Oscar's Pardon
Haymarket Beer Co. Pub & Brewery

Oscar's Pardon Oscar's Pardon
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From:
Haymarket Beer Co. Pub & Brewery
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
Ranked #90
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,416
Avg:
3.66 | pDev: 8.2%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
55
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 25, 2023
Added:
Jan 18, 2011
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  3
This straw colored pale ale was brewed with pilsen malt, Belgian yeast and Amarillo hops then dry-hopped with a touch more for a complex easy drinking experience. Names after Oscar Neebe. Anarchist? Maybe. Yeast Salesman? Definitely.
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Rated: 3.79 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Aug 25, 2023
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Reviewed by GrumpyGas from Illinois

3.81/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz draft pour into a goblet shows a clear, golden yellow body under a 1" proud head of tiny, white bubbles and leaves sheets of lacing. A picture perfect pour.

Belgian yeast fruits dominate the aroma, however a pine resin soars through for an enticing introduction.
The flavor, however doesn't quite come together. Fruity esters compete with pine resin and spice and it almost comes off as booze heat.

Mouthfeel is medium with a drying finish.

Overall I like it, but feel I am missing something.
Nov 19, 2022
Photo of ZebulonXZogg
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

3.29/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours a slightly foggy pale gold, great bid soapy head that fades to a cap, some spotty lacing. It has that Belgian yeast aroma and that's enough to spoil my day. Thin, some residual carbonation that continues as I drink this. This is a one and done.
Apr 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by Hefsbeercaps from Ohio

Aug 31, 2021
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Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap at a restaurant 10 miles from where it was brewed (probably) at Haymarket's tap/plant in southwestern Michigan.
While Haymarket has had decent success in the Belgian tradition, this BPA needs a more complex fruitiness, perhaps yielded by a better cultivated yeast.

Oscar's Pardon Looks modest with not much foam and some lace. Smells offer mostly lemon tart. Tastes reflect that tart and perhaps some pepper from the yeast. The dry-hopping is modest and balanced. Despite good bubbles, the mouth has a pleasant softness. It was a good accompaniment to a dinner that had frites.

This is a decent effort handicapped by a less-than-robust yeast. But, I will have Oscar's Pardon again along with Haymarket's other Belgians.
Nov 09, 2019
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Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 3/5/2019. Pours lightly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly foamy/fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, red apple, white grape, peppercorn, clove, light banana, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/earthy hops, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, red apple, white grape, peppercorn, clove, light banana, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal, floral, woody, grassy bitterness; and pepper/clove yeast spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, red apple, white grape, peppercorn, clove, light banana, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth and moderately bready/grainy/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.5%. Overall this is an excellent Belgian pale ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/spicy/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Awesome balance of vibrant Amarillo hops, Belgian yeast, and a clean pale/wheat malt backbone. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering and impressively spot on style example. No complaints.
Sep 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.6 by BarryMFBurton from Indiana

Jun 27, 2019
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Reviewed by BlackBeerPirate from Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Taste: semi sweet, wheat, zesty flavor, easy finish. Sweet bread nose. Golden hue, clear, with a delicate head and lace. Medium body. Balanced. 45 IBUs
Oct 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.46 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Jun 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.58 by OtisCampbell007 from Tennessee

May 31, 2018
 
Rated: 3.56 by Eman17 from Illinois

Apr 04, 2018
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Reviewed by c014572 from Illinois

3.94/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Typical bread/Belgian yeast smell, unique in that I get a distinct green apple aroma/taste. Light body/mouthfeel. Very well balanced. This is really a good beer if you just want a belgian style beer with a lower ABV.
Jan 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.08 by scootercrabb from Illinois

Dec 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.65 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Dec 18, 2017
 
Rated: 4.51 by Taz53 from Illinois

Nov 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by krome from Illinois

Sep 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.73 by ssimpson89 from Illinois

Sep 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by cryptichead from Illinois

Aug 19, 2017
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Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois

3.67/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
12oz can, packaged JUN1517
A - very thin off-white head disappears quickly atop a deep golden colored ale
S - fruity nose with orange zest, Belgian yeast, caramel malt
T - nice fruity and zesty flavors from the Amarillo hops; orange zest, fruity Belgian yeast, caramel malt, toasty grain
M - almost no carbonation, medium body, semi-dry, moderately bitter finish
O - good flavors, but some carbonation would help this immensely. I'd try it again if I knew for certain it would be more carbonated because it definitely has potential.
Aug 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.78 by Buck89 from Tennessee

Apr 05, 2016
Oscar's Pardon from Haymarket Beer Co. Pub & Brewery
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 55 ratings