. Hoppy beers are better the fresher they are, in my limited opinion. Nonetheless, I'm glad I tried it.
Enjoy!
★ 915 characters
3.41/5 rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Served out of a 22oz bomber, no date.
A - A clear dark golden color, somewhere between brown and gold. Pours very little head, and what does dissipates quickly. Little carbonation on the inside.
S - Very strong hops smell that is well balanced with some malt background. I detect somewhat a grapefruit smell.
T - Starts with its interesting flavor from the bittering hops. Grassy is a good word, as per the bottle description. Finishes with a smooth malt flavor. Quick transition from the initial hops bite. Although, its somewhat surprising to me that there is that much malt hit on what one would think is a hop dominated beer.
M - Not much carbonation on this one. Does have a creamy thick feeling.
D - A good tasting beer, while the intense hops probably would keep me away from drinking alot of these. An excellent beer for a "onezy twozy" night where I really want to taste and enjoy my beer.
Good choice overall.
★ 926 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Served out of a 22oz bomber, no date.
A - A clear dark golden color, somewhere between brown and gold. Pours very little head, and what does dissipates quickly. Little carbonation on the inside.
S - Very strong hops smell that is well balanced with some malt background. I detect somewhat a grapefruit smell.
T - Starts with its interesting flavor from the bittering hops. Grassy is a good word, as per the bottle description. Finishes with a smooth malt flavor. Quick transition from the initial hops bite. Although, its somewhat surprising to me that there is that much malt hit on what one would think is a hop dominated beer.
M - Not much carbonation on this one. Does have a creamy thick feeling.
D - A good tasting beer, while the intense hops probably would keep me away from drinking alot of these. An excellent beer for a "onezy twozy" night where I really want to taste and enjoy my beer.
Good choice overall.
★ 926 characters
3.42/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The hops had a sort of muddled freshness that was difficult to say what you were smelling.
I did detect a grape must almost like grape juice.
The beer had a slightly hazy golden color. On the pour I got a tall head that left behind some spotty lacing.
The taste was quite bitter and had a tinny or metallic taste at the finish. In between was some almost nonexistent hops and stale malts.
I bought this about a week from the expiration date which was Dec.30 so freshness was about 99% lost. I'm sure fresh this would be a good beer but not this time.
★ 550 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The hops had a sort of muddled freshness that was difficult to say what you were smelling.
I did detect a grape must almost like grape juice.
The beer had a slightly hazy golden color. On the pour I got a tall head that left behind some spotty lacing.
The taste was quite bitter and had a tinny or metallic taste at the finish. In between was some almost nonexistent hops and stale malts.
I bought this about a week from the expiration date which was Dec.30 so freshness was about 99% lost. I'm sure fresh this would be a good beer but not this time.
★ 550 characters
3.42/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A- Pours a nice hazy copper with a fairly small white head. Head leaves some lacing on the glass.
S- Subtle, piney hops, not much else. I expected a lot more a bit disappointed. A bit of malty sweetness, but overall, the smell is fairly mellow.
T- Taste is decent, but not great. Some piney hops come through, balanced out by a bit of maltiness.
M- Lighter side of medium in body and carbonation was right on.
D- Fairly easy to drink just not what I was wanting out this one.
★ 482 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A- Pours a nice hazy copper with a fairly small white head. Head leaves some lacing on the glass.
S- Subtle, piney hops, not much else. I expected a lot more a bit disappointed. A bit of malty sweetness, but overall, the smell is fairly mellow.
T- Taste is decent, but not great. Some piney hops come through, balanced out by a bit of maltiness.
M- Lighter side of medium in body and carbonation was right on.
D- Fairly easy to drink just not what I was wanting out this one.
★ 482 characters
3.43/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Fresh Hop has a perfectly clear orange body and an off-white head that is creamy and manages good retention and lacing.
The aroma is hop-centric for sure, with a variety of citrus scents and a bit of fresh cut grass.
I love fresh hop beers, and I was expecting big things from this one, but I was a little bit let down. This is a fine beer, but nothing special. One thing I expect from fresh hop beers are big, fresh, grassy flavors with a lower flavor of alpha acids/bitterness. Great Divide's Fresh Hop doesn't quite deliver on that. The grassy flavors are there, but they are not nearly as prominent as the biting citrus flavors. Lots of bitterness. The backbone is pale malt.
