Hang Loose Pale Ale
SoCal Beer Company

 

 

 

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, citrus zest, and slight brown sugar aromas. Taste is much the same with malt and citrus zest flavors on the finish. There is a very mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is tasty but seems more like a slightly faded American barleywine than a pale ale.

It's tough to hang loose when your introduction to the line was a total and utter failure. I'm going to throw caution into the waves. From a 22 ounce bottle, on to the beer:

Shiny copper orange colored, topped with an inch of good head. The retention is better than average, and a few rings of lace stick around the glass. Its crisp smell is distinct, very crisp. Small notes of biscuit and caramel break in from the clean hoppy scene, however the love is teased by a batter here and there of plastic band-aids.

I brace for a possible infection. While a little infection does make a mark in the beer, the beer itself is able to rise above. Clean and crisp with a toffee crisp note, clean pine flavor, fresh grass, and subtle citrus. Almost the opposite of the Black Bear Porter, Hang Loose has some flavor. Take out the melted plastic note and this beer can only get better. The beer is pleasantly crisp, not too crisp though. The medium body compliments the bubbles, resulting in a great texture.

Pleasant enough with room to grow. As it stands, it'll do washing down a dinner of buffalo chicken breast.

 

 

Pours a light golden color, with a fluffy white head and good lacing. Aroma of subtle floral hops paired alongside some understated malt notes. Faint hints of citrus are detectable, as well.
Taste starts with a little bit of biscuity malt before opening with a solid bite of hops. Has a floral, piney character. Good carbonation with a proper feel on the palate. Dry finish.

An attractive pour with a gold color and a thick white head and lots of streaming bubbles. Leaves decent lacing down the glass. Aroma is subdued with a bit of caramel malt and floral hops. Taste is crisp with a bit of caramel sweetness. Finishes mildy bitter and semi dry. It has good drinkability, but needs a bigger hop punch and nose to become a very good pale ale.

Crystal clear standard amber color in the chalice. Coarse bubbles with a very white head. Wee floral aroma. Mouthfeel is light without much to wrap your tongue around.

Rather flat flavor reminiscent of the English styles. A little touch of biscuit or Triscuits. More of the club soda taste. Very plain stuff with rather subtle flavors. Not the stuff to make your reputation on, but seems to be clean and properly made. Slightly bitter towards the finish, but not much hop flavor. Goes down easy enough.

Brewery says they are dry hopping new batches with a mixture of Cascade and Centennial hops. 22 oz bottle from Whole Foods in Encinitas.