Wolf Picker
Odell Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- American Pale Ale (APA)
Ranked #349 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #10,100 - Avg:
- 3.95 | pDev: 9.87%
- Reviews:
- 51
- Ratings:
- From:
- Odell Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Avail:
- Spring
- Wants
- 10
- Gots
- 44
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Notes:
Wolf Picker is named in honor of our hop growing community and the harvesting rig they use. Each year, the brew is crafted with same malt base but with new and unique varieties of hops. Some of the varieties are so new, they’re not even named yet. Wolf Picker 2016 features the experimental HBC 438 and Cashmere hops. These two offer a complex and layered hop character that combine hints of coconut, papaya and mango with a mild herbal quality.
Reviews: 51
| Ratings: 211
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3.88/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Picked up a 6 pack of this for $9. Makes it real easy to pick a new beer to try when priced so affordable (and the pale ale style is one of my faves too). Pours a yellow with some light amber color with a moderate amount of haze, but not milkshake like levels. 1/3" white head. O'Dells usually makes better looking pale ales than this. Strata hop smells nice, stone fruit plus has some lemon and lime notes to it. I'm guessing HBC 438 = Strata.
Taste is moderately bitter, keeps ups the medley of stone fruit and citrus bitterness. Body is light and simple. Light tropical notes enter into the mouth feel. I appreciate the uniqueness. Everyone making Mosaic and Citra slurry bombs these days, which certainly have their time and place. At this price I would have no problem turning this purchase into a repeat one. Plenty sessionable, watch out, I could easily kill all 6 cans out on the river come summertime.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Picked up a 6 pack of this for $9. Makes it real easy to pick a new beer to try when priced so affordable (and the pale ale style is one of my faves too). Pours a yellow with some light amber color with a moderate amount of haze, but not milkshake like levels. 1/3" white head. O'Dells usually makes better looking pale ales than this. Strata hop smells nice, stone fruit plus has some lemon and lime notes to it. I'm guessing HBC 438 = Strata.
Taste is moderately bitter, keeps ups the medley of stone fruit and citrus bitterness. Body is light and simple. Light tropical notes enter into the mouth feel. I appreciate the uniqueness. Everyone making Mosaic and Citra slurry bombs these days, which certainly have their time and place. At this price I would have no problem turning this purchase into a repeat one. Plenty sessionable, watch out, I could easily kill all 6 cans out on the river come summertime.
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3.65/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
2019 - strata
Pours a golden orange. Nice white head. Great lacing and retention.
Nose is peach, mango.
Taste follows. Ripe peaches, mango, guava, a bit of citrus.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
2019 - strata
Pours a golden orange. Nice white head. Great lacing and retention.
Nose is peach, mango.
Taste follows. Ripe peaches, mango, guava, a bit of citrus.
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2/5 rDev -49.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
This one just doesn't work for me. Comes off with a onion, earthy, sweaty gym sock flavor on the initial sip which then morphs slightly into the fruit flavors intended. Grapefruit and mango on the back end, though offset by a fairly assertive hop bite on the finish.
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look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
This one just doesn't work for me. Comes off with a onion, earthy, sweaty gym sock flavor on the initial sip which then morphs slightly into the fruit flavors intended. Grapefruit and mango on the back end, though offset by a fairly assertive hop bite on the finish.
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4.82/5 rDev +22%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This beer is in its own category! They highlight what they call the HBC 438 and Cashmere hops in their description, and you can taste it's citric and herbal bite. They say they change their hop variety each year and it seems to me that they have found their golden ticket with this 2019 batch. This beer takes the bitter out and somewhat replaces it with an original dank banana flavor. It is dark golden in color with low cloudiness. It has a great smelling sweet hop aroma that is good but could be a bit stonger. Medium carbonation, good mouth feel... though maybe a touch light. I believe it has lower reviews because it is so unique. That can throw people off or it can really appeal to them, like it did with me.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This beer is in its own category! They highlight what they call the HBC 438 and Cashmere hops in their description, and you can taste it's citric and herbal bite. They say they change their hop variety each year and it seems to me that they have found their golden ticket with this 2019 batch. This beer takes the bitter out and somewhat replaces it with an original dank banana flavor. It is dark golden in color with low cloudiness. It has a great smelling sweet hop aroma that is good but could be a bit stonger. Medium carbonation, good mouth feel... though maybe a touch light. I believe it has lower reviews because it is so unique. That can throw people off or it can really appeal to them, like it did with me.