Bitter and oily, moderate amount of body and carbonation.
As I said, I like Fresh Hop, but I'm not thrilled by it, nor do I think it is a great representation of a fresh hop pale ale.
★ 867 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Fresh Hop has a perfectly clear orange body and an off-white head that is creamy and manages good retention and lacing.
The aroma is hop-centric for sure, with a variety of citrus scents and a bit of fresh cut grass.
I love fresh hop beers, and I was expecting big things from this one, but I was a little bit let down. This is a fine beer, but nothing special. One thing I expect from fresh hop beers are big, fresh, grassy flavors with a lower flavor of alpha acids/bitterness. Great Divide's Fresh Hop doesn't quite deliver on that. The grassy flavors are there, but they are not nearly as prominent as the biting citrus flavors. Lots of bitterness. The backbone is pale malt.
Bitter and oily, moderate amount of body and carbonation.
As I said, I like Fresh Hop, but I'm not thrilled by it, nor do I think it is a great representation of a fresh hop pale ale.
★ 867 characters
3.45/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass.
A: Clear, light amber color with one finger of diminishing white foam head. Moderate lacing remains on the glass.
S: Toasty cereal and more faint caramel are at the fore of the smell encountered here, with fresh grass and coniferous foliage a step behind.
T: Begins off-dry with assertive pale malt, followed by slightly acidic floral and citrus hops emerging in the middle. The quality of the citrusy aromatics here are not grapefruit, but more like mellow, diluted orange. The short finish features restrained bitterness, with unusual doughnut-like cakiness and some astringency.
M: Thin to medium viscosity with low carbonation. This beer vanishes fairly quickly from the palate without lingering to be enjoyed or studied, thus encouraging another follow-up sip.
D: This beer provides a response to the question, 'Is proximity to hops a factor in producing a wet-hopped ale of quality?' What it lacks in interesting qualities, it makes up for with an overall appeal that equates to better than average drinkability. Still, for a fresh-hop seasonal it is mid-pack at best. It leaves me with a very similar impression to the riptide that I had at Pizza Port a few weeks earlier.
★ 1,225 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass.
A: Clear, light amber color with one finger of diminishing white foam head. Moderate lacing remains on the glass.
S: Toasty cereal and more faint caramel are at the fore of the smell encountered here, with fresh grass and coniferous foliage a step behind.
T: Begins off-dry with assertive pale malt, followed by slightly acidic floral and citrus hops emerging in the middle. The quality of the citrusy aromatics here are not grapefruit, but more like mellow, diluted orange. The short finish features restrained bitterness, with unusual doughnut-like cakiness and some astringency.
M: Thin to medium viscosity with low carbonation. This beer vanishes fairly quickly from the palate without lingering to be enjoyed or studied, thus encouraging another follow-up sip.
D: This beer provides a response to the question, 'Is proximity to hops a factor in producing a wet-hopped ale of quality?' What it lacks in interesting qualities, it makes up for with an overall appeal that equates to better than average drinkability. Still, for a fresh-hop seasonal it is mid-pack at best. It leaves me with a very similar impression to the riptide that I had at Pizza Port a few weeks earlier.
★ 1,225 characters
3.46/5 rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Review from notes, consumed Dec. 23rd. 22 oz. bottle.
Pours with a huge four finger head and sticky lace at the edges. It's a deep orange color, with plenty of visible carbonation and ok head retention. Slightly funky yeast aroma, malt sweetness, and a vague grassy quality. Not the fresh hop character I was hoping for. Sweet malty butterscotch taste, mildly bitter with some earthy, aspirin-like hops in the aftertaste. Creamy texture from mild carbonation, and sort of filling. One bomber is drinkable, but it's slightly too heavy for a session. Overall it reminded me more of SNPA than a wet-hopped ale, probably won't revisit unless it was fresh on tap...
★ 661 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Review from notes, consumed Dec. 23rd. 22 oz. bottle.
Pours with a huge four finger head and sticky lace at the edges. It's a deep orange color, with plenty of visible carbonation and ok head retention. Slightly funky yeast aroma, malt sweetness, and a vague grassy quality. Not the fresh hop character I was hoping for. Sweet malty butterscotch taste, mildly bitter with some earthy, aspirin-like hops in the aftertaste. Creamy texture from mild carbonation, and sort of filling. One bomber is drinkable, but it's slightly too heavy for a session. Overall it reminded me more of SNPA than a wet-hopped ale, probably won't revisit unless it was fresh on tap...
