Pale 31 California Pale Ale | Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
California, United States
firestonewalker.com
Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Pale 31 is brewed to exemplify the classic California pale ale style, hence the name honoring the Golden State as the 31st state to be admitted to the Union. Beautiful floral and citrus hop aromas greet the nose with undertones of lightly toasted malt. Crisp pale and crystal malts offer a hint of sweetness. Subtle hop bitterness offers a refreshing finish. Perfect for a sunny day at the beach or barbecue with friends, Pale 31 represents the bold yet approachable spirit that embodies our state.
Added by Todd on 08-23-2002
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 1,987 | Reviews: 578
4.15/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
$3 during happy hour, served in a pint glass
Sampled 28MAR13
[A] Served with a small head, less than a finger high, foamy and compact, and just off white in color. Well retained. The light orange colored body is crystal clear. A few strands of lace line the glass.
[S] Fresh hop character is average in intensity. Notes of orange flesh, pith and oils. Just a hint of grassiness adds complexity to the citrus-forward nose.
[T] Pulpy orange juice. With the help of a very effervescent mouthfeel, the flavor of Pale 31 is quite mimosa-like. Juicy, straightforward and delicious.
[M] The mouthfeel leans towards the aggressive side. Slightly overcarbed for my tastes. After a few swirls, the mouthfeel is spot on. Light body and super crisp on the finish.
[O] This is a damn good beer. And highly quaffable. I could order this again and again.
844 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
$3 during happy hour, served in a pint glass
Sampled 28MAR13
[A] Served with a small head, less than a finger high, foamy and compact, and just off white in color. Well retained. The light orange colored body is crystal clear. A few strands of lace line the glass.
[S] Fresh hop character is average in intensity. Notes of orange flesh, pith and oils. Just a hint of grassiness adds complexity to the citrus-forward nose.
[T] Pulpy orange juice. With the help of a very effervescent mouthfeel, the flavor of Pale 31 is quite mimosa-like. Juicy, straightforward and delicious.
[M] The mouthfeel leans towards the aggressive side. Slightly overcarbed for my tastes. After a few swirls, the mouthfeel is spot on. Light body and super crisp on the finish.
[O] This is a damn good beer. And highly quaffable. I could order this again and again.
844 characters
3.83/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium bubbly golden amber with a nice two finger white head with excellent retention and lacing. Aroma of citrus hops and sweet malt. Flavor is grassy hops, light citrus, biscuit malt, finishes with a grassy hop bitterness. Light bodied as expected from the style. Flavor is light, but well balanced; an enjoyable, refreshing pale ale. After drinking some hefty darker strong ales and stouts the last week, it's nice to sit back and watch active carbonation in a nicely made light golden beer.
546 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium bubbly golden amber with a nice two finger white head with excellent retention and lacing. Aroma of citrus hops and sweet malt. Flavor is grassy hops, light citrus, biscuit malt, finishes with a grassy hop bitterness. Light bodied as expected from the style. Flavor is light, but well balanced; an enjoyable, refreshing pale ale. After drinking some hefty darker strong ales and stouts the last week, it's nice to sit back and watch active carbonation in a nicely made light golden beer.
546 characters
4.46/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottled 2/21/13 poured into a snifter glass. Reviewing this compared to other pale ales.
A: Pours a yellow golden with 2 finger fluffy white head and tons of carbonation bubbles. Fantastic head retention with lacing prominent on the glass.
S: The aroma on this beer is pretty strong, which is remarkable for a 4.8% beer. Strong citrus grapefruit, slight pineapple and lemon zest. Caramel malt backing it up. Really strong, can def tell the dry hopping. This aroma is right up there with Zombie Dust.
T: Sweet citrus flavor, refreshing as hell with just a slight bitter dry finish. Light sweet malt making itself known. On the hoppy side for APA.
M: light bodied, perfect amount of carbonation goes down easy. Leaves the mouth with a slight sweetness that coats the mouth with a slight bitter after finish.