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4.02/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours an effervescent gold with 3+ fingers of pearl colored head. Very good head retention & lacing
S: Pears, preaches, grassyness
T: Follows the nose, a little dryness & passionfruit as well up front. Dryness builds as this warms, along with grassyness, pears & a little tropical fruityness. Finishes with dryness, mango & papaya
MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation. nice balance
Easy drinker, delivers plenty of flavor, glad I purchased this sixpack
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours an effervescent gold with 3+ fingers of pearl colored head. Very good head retention & lacing
S: Pears, preaches, grassyness
T: Follows the nose, a little dryness & passionfruit as well up front. Dryness builds as this warms, along with grassyness, pears & a little tropical fruityness. Finishes with dryness, mango & papaya
MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation. nice balance
Easy drinker, delivers plenty of flavor, glad I purchased this sixpack
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3.88/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a light foggy orange-ish straw color with two fingers of white head. Head retention is good. Aroma is citrus, peach, apricot, lemon, grassy and herbal hops and residual sugar. Flavor profile is peach and apricot with a sharp, dry cut of lemon. Bready, earthy malts mingle with herbal and grassy hops to add to the peach and lemon and overall dryness. Mouth feel is a touch fuzzy, but really dries out at the end. It has a medium-thin consistency. Overall, big peach and a sharp dryness make for an intriguing beer with bite.
Version: 2019. Hops: Strata.
Served in a 15.5oz Spiegalau tulip from a 12oz can.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a light foggy orange-ish straw color with two fingers of white head. Head retention is good. Aroma is citrus, peach, apricot, lemon, grassy and herbal hops and residual sugar. Flavor profile is peach and apricot with a sharp, dry cut of lemon. Bready, earthy malts mingle with herbal and grassy hops to add to the peach and lemon and overall dryness. Mouth feel is a touch fuzzy, but really dries out at the end. It has a medium-thin consistency. Overall, big peach and a sharp dryness make for an intriguing beer with bite.
Version: 2019. Hops: Strata.
Served in a 15.5oz Spiegalau tulip from a 12oz can.
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3.99/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This beer pours a bright gold with a solid head. The aroma is a a combo of floral and tropical, with guava, pineapple, lilac, rose, and cotton candy. The flavor is dense but not overbearing, with pineapple, coconut, cream, mango, guava, and just a touch of grass. The mouthfeel is soft with gentle carbonation. Overall this is a nice little beer, with complex layers of flavor and a pleasant, subtle aspect.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This beer pours a bright gold with a solid head. The aroma is a a combo of floral and tropical, with guava, pineapple, lilac, rose, and cotton candy. The flavor is dense but not overbearing, with pineapple, coconut, cream, mango, guava, and just a touch of grass. The mouthfeel is soft with gentle carbonation. Overall this is a nice little beer, with complex layers of flavor and a pleasant, subtle aspect.
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4.24/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A 12oz can picked up at Total Wine in Vegas
L - Blond with clarity, 1/2 a finger of head
S - Tropical and floral hops. Excellent aroma
T - Floral and citrus notes. Tasty. Easy drinking
F - Medium carbonation and dry finish
O - A good IPA - big difference than the standard. Does justice to the Strata hop
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A 12oz can picked up at Total Wine in Vegas
L - Blond with clarity, 1/2 a finger of head
S - Tropical and floral hops. Excellent aroma
T - Floral and citrus notes. Tasty. Easy drinking
F - Medium carbonation and dry finish
O - A good IPA - big difference than the standard. Does justice to the Strata hop
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3.88/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2019 Strata hop. 12oz can into a tulip. Pale golden straw color, white rocky head with a little lacing. Nose is pretty bright, some sweet orange and mango, fresh leather, peaches. Taste is more peach candy, mango, guava, more citrus, a little pale malt. Finishes a little dry and very clean. Super easy drinking American pale ale, very smooth and would be a great one to pack on your first spring camping trip.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2019 Strata hop. 12oz can into a tulip. Pale golden straw color, white rocky head with a little lacing. Nose is pretty bright, some sweet orange and mango, fresh leather, peaches. Taste is more peach candy, mango, guava, more citrus, a little pale malt. Finishes a little dry and very clean. Super easy drinking American pale ale, very smooth and would be a great one to pack on your first spring camping trip.