★ 661 characters
3.47/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
22oz. bottle poured into a pint glass. Thank you to cjacobsen for sharing!
(A)- Pours a clear orange color with a minimal head.
(S)- A big piney citrus with lemon and lime and pineapple.
(T)- Dry, with a piney citrus. Very similar to the smell.
(M)- Very bitter. A good carbonation level and some good citrus, but otherwise very bitter.
(D)- A decent pale ale, but far too much bitterness for the style.
★ 408 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
22oz. bottle poured into a pint glass. Thank you to cjacobsen for sharing!
(A)- Pours a clear orange color with a minimal head.
(S)- A big piney citrus with lemon and lime and pineapple.
(T)- Dry, with a piney citrus. Very similar to the smell.
(M)- Very bitter. A good carbonation level and some good citrus, but otherwise very bitter.
(D)- A decent pale ale, but far too much bitterness for the style.
★ 408 characters
3.48/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This wet-hopped pale ale pours to a brief, thin off-white head atop a crystal-clear, effervescent pale amber body. The aroma is moderate in intensity for the style, and is very straightforward: pine and grassy notes with hints of bready malt and alcohol. The flavor intensity is style-moderate as well: bitter pineapple up front, with a bitter resinous pine character building in mid-palate and peeks of light bready malt showing around the edges; again, more straightforward than would be desired. The finish is fairly clean, with just a pine hoppiness showing, joined shortly by a style-appropriate clinging hoppy bitterness that lingers for a few minutes. Mouthfeel is commensurate with the light body, and the texture is slightly creamy and peppery from the fizzy carbonation. Lacking in both complexity and intensity. (12 oz bottle, 32 days after pkg)
★ 856 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This wet-hopped pale ale pours to a brief, thin off-white head atop a crystal-clear, effervescent pale amber body. The aroma is moderate in intensity for the style, and is very straightforward: pine and grassy notes with hints of bready malt and alcohol. The flavor intensity is style-moderate as well: bitter pineapple up front, with a bitter resinous pine character building in mid-palate and peeks of light bready malt showing around the edges; again, more straightforward than would be desired. The finish is fairly clean, with just a pine hoppiness showing, joined shortly by a style-appropriate clinging hoppy bitterness that lingers for a few minutes. Mouthfeel is commensurate with the light body, and the texture is slightly creamy and peppery from the fizzy carbonation. Lacking in both complexity and intensity. (12 oz bottle, 32 days after pkg)
★ 856 characters
3.5/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle opened on 10.15.12
Bottled Oct 3, 2012
A - Pours a clear, darker orange with a one inch off-white head with a good retention and lacing.
S - Grass, pine, orange peel.
T - Grass, then bitter citrus and a sweet pine finish.
D - Good carbonation with a medium body and a creamy mouthfeel.
O - Dank and grassy for a normally pale and light beer.
★ 353 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle opened on 10.15.12
Bottled Oct 3, 2012
A - Pours a clear, darker orange with a one inch off-white head with a good retention and lacing.
S - Grass, pine, orange peel.
T - Grass, then bitter citrus and a sweet pine finish.
D - Good carbonation with a medium body and a creamy mouthfeel.
O - Dank and grassy for a normally pale and light beer.
★ 353 characters
3.5/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
GLASS: Over-sized Wine Glass
TEMP: Cellared @ approx 45 degrees
Fresh 2008 Vintage
Light, golden amber color. Good one-finger white head. Good retention. Quite good lacing.
Very citrus dominated hops profile. Big grapefruit and orange zest, here. Great grassy presence. Smells fresh and new.
Pine and citrus bite dominate this one. Fresh, grassy flavor. Malt is hidden way down inside this one. Minimal sweetness on this one.
Crisp and clean mouthfeel. More waterey than I prefer, though.
Too hoppy for me to enjoy on a regular basis, but that's just personal taste preference. It's still an overall good hoppy brew.
★ 621 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
GLASS: Over-sized Wine Glass
TEMP: Cellared @ approx 45 degrees
Fresh 2008 Vintage
Light, golden amber color. Good one-finger white head. Good retention. Quite good lacing.
