Priestley Pale Ale
Selin's Grove Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First had: on tap at the brewpub

I sampled this APA and found the cask ale to be much better, though I'm not sure if they're the same base ale or what.

Poured a clearish golden yellow with a small foamy white head; moderate retention and a bit of lacing. Mix of citrusy and floral hops in the aroma, with some biscuity malts. More of the same in the taste, floral, citrus pith, cardboard, decent balance of caramel malts. Medium body, a tad thin, pretty easily drinkable. Middle of the road for the style, I'd say.

Served on cask at the brewpub.

A - Pours clear golden orange with a creamy one finger tall white head leaving spotty lace down the glass.

S - Smells of floral hops, sweet caramel malts and a touch of citric fruits. A bit dull really but I wasn't really expecting anything earth shattering anyway.

T - Starts off with a light hop bitterness quickly giving way to hints of sweet caramel malt, some doughy malts and a bit of citric fruit toward the end of each sip. The creamy feel really helps this one out. Finish is kinda chewy with some light sweetness, not lingering for very long on the pallet.

M - Light body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Nice and creamy initially growing a little watery toward the end of the glass. This is definitely the best way to have this one.

O - I had this one on-tap before and it was ok but the creamy feel from the cask really helps this one out. I won't be running up to the pub the second this one goes on, but I wouldn't turn another down if offered.

 

Thanks to wishuwerebeer for swinging by my house with a growler of this that was filled only an hour ago. Poured into a matching SGB celebratory 15 year anniversary thistle. The brew appears a hazed orange to copper with a finger and a half of frothy off-white head. The cap slowly fades leaving a solid webbing of bubbly composition sticking all over the glass. A light swirl agitates bubbles from solution and revives less than a finger of strength to the cap.

The aroma of this brew has some striking familiarity about it but I can't quite put my finger on it. It contains a very solid balance of malt sweetness that is minorly reminiscent of caramel mixed with some bright hop inclusion that while fresh and enjoyable is mild and not bursting out of the glass. The scent waves back and forth between a sweetness that is almost orange-like and zesty to more grainy with a biscuit bready character. Some hints of something along the lines of mild candy give way to more of a grassy hoppiness and hay quality.

The first sense of taste that hits the pale is a modest bitterness from the hops. It invokes a flavor of orange rind to mild grapefruit bitterness. It transforms into more of a pulp to juicy flavoring that has a touch of mild candy sweetness. Grain has a solid presence across the back that has a biscuit appeal to it. The finish is lightly grassy and bitter again with a lingering flavor of mild toasty caramel.

This is a light bodied brew with a light level of carbonation. It displays a very low alcohol impact and has just a bit more bitterness than I was expecting for an english take on the style. It's light body and depth of mild flavoring makes this brew very easy drinking. I could see myself taking down a lot of this during a meal.

Pours a rusty copper and brown with little to no head from the aggressive growler pour. Scent brings musty caramel, lightly roasted nuts and grassy hops. Taste follows scent, nothing to exciting in the malt or hop front, but it works for the style. Lighter side of medium bodied, lack of carbonation (lighter than cask), somewhat dry on the finnish. Overall, a nice English style, nothing to fancy but slightly undone by lack of carbonation.

A - Very little head and nothing more than a couple bubbles materialize off the pour... Very lightly carbonated... A light copper color... A very slight bit of haziness...

S - Toffee... Light caramel... A faint euro hoppiness... Not much more...

T - Loaded with toasted malts... Toffee... Caramel... A subtle noble hop presence adds a good bit of depth and character... A slight metallic tinge...

M - Medium bodied... Cask-like with little or no carbonation... Smooth... Even and consistent...

D - A solid drinker that I'd be interested in trying off tap again in the future... A solid representation of the English Pale Ale style... Lots a good things going on that unfortunately a couple of hours in a growler didn't do much justice for...

Cloudy pale orange with some head on it.

Smells of biscuit, caramel, apple, and various other bready notes.

Starts with that bready apple flavor present in the nose. Then moves into the sugary caramel malt flavors. Hops are spicy and floral and definitely secondary to the malt and yeast. The finish is unmistakeably English in character, with full buttery diacetyl flavors. Balanced.

Mouthfeel is rich and buttery and carbonation low. Nice session beer for sure. The only thing I am getting a little tired of is the diacetyl. Overall a nice drinker and recommended.

On cask at SGB on 2/6/09.

A - Hazy golden amber-kissed orange color with one finger of smooth, creamy white head that retained very well and left attractive lace around the glass.

S - Floral and perfumy hops with a splash of citrus fruitiness and plenty of caramel malt sweetness.

T - Flavor profile matches the aroma, with floral and fruity hops paired with sweet malts. Finishes with a distinct bready malt character and a toasted grainy aspect. Overall, this is a very sweet beer, even less hoppy than the draught version.

M - Smooth body with a light syrupy texture. Very sticky, sweet mouthfeel overall. Finishes with mild bitterness on the palate.

D - Very sweet and malty, reminiscent of Hop Nouveau on cask. This was perhaps just a little too sweet, but still tasty and fine on cask.