Catskill Hop Harvest Ale
Chelsea Brewing Company

 

On draft at The Brazen Head, Brooklyn.

Poured a Light copper hue with a one finger frothy white head. There was good retention and sticky lacing.

The smell featured a potent piney and citrusy hop with a soft graininess.

The taste consisted of a fruity and herbal hop with a nice dose of white pepper. Very subtle grainy pale
malt.

The mouthfeel was toward the lighter side of the style and very clean.

Overall a very tasty and super drinkable pale ale.

Poured from a growler into an American pint glass.

A--Body is light golden, pretty much textbook bronze. Head is huge--nearly three fingers--and as fluffy and foamy and lasting and lacy as Duvel, which I didn't expect one bit. Skim lasted for the duration of the tasting and there were bubbles to spare.

S--Decent, if standard, floral hops and sweetish hops. Nothing too roasty or "harvest" about the smell, IMO. Seemed more bright than deep and mellow, but that's no doubt from concentrating on the local hops, rather than the malt, which does give it a great floral/piney sting to the nose.

T--Not as good as the nose, unfortunately. It's just kind of there, which is a stupid way of saying that I don't see how this beer differs from SN Pale Ale or, for that matter, Chelsea's Hop Angel. Seems like this sucker needs to go out in the woods of the Catskills on a visionquest to find itself. The only distinctive element I could trace on the palate was a tea-like character before the hops kicked in on the back end. More surprises like that would have made me like this more.

M&D--Mouthfeel is thinnish without being watery. Definitely hints at being a session beer, though at 6 and a half that's pushing things. You'll feel the first pint tug a little at your head, which knocks down the drinkability despite this being a crisp and crackly brew I'd like to sit next to for a while.

Pours a hazy orange gold with no head off a gravity pour. Nose is an odd chalky maple. Flavor brings maple too. Interesting citric bite mixed in. Slick smooth feel. Pretty easy to drink. Overall this is an interesting hop-coction that was worth trying.

Pours a clear amber with almost no head, or half finger.
Heavy legs which was suprising to me at least. however and had hard time discerning the difference between ale the hop angel.
The taste had a big dry rush of an aftertaste.
Quite carbonated and average drinkability

Nice hazy golden. Thin white head remained till the end and clung to the side of the glass. Sweet malt layered with earthy and grape-fruity hops. Soft on the pallet and easy going down. Begs more and more sips. I wanted more pints but my friend wanted to leave the bar. Finished earthy and floral. Good stuff.

Vivid clean golden with a very creamy rich full white head. Great retention leaving sticky lace.

Sweet maltyness with a flowery fresh hop aroma. Yet everything is very laid back and not full throttle.

Clean & refreshing, sweet flowery hops, yet not as hoppy as anticipated. Good malt balance, dry long finish. Light smooth mouthfeel and very drinkable.