Very citrus dominated hops profile. Big grapefruit and orange zest, here. Great grassy presence. Smells fresh and new.
Pine and citrus bite dominate this one. Fresh, grassy flavor. Malt is hidden way down inside this one. Minimal sweetness on this one.
Crisp and clean mouthfeel. More waterey than I prefer, though.
Too hoppy for me to enjoy on a regular basis, but that's just personal taste preference. It's still an overall good hoppy brew.
★ 621 characters
3.53/5 rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I liked this about the same as the bottle but it was more fun to have a "fresh hop" beer on draft. Surprisingly dark for a pale ale but the flavor is not overwhelming and the hop character is about the way it should be for an american pale. This is a very easy beer to drink and i'll have it as long as it's available.
★ 318 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I liked this about the same as the bottle but it was more fun to have a "fresh hop" beer on draft. Surprisingly dark for a pale ale but the flavor is not overwhelming and the hop character is about the way it should be for an american pale. This is a very easy beer to drink and i'll have it as long as it's available.
★ 318 characters
3.53/5 rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear amber pour, decent white head thats leaving some sheets of lace. This is a pine cone in a bottle, and some flowers thrown in for good measure.
Slick and sticky, this probably makes it for many hop heads, but Im not a big fan of the floral hops still, I could sip on this beer for an hour or two. Relatively low alcohol almost makes this a session type brew.
★ 371 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear amber pour, decent white head thats leaving some sheets of lace. This is a pine cone in a bottle, and some flowers thrown in for good measure.
Slick and sticky, this probably makes it for many hop heads, but Im not a big fan of the floral hops still, I could sip on this beer for an hour or two. Relatively low alcohol almost makes this a session type brew.
★ 371 characters
3.53/5 rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This selection pours a pale, translucent, orange/amber with a bright white smooth head that leaves some good lace behind.
The aroma is mellow and sweet with some grainy malt and hops. The aroma is pleasurable but not very well pronounced.
Sweet and primarily malty flavor with lots of fruit thrown in the mix; mostly citrus and apple. The hops are there. The flavor of the hops are characteristic of the wet hopping process, mellow and floral. Bright and sweet with some nice honey in the finish.
Matted mouthfeel but with good carbonation that makes for a lighter texture Somewhat dry as well. Pleasurable, but not terribly complex or flavorful even for a wet hopped pale ale. A solid selection, but not as good as I expected.
★ 732 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This selection pours a pale, translucent, orange/amber with a bright white smooth head that leaves some good lace behind.
The aroma is mellow and sweet with some grainy malt and hops. The aroma is pleasurable but not very well pronounced.
Sweet and primarily malty flavor with lots of fruit thrown in the mix; mostly citrus and apple. The hops are there. The flavor of the hops are characteristic of the wet hopping process, mellow and floral. Bright and sweet with some nice honey in the finish.
Matted mouthfeel but with good carbonation that makes for a lighter texture Somewhat dry as well. Pleasurable, but not terribly complex or flavorful even for a wet hopped pale ale. A solid selection, but not as good as I expected.
★ 732 characters
3.54/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a bomber into a pint glass.
A- pours an absolutely crystal clear light orange with a one finger white head. Great lacing
S- sweet citrus hops, but they're pretty muted. Disappointing
T- lots of pine, with a slightly sweet finish...little bit of bitterness in the aftertaste. I expected more
M- little bit of body here, but not a lot. Its only a pale ale, nothing imperial here so I shouldn't be expecting a lot...but still
D- I expected more. The bottle is only 6 weeks old, so it should still be ok...overall, disappointing, but still good
★ 557 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a bomber into a pint glass.
A- pours an absolutely crystal clear light orange with a one finger white head. Great lacing
S- sweet citrus hops, but they're pretty muted. Disappointing
T- lots of pine, with a slightly sweet finish...little bit of bitterness in the aftertaste. I expected more
M- little bit of body here, but not a lot. Its only a pale ale, nothing imperial here so I shouldn't be expecting a lot...but still
D- I expected more. The bottle is only 6 weeks old, so it should still be ok...overall, disappointing, but still good
★ 557 characters
3.55/5 rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
first of all, this is not in my preferred style, but i am going to attempt to rate it for the style, not my preference, although i surprisingly enjoyed it
poured it into my anderson valley tulip glass. color was a hazy leather brown color. nice head that settled down to about 1/4 inch that laced nicely.
smelled of fresh flowers, go figure.
