Mountain Rescue Dry Hopped Pale Ale
GoodLife Brewing Company & Bier Hall

 

i feel like the american pale is making a slow comeback, not that this is a new beer or anything, but this style seems like it almost died a few years ago as everything went to overly dry hopped ipa types, and i am glad to be seeing more bars carrying beers like this again, its nice to have hop forward beer with some grain balance and drinkability. sure this pale is a bit generic to me, but its well made and clean as they go. deeper than golden, lighter than copper, good clarity, short but pure white head on it, obvious bitterness in the nose on top of some crackery and lightly toasted maltiness, pretty simple, but fresh to me from the tap in this instance, and appealing. the flavor is round and mellow, the hops have more bitterness than taste to me, which i actually dont mind in the classically fashioned pales of the northwest, good bite, a little pine, basic but good. the fermentation profile is pretty clean, the finish is on the dry side, and the hops carry on just a bit longer than the grain. well carbonated, nicely proportioned, and a good beer just for drinking. ive liked just about everything ive had from these guys so far! unexciting but good on this one.

 

Mildly hop forward with a light malt backbone, some citrus and pine character, a little spice, light alcohol, medium to light body, medium carbonation, somewhat generic.

Beautiful gold to burnished orange in hue. Fluffy head rises to 2+ fingers and then recedes to a respectable foamy cap that's just shy of a finger. Fluffy patches of lacing.
Piney at first. Then a light floral citrus note enters, followed by an even lighter malt note. A little later I get a peppery hint, maybe rye.
Taste is piney and a tad peppery. Subtle grapefruit pith begins and then dominates the finish. Dry lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel has a medium level of carbonation. Medium feel, a tad heavier in the mouth than I usually expect for a "session" ale.
Overall, not a standout. Not bad, just not one to jump through too many hoops to get. A tad more distinction in the flavor profile would take this one further.

Type: 12-oz. can
Glass: Clear 16.5-oz. Belgian ale tulip
From: Trader Joe’s in La Mesa, Calif.
Price: $1.50 (I think)
Purchased: Jan. 13, 2018
Consumed: Jan. 13, 2018
Reviewed as: American Pale Ale
Misc.: Canned on Oct. 26, 2017; Can read 5 pct. ABV

Picked up seven singles and a 6-pack of Pizza Port, all beers I had never tried, on a recent trip to Trader Joe’s. Had seen this GoodLife brewery on the last visit, but balked at getting some beer. Decided to try it this time. Made the rookie move of not looking at the canned on date and saw when I was logging the beer when I got home of an Oct. 26, 2017 canned on date. Not exactly ideal. Went back and forth on calling this a pale ale or a session, but went eventually went with pale ale because that’s what the brewers called it. Brewers description online read, “An invitingly clear golden colored pale ale. Aroma that balances a floral note with a slight malt backbone. Herbal notes dominate the hop flavor which balances perfectly with the malt forward base of the beer. A straight forward pale ale that is true to the roots of the style.”

Poured a medium amber-to-copper hazy color with 3-to-4 fingers of rocky off-white. Just a few slow moving bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass. Outstanding even layered lacing. World-class retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled more malty than hoppy. Specifically got iced tea, rye, herbal, caramel, toffee, pine, bread and some leafy green notes. Got some more tropical notes from the can. (Smell - 3.75)

Taste followed the nose with much more malts than hops. Definitely an old can and I felt somewhat guilty reviewing it. Rye, iced tea, toffee, herbal, caramel, pine, brown bread, biscuit, green vegetables and a touch of mint. Almost English Pale Ale or ESB like. (Taste - 3.50)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Abrupt malty finish. (Feel - 3.75)

This was good, but I’ll need to come back and re-rate fresh. (Overall - 3.75)

3.68 | 83 | B

 

Just a good old fashioned go-to type pale ale. Beautiful dense yet fluffy head. Priced right as an easy knock back pale ale for spring summer fall. Taste profile is great hop-malt mix. So well fashioned that no favors spike out as odd or off. Smooth finish.

 

 

 

 

 

Clear amber colored ale with a small white colored head.

Smells strongly of malt with a lot of caramel and toffee scent. Little bit of pine board scent and some strong tea aroma but it isn't highly hopped or very aromatic.

Starts out sweet and a lot more bitter than it smells. Toffee candy and a sharp hop bite. Bit of tobacco leaf in the hops tastes a bit like a English ale. Bitterness level is quite high for the beer style but it doesn't last long.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall a tasty ale with a sharp hop finish.

 

Beer exploded when opened and couldn't pour without forming everywhere... No expiration date to tell if old