O: A fantastic APA and one of my go to's. I would easily put this up there with 3 Floyds Zombie Dust, and an underrated beer on BA for sure.
956 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottled 2/21/13 poured into a snifter glass. Reviewing this compared to other pale ales.
A: Pours a yellow golden with 2 finger fluffy white head and tons of carbonation bubbles. Fantastic head retention with lacing prominent on the glass.
S: The aroma on this beer is pretty strong, which is remarkable for a 4.8% beer. Strong citrus grapefruit, slight pineapple and lemon zest. Caramel malt backing it up. Really strong, can def tell the dry hopping. This aroma is right up there with Zombie Dust.
T: Sweet citrus flavor, refreshing as hell with just a slight bitter dry finish. Light sweet malt making itself known. On the hoppy side for APA.
M: light bodied, perfect amount of carbonation goes down easy. Leaves the mouth with a slight sweetness that coats the mouth with a slight bitter after finish.
O: A fantastic APA and one of my go to's. I would easily put this up there with 3 Floyds Zombie Dust, and an underrated beer on BA for sure.
956 characters
2.63/5 rDev -31.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
12 fl oz brown glass bottle (bottled on 2/2/13) served in a pint glass, reviewed live:
A - Pours a honey golden color with lively carbonation but wit only a half finger of thin, white, fizzy head. Retention is awful, especially given the low ABV. Average at best.
S - Oddly - the first notes I get are sweet honey and pale malts. Light, fresh lemon and orange zest and faint grassy notes. I'm surprised how restrained the hops are, maybe even enough to upset the balance. Pretty mild but refreshing.
T - Watery base malts open. Bland, uneventful body. Stale. No yeast character. The hops don't show up until the climax. Incredibly faint citrus is about all I can find. It's too sweet, and there's a strange metallic note near the finish. Simple and watery. Where'd all the hops from the nose go?
M - Watery and smooth.
D - I'd like to think that I got an old bottle, but It's barely a month old. Just a poor example of the style. It's easy to drink, but there's really nothing going on. Won't be having this again.
1,022 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
12 fl oz brown glass bottle (bottled on 2/2/13) served in a pint glass, reviewed live:
A - Pours a honey golden color with lively carbonation but wit only a half finger of thin, white, fizzy head. Retention is awful, especially given the low ABV. Average at best.
S - Oddly - the first notes I get are sweet honey and pale malts. Light, fresh lemon and orange zest and faint grassy notes. I'm surprised how restrained the hops are, maybe even enough to upset the balance. Pretty mild but refreshing.
T - Watery base malts open. Bland, uneventful body. Stale. No yeast character. The hops don't show up until the climax. Incredibly faint citrus is about all I can find. It's too sweet, and there's a strange metallic note near the finish. Simple and watery. Where'd all the hops from the nose go?
M - Watery and smooth.
D - I'd like to think that I got an old bottle, but It's barely a month old. Just a poor example of the style. It's easy to drink, but there's really nothing going on. Won't be having this again.
1,022 characters
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - Crystal clear, yellow with a touch of light orange. Short lived head. A few bubbles.
S - Pine, floral, citrus and soft pale malt. Faint woody funk. The aroma is nice, but on the subtle side.
T - Like the aroma with some semi-sweet grapefruit and a hint of caramel.
M - Light body. Mild carbonation. Mild bitterness with a medium sustain.
O - A flawless, easy drinking, light pale ale with a pleasant flavor.
416 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - Crystal clear, yellow with a touch of light orange. Short lived head. A few bubbles.
S - Pine, floral, citrus and soft pale malt. Faint woody funk. The aroma is nice, but on the subtle side.
T - Like the aroma with some semi-sweet grapefruit and a hint of caramel.
M - Light body. Mild carbonation. Mild bitterness with a medium sustain.
O - A flawless, easy drinking, light pale ale with a pleasant flavor.
416 characters
Pale 31 California Pale Ale from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
3.83 out of
5 with
1,987 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
In English, explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.