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3.95/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Date of 04/11/19 printed on bottom of can. Does not look great but the aroma and flavor really brings the hops out in this lower ABV IPA. Notes of stone fruit and mild dankness.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Date of 04/11/19 printed on bottom of can. Does not look great but the aroma and flavor really brings the hops out in this lower ABV IPA. Notes of stone fruit and mild dankness.
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4.04/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This is a really interesting pale ale. Pours a beautiful clear light gold with rocky head that disappears quickly into minor lacing. Smell is wonderful mango, tangerine rinds and other citrus aromas. Taste is very moderate malt (light crackers) with a bright punch of grapefruit, resinous funk, and bitter orange peel. Really nice smell and good taste. The body leans to the dry and slightly bitter side - could use a little more malt body to support. Intriguing and unique beer that I will continue to enjoy.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This is a really interesting pale ale. Pours a beautiful clear light gold with rocky head that disappears quickly into minor lacing. Smell is wonderful mango, tangerine rinds and other citrus aromas. Taste is very moderate malt (light crackers) with a bright punch of grapefruit, resinous funk, and bitter orange peel. Really nice smell and good taste. The body leans to the dry and slightly bitter side - could use a little more malt body to support. Intriguing and unique beer that I will continue to enjoy.
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4.08/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can with a best by 4-11-19 date (opened 1-6-19).
2018 Strata.
1" white head with great retention settles in as a cap after 3-4 minutes of receding. Gold IPA with a slight chill haze. Early lacing looks good.
Ripe mango, passion fruit and some grapefruit. Black pepper. Great nose with ripe tropical hop aromas.
Mango, Passion Fruit, and peach...peach candy - gummy ring. Great complexity of flavors coming out of this (not sure if it's only Strata or if there are other hops included). Malt is mainly a hop delivery vehicle...there is a mildly creamy base with a hint of vanilla.
Clean, bright entry, medium body and carbonation. Lengthy finish of ripe and zingy hop flavors.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can with a best by 4-11-19 date (opened 1-6-19).
2018 Strata.
1" white head with great retention settles in as a cap after 3-4 minutes of receding. Gold IPA with a slight chill haze. Early lacing looks good.
Ripe mango, passion fruit and some grapefruit. Black pepper. Great nose with ripe tropical hop aromas.
Mango, Passion Fruit, and peach...peach candy - gummy ring. Great complexity of flavors coming out of this (not sure if it's only Strata or if there are other hops included). Malt is mainly a hop delivery vehicle...there is a mildly creamy base with a hint of vanilla.
Clean, bright entry, medium body and carbonation. Lengthy finish of ripe and zingy hop flavors.
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4.16/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle [cold stored at the store and home], 2018 release with Strata hops, best enjoyed by 5/16/18. Mildly hazy golden-yellow colored ale with high carbonation and a persistent off-white head. Tropical fruit aroma of passion fruit, pineapple and citrus with maybe a wheat and pale malt base. Juicy & tropical hop notes of tart passion fruit, grapefruit, mandarin orange, and pine with a modest pale malt presence. Medium resinous body, higher carbonation, finishing pungently bitter with passion fruit and pine lingering. This was great!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle [cold stored at the store and home], 2018 release with Strata hops, best enjoyed by 5/16/18. Mildly hazy golden-yellow colored ale with high carbonation and a persistent off-white head. Tropical fruit aroma of passion fruit, pineapple and citrus with maybe a wheat and pale malt base. Juicy & tropical hop notes of tart passion fruit, grapefruit, mandarin orange, and pine with a modest pale malt presence. Medium resinous body, higher carbonation, finishing pungently bitter with passion fruit and pine lingering. This was great!
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3.93/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly rusty golden yellow.
Slightly tropical/citrus fruit notes, but also rather getting spicy/herbal notes.
