Pale Ale
YellowBelly Brewery & Public House
- From:
- YellowBelly Brewery & Public House
- Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #1,113 - ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #31,526 - Avg:
- 3.65 | pDev: 10.14%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 8
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 24, 2025
- Added:
- Jul 15, 2008
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts
3.57/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.57/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Lasting small head which leaves slippery lace. The color is light amber and clear.
Toasted pale malt aroma. Light bitterness.
Watery body with ample carbonation. The malt has a light caramelized flavor. The hop stands of quickly but without overpowering the beer. Black pepper finish and aftertaste.
Aug 30, 2019Toasted pale malt aroma. Light bitterness.
Watery body with ample carbonation. The malt has a light caramelized flavor. The hop stands of quickly but without overpowering the beer. Black pepper finish and aftertaste.
Reviewed by eberesford from Canada (ON)
3.28/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.28/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours a reddish amber with a very light head and a little lacing. Aromas of caramel and toast. Flavour adds lemony fruity flavours and a little grapefruit from the hopping. Slightly metalic - Not terribly distinctive,
Aug 22, 2017
Reviewed by Borbly from Canada ()
3.46/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Yellowbelly's Pale Ale manages to play a standard performance in the American Pale Ale game. The appearance is standard among pale ales, with a scent that again reaches par, but no further. The taste is a bit bland, with some fresh malty flavours coming through. This is followed by a smooth mouthfeel. All in all, this beer is quite good among pale ales, though I wouldn't say it is anything to rave about. Goes good with their fish & chips.
Aug 23, 2015
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)
3.67/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.67/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
YellowBelly Pale Ale is too golden to technically be considered either yellow or pale. Funny that. From a visual standpoint, however, it is still stunning to look at. Its somewhat toasty complexion appears almost shady bronze, despite immaculate clarity and plenty of luster. Although the first pour was flat, a high tide of tan foam flooded the glass with the second.
That scent of bready malt and zesty hop leafs has got to be one the smells I relish most in this world. With deep breaths and closed eyes it conjures to mind pure, sweet, sticky wort. The beer is so clean that you'd think it was lagered; there's no sign of yeast. The flowery, airy nature of the hops might have suggested dry-hopping if it were any less subtle.
Unless you are, like me, one of the last few beer geeks that still appreciates a simple but well-crafted pale ale or lager, chances are there's not much in this no-frills, bready malt taste profile for you. On the other side of that coin, however, most beer drinkers will greatly appreciate that the taste is characterful and flavorsome, but not too bold or peculiar.
Although labelled a pale ale, YellowBelly Pale drinks a lot like an authentic German Kölsch. It has a bounty of clean, bready pale malt and a small rash of hop pungency. Water minerals are crisp whereas yeast esters (and other fermentation bi-products) are non-existent. It is a flawlessly brewed beer that's drinkability is beyond reproach.
A message to the people at Yellow Belly Brewery: don’t give up your day job, because you're obviously darn good at it. This kind of style is harder to brew than it would seem. A beer like this is brilliant and simple and brilliant because it’s so simple. In a marketplace where Molson dominates, this little brewery must be a godsend to anyone with actual standards.
Sep 28, 2011That scent of bready malt and zesty hop leafs has got to be one the smells I relish most in this world. With deep breaths and closed eyes it conjures to mind pure, sweet, sticky wort. The beer is so clean that you'd think it was lagered; there's no sign of yeast. The flowery, airy nature of the hops might have suggested dry-hopping if it were any less subtle.
Unless you are, like me, one of the last few beer geeks that still appreciates a simple but well-crafted pale ale or lager, chances are there's not much in this no-frills, bready malt taste profile for you. On the other side of that coin, however, most beer drinkers will greatly appreciate that the taste is characterful and flavorsome, but not too bold or peculiar.
Although labelled a pale ale, YellowBelly Pale drinks a lot like an authentic German Kölsch. It has a bounty of clean, bready pale malt and a small rash of hop pungency. Water minerals are crisp whereas yeast esters (and other fermentation bi-products) are non-existent. It is a flawlessly brewed beer that's drinkability is beyond reproach.
A message to the people at Yellow Belly Brewery: don’t give up your day job, because you're obviously darn good at it. This kind of style is harder to brew than it would seem. A beer like this is brilliant and simple and brilliant because it’s so simple. In a marketplace where Molson dominates, this little brewery must be a godsend to anyone with actual standards.
Reviewed by sailorjacko from Canada ()
3.83/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
a... Yellow hue with a quick head of mixed big and small bubbles that in the the bottled form neither seem to build high enough or hang long enough. Nothing but a wisp within a minute.
s... Slight hop, little lemon and a honey nut undertone.
t... some simple malt, hints of a fruit (not sure of which) but not a strong citrus more like a weak orange jam, only starts so show a bitter profile before sliding into a sweetness and then gone.
m... slight to medium in body but needing a slightly more aggressive head and retention. finishes dry with little aftertaste.
d.. Seeing as I have 8 or 9 pints and 6 litres a week of it, i guess it speaks something to it's drink-ability. Strong local showing.
Mar 10, 2011s... Slight hop, little lemon and a honey nut undertone.
t... some simple malt, hints of a fruit (not sure of which) but not a strong citrus more like a weak orange jam, only starts so show a bitter profile before sliding into a sweetness and then gone.
m... slight to medium in body but needing a slightly more aggressive head and retention. finishes dry with little aftertaste.
d.. Seeing as I have 8 or 9 pints and 6 litres a week of it, i guess it speaks something to it's drink-ability. Strong local showing.
Reviewed by pyrrha from Canada ()
3.06/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.06/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Yellow Belly Brewery has 4 standard labels for consumption on-premise and distributes these only within the St. John's metropolitan area in 1 liter swing cap bottles. The ales are English inspired and hearkens back to the strong English and Irish traditions still strong and present in St. John's, Newfoundland. You may overhear an accent that sounds like a conversation in Waterford, England. Although labeled here as a APA the aim is a English Ale. The brewery uses Canadian two-row and crystal malts in addition to Canadian grown fuggles and east kent hops. Yeast used is WYeast London Ale III.
This beer is pretty much average in most senses, and quite unremarkable as a APA style, and rather average for a common English Ale.
I note that the recipe has been slightly improved sine 2009 to enhance head characteristics and add a more pronounced body.
This is not necessarily a beer to go out of ones way for but on the "Rock" there are not many choices especially when considering the most consumed beer is Coors Lite. As such, this brewery is an oasis in the desert of beer appreciation.
I purchase the beers mostly for the bottle to further my home brewing endeavors. Cost is $8.50 CAD including $2.50 refund for the 1 liter bottle.
Other labels include:
Wexford Wheat (a filtered heffewiezen -- not kristal!);
St. Johns Stout, abbreviated as SJS, 4.6 ABV; and
Fighting Irish Red ale.
See also the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2281
Feb 15, 2011This beer is pretty much average in most senses, and quite unremarkable as a APA style, and rather average for a common English Ale.
I note that the recipe has been slightly improved sine 2009 to enhance head characteristics and add a more pronounced body.
This is not necessarily a beer to go out of ones way for but on the "Rock" there are not many choices especially when considering the most consumed beer is Coors Lite. As such, this brewery is an oasis in the desert of beer appreciation.
I purchase the beers mostly for the bottle to further my home brewing endeavors. Cost is $8.50 CAD including $2.50 refund for the 1 liter bottle.
Other labels include:
Wexford Wheat (a filtered heffewiezen -- not kristal!);
St. Johns Stout, abbreviated as SJS, 4.6 ABV; and
Fighting Irish Red ale.
See also the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2281
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!