Taste is remarkably not what i expected. I don't have alot of experice with fresh hop brews, but this one is very nice. Not remotely the same bitterness as a dry hopped beverage. there is a very strong citrus/pine flavor without all the bitterness. there is enough malt to keep it from being undrinkable.
Light feeling in the mouth, with all the hops it has a very drying finish which makes me want more.
I would rate the drinkability higher if the fresh hop season was in the spring so that this would be a summer brew instead of a fall/winter release. That is obviously not something the brewer can control i know. I wish this came in 12 ounce size, as i think one at a time would have been enough for me, but again, i am not a hop head. Now that i have tried this one i am looking forward to trying the other fresh hopped offerings i have in my fridge.
★ 1,206 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
first of all, this is not in my preferred style, but i am going to attempt to rate it for the style, not my preference, although i surprisingly enjoyed it
poured it into my anderson valley tulip glass. color was a hazy leather brown color. nice head that settled down to about 1/4 inch that laced nicely.
smelled of fresh flowers, go figure.
Taste is remarkably not what i expected. I don't have alot of experice with fresh hop brews, but this one is very nice. Not remotely the same bitterness as a dry hopped beverage. there is a very strong citrus/pine flavor without all the bitterness. there is enough malt to keep it from being undrinkable.
Light feeling in the mouth, with all the hops it has a very drying finish which makes me want more.
I would rate the drinkability higher if the fresh hop season was in the spring so that this would be a summer brew instead of a fall/winter release. That is obviously not something the brewer can control i know. I wish this came in 12 ounce size, as i think one at a time would have been enough for me, but again, i am not a hop head. Now that i have tried this one i am looking forward to trying the other fresh hopped offerings i have in my fridge.
★ 1,206 characters
3.56/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Clear medium amber with a small even white head. Aroma dominated by grass and citrus pith. Not unpleasant, but not quite what I was expecting. Taste is biscuity malt and grassy hops. Very earthy overall, unlike the citrus heavy California IPAs. Easy-drinking, dangerous with the ABV. Not the best wet hop ale I've had, but one to revisit.
★ 338 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Clear medium amber with a small even white head. Aroma dominated by grass and citrus pith. Not unpleasant, but not quite what I was expecting. Taste is biscuity malt and grassy hops. Very earthy overall, unlike the citrus heavy California IPAs. Easy-drinking, dangerous with the ABV. Not the best wet hop ale I've had, but one to revisit.
★ 338 characters
3.58/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - This is a nice, bright orange in color with an easy, gorgeous white head that showed nice retention.
Smell - The hops are clean if a little dull and I really don't get much of the malt. The aroma is good it just lacks diversity.
Taste - The malts sweeten up a bit at the taste but again they are a bit bland. The hops are good though. They aren't very fruity but have a nice, leafy character that is a bit heavy at times but satisfies nevertheless.
Mouthfeel - This is definitely medium-bodied with some mild but firm carbonation and a velvety, smooth mouthfeel.
Drinkability - The feel in the cheeks really made this for me. I really like this brewery but this was one of their lesser offerings. It was good but not great.
★ 740 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - This is a nice, bright orange in color with an easy, gorgeous white head that showed nice retention.
Smell - The hops are clean if a little dull and I really don't get much of the malt. The aroma is good it just lacks diversity.
Taste - The malts sweeten up a bit at the taste but again they are a bit bland. The hops are good though. They aren't very fruity but have a nice, leafy character that is a bit heavy at times but satisfies nevertheless.
Mouthfeel - This is definitely medium-bodied with some mild but firm carbonation and a velvety, smooth mouthfeel.
Drinkability - The feel in the cheeks really made this for me. I really like this brewery but this was one of their lesser offerings. It was good but not great.
★ 740 characters
Fresh Hop Pale Ale from Great Divide Brewing Company
4.08
out of 5
based on 1,548 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured with a frosting-like head that never uite went away. Fairly clear and brown. Nose is hoppy but comes across as very evergreen and wet sod. Flavor is full of citrus and pine but leaning more to the grapefruit and lemons than Christmas. Malts are very subdued and overpowered by the hops. Medium mouthfeel with an oily texture from the hops that lingers surprisingly briefly. Fine and drinkable but a bit off-balance to really enjoy.
★ 438 characters