White Star XPA
Santa Barbara Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
- Style:
- Pale Ale - American
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- Needs more ratings
- Avg:
- 3.95 | pDev: 11.65%
- Reviews:
- 3
- Ratings:
- From:
- Santa Barbara Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 0
- Gots
- 0
SCORE
n/a
-
n/a
-
Notes:
Reviews: 3
| Ratings: 5
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Reviews by TheLongBeachBum:
TheLongBeachBum from California
4.53/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
Saturday 31st May 2003 was spent at the 6th Annual San Diego Real Ale Festival, & amongst a plethora of Beer Engines, several beers for me stood out from the crowd; this one was right at the front of it.
Dispensed via the traditional Beer Engine, the oversized 5oz serving had massive carbonation that produced a lovely white frothy head that resided proudly on a fantastic looking straw-gold colored body. High inherent carbonation meant that the beer took a while to settle down, whilst all the time a buoyant white mass of carbon dioxide bubbles slowly bobbed underneath the beers surface. Excellent presentation and appearance Top Marks all round.
The nose was very fresh, and soon revealed a fruity nature so characteristic of good Pale Ales. Hints of sharp grapefruit, lemon and fresh hops which are all based around a light grain malt odor.
Tastes are very refined and perfectly balanced. A very tidy beginning that immediately quenches any thirst you may have. Very hoppy beer, with a light mouthfeel overall which aided the beers serious Drinkability. The WS-XPA made for a great Imbiber on a warm, sunny afternoon, whilst we all sat outside during the Saturday session at Pizza Port, Carlsbad.
The White Star XPA was a special beer I believe, but regardless, it was definitely the Beer of the Festival for me, and certainly benefited from the Beer Engine dispense as well as the cask-conditioning. One of the few beers I re-tried, i.e. I went back to the Bar for more refills, despite the fact that there were still other beers that I had yet to try.
It wasnt the strongest, biggest, bitterest, hoppiest, or any other est you can think of, at the Festival. It is however, a very accomplished, extremely high quality hoppy Pale Ale, that is put together with immense Drinkability. I assume the X stands for Xcellent.
I already have plans to get to the Santa Barbara Brewing Company at some time in the future to reacquaint myself with this lovely offering if it is ever brewed again.
Jul 20, 2003
4.53/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
Saturday 31st May 2003 was spent at the 6th Annual San Diego Real Ale Festival, & amongst a plethora of Beer Engines, several beers for me stood out from the crowd; this one was right at the front of it.
Dispensed via the traditional Beer Engine, the oversized 5oz serving had massive carbonation that produced a lovely white frothy head that resided proudly on a fantastic looking straw-gold colored body. High inherent carbonation meant that the beer took a while to settle down, whilst all the time a buoyant white mass of carbon dioxide bubbles slowly bobbed underneath the beers surface. Excellent presentation and appearance Top Marks all round.
The nose was very fresh, and soon revealed a fruity nature so characteristic of good Pale Ales. Hints of sharp grapefruit, lemon and fresh hops which are all based around a light grain malt odor.
Tastes are very refined and perfectly balanced. A very tidy beginning that immediately quenches any thirst you may have. Very hoppy beer, with a light mouthfeel overall which aided the beers serious Drinkability. The WS-XPA made for a great Imbiber on a warm, sunny afternoon, whilst we all sat outside during the Saturday session at Pizza Port, Carlsbad.
The White Star XPA was a special beer I believe, but regardless, it was definitely the Beer of the Festival for me, and certainly benefited from the Beer Engine dispense as well as the cask-conditioning. One of the few beers I re-tried, i.e. I went back to the Bar for more refills, despite the fact that there were still other beers that I had yet to try.
It wasnt the strongest, biggest, bitterest, hoppiest, or any other est you can think of, at the Festival. It is however, a very accomplished, extremely high quality hoppy Pale Ale, that is put together with immense Drinkability. I assume the X stands for Xcellent.
I already have plans to get to the Santa Barbara Brewing Company at some time in the future to reacquaint myself with this lovely offering if it is ever brewed again.
Jul 20, 2003
More User Reviews:
DrewBeechum from California
4.32/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled on cask at the San Diego Real Ale Festival
Bright wonderful hoppy beer, easily one of the highlights of the Real Ale Festival.
The beer pours a pale gold into the glass with a light hop haze and a bright white head.
The aroma is that of dried and sugared grapefruit slices. The body is hop dominated with a crisp citrus hop character with a faint grainy malt
Overall, a very clean and refreshing beer with a crisp sparkling character.
Jun 01, 2003
4.32/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled on cask at the San Diego Real Ale Festival
Bright wonderful hoppy beer, easily one of the highlights of the Real Ale Festival.
The beer pours a pale gold into the glass with a light hop haze and a bright white head.
The aroma is that of dried and sugared grapefruit slices. The body is hop dominated with a crisp citrus hop character with a faint grainy malt
Overall, a very clean and refreshing beer with a crisp sparkling character.
Jun 01, 2003
JayTheFinn from California
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On a whim I gave this one a shot while visiting the Santa Barbara Brewing Company. Overall it looked good, with a full head. It has a very strong citric/fruity taste, perhaps stronger than I care for, but good regardless. I thought maybe it tasted just slightly off, but may have just been my imagination.
Apr 02, 2006
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On a whim I gave this one a shot while visiting the Santa Barbara Brewing Company. Overall it looked good, with a full head. It has a very strong citric/fruity taste, perhaps stronger than I care for, but good regardless. I thought maybe it tasted just slightly off, but may have just been my imagination.
Apr 02, 2006
spycow from Illinois
3.64/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Mar 13, 2015
3.64/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Mar 13, 2015
White Star XPA from Santa Barbara Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.95 out of
5 with
5 ratings
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