Mighty Arrow Pale Ale
New Belgium Brewing Company

My backlog of bottles is nearly depleted at this point, thanks to the quarantine. Remember my analogy with an unraveling sweater when it came to Stone Brewing? Now, the same thing is happening in regards to Bottles! This is one of many odds & sods that have materialized as I redd up here at Chez Woody. Frankly, I will not be at all saddened when the last bottle is emptied, rinsed & set out for recycling. Interestingly, I did NOT get this one from the previous reviewer, @tone77 but instead at Country Garden Six-Pack.

From the Bottle: "New Belgium's employee owners would love to see you enjoying our beer[.]"; "Mighty Arrow Pale Ale provides lots of pleasurable sniffs from Cascade and Golding hops with a fetching honey malt base. This is our brewed tribute to Arrow, Kim's Aussie/border collie mix who ran (literally) New Belgium for 12 years. When she wasn't patrolling the brewery grounds, she was famous for her office visits: She never met a tummy rub she didn't like. Atta girl Arrow."

There was some flocculate visible on the kick/punt so when I Pop!ped the cap, I followed it with an extremely slow, gentle C-Line pour into the awaiting glass. I still netted just over a finger of soft, foamy, creamy, bone-white head with limited retention for my efforts. Color was Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, causing The Gelt Gang of Mammon, Midas & Croesus to rouse from their slumber on my couch & join me in the kitchen for a sip. Nose had a lemony citrusiness along with a biscuity maltiness. Mmm. Mouthfeel was medium, about par for the style. The taste had an herbal quality, less hoppy like an APA and more herbal like a Gruit. 8=O There was also an earthiness to it, most likely from the malt(s). This seemed more like an English Pale Ale than an American one. Interesting. It is retired now so I am not going to spend time on research, but should you find one, caveat emptor. Finish remained dry and earthy, rather than dry and bitter. It was a pleasant enough drink, but it just did not measure up from a stylistic viewpoint. YMMV.

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a golden/orange color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, some citrus. Taste is somewhat heavy with malts, some pine, light citrus, well balanced. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not big on Pale Ales but what can I say this is another great beer from New Belgium Brewing. Living in Denver we get these beers pretty fresh. Drink by date is June 2019 so plenty fresh. Smells like brown sugar or caramel. Tastes citrusy, followed light floral tones and ends with a strong hoppy flavor, a little more than usual with pale ales. Almost like an IPA.

Too much like an IPA.

Clear light amber gold color with good white cap and lacing.

Aroma of solid malt, bit of caramel, with citrus and piney hops.

Taste is hop forward with a piney sharpness that neatly segues into the slightly richer than average caramel malt. These two flavors run parallel rather than merging and remain consistent to the finish. Both in the same amount in the aftertaste. Simple favors that are complementary and tasty.

Medium full texture with balancing carbonation.

Compared to other Pale Ales I've had this one's pretty good. Somewhat simple, clean and competently brewed, nothing really outstanding but no demerits either.

 

Pours a clear amber tinged gold with one finger of soapy white head, trails streaks of delicate lace down the glass. Smell: sweat bready malt with a blip of caramel, lightly floral, grassy, and leafy. Taste: lightly bready, caramel drizzle, iced tea, pine, lightly spicy and faintly citric. It's fine; throwback pale.

Good mouth feel. Just the right hops for a pale ale. Decent ABV, could be half a point higher. NB setting the standard for great craft beer with wide spread distribution.