An interesting mesh of spice, herbs, and slight tropical fruit notes.
Medium-bodied, medium carbonation, crisp.
Overall, nothing to write home about but certainly drinkable!
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly rusty golden yellow.
Slightly tropical/citrus fruit notes, but also rather getting spicy/herbal notes.
An interesting mesh of spice, herbs, and slight tropical fruit notes.
Medium-bodied, medium carbonation, crisp.
Overall, nothing to write home about but certainly drinkable!
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3.65/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From 16 ounce Prowler bought at Liquor Shed.
It pours a brilliantly clear medium gold, over an inch of foam, good lacing brew.
Smells really dank for an APA, onions, tropical fruit.
Hoppy taste, tropical fruit notes, though mild, grassy, piney, for me, it's a bit like a session Ipa with a tad more complexity.
Light end of medium bodied, just right carbonation, it's enjoyable to my palate but I would pass on drinking it again cuz there's so many tasty APA's I would reach for before this.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From 16 ounce Prowler bought at Liquor Shed.
It pours a brilliantly clear medium gold, over an inch of foam, good lacing brew.
Smells really dank for an APA, onions, tropical fruit.
Hoppy taste, tropical fruit notes, though mild, grassy, piney, for me, it's a bit like a session Ipa with a tad more complexity.
Light end of medium bodied, just right carbonation, it's enjoyable to my palate but I would pass on drinking it again cuz there's so many tasty APA's I would reach for before this.
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4.28/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Clear, light gold body with a billowy, sculpted, white head. Fantastic floral and pine resin aroma; notes of citrus, too. Delicate light malt flavors; biscuit and cracker; well-balanced hop bitterness; light touch of watermelon. Medium-light body; a tad weak; very clean; crisp and primarily dry overall.
This is a most exquisite APA. It delivers and all-around light and delicate quality while still packing some fine flavors and hop bitterness. A very fine offering.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Clear, light gold body with a billowy, sculpted, white head. Fantastic floral and pine resin aroma; notes of citrus, too. Delicate light malt flavors; biscuit and cracker; well-balanced hop bitterness; light touch of watermelon. Medium-light body; a tad weak; very clean; crisp and primarily dry overall.
This is a most exquisite APA. It delivers and all-around light and delicate quality while still packing some fine flavors and hop bitterness. A very fine offering.
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4.15/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: A medium golden with about 1/2” white head.
Smell: Grapefruit with a hint of pine.
Taste: Nice balance of grapefruit with the strata hops (2018).
Feel: Carbonation seems a little light.
Overall: I really like this beer but it needs just a little more carbonation.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: A medium golden with about 1/2” white head.
Smell: Grapefruit with a hint of pine.
Taste: Nice balance of grapefruit with the strata hops (2018).
Feel: Carbonation seems a little light.
Overall: I really like this beer but it needs just a little more carbonation.
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3.92/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
2017 vintage brewed with HBC 638 hops. Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a 12 oz bottle on May 28, 2017. Best enjoyed by 6/6/17. The smell and taste is hints of mango and peach. The feel is clean and smooth. Recommended.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
2017 vintage brewed with HBC 638 hops. Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a 12 oz bottle on May 28, 2017. Best enjoyed by 6/6/17. The smell and taste is hints of mango and peach. The feel is clean and smooth. Recommended.
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3.76/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Picked up a single from Black Canyon Brewing Supplies 1-29-17 for $1.99. Best by 4-12-17 but been in cold storage since purchase.
Beer poured golden with a beautiful white head that is leaving lacing.
Nose is lightly tropical and stone fruits.
Taste is very well balanced between the pale and caramel malt base and the mango hops.
Mouthfeel is crisp and clean, very refreshing.
Overall a solid pale ale executed perfectly to the style guides.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Picked up a single from Black Canyon Brewing Supplies 1-29-17 for $1.99. Best by 4-12-17 but been in cold storage since purchase.
Beer poured golden with a beautiful white head that is leaving lacing.
Nose is lightly tropical and stone fruits.
Taste is very well balanced between the pale and caramel malt base and the mango hops.
Mouthfeel is crisp and clean, very refreshing.
Overall a solid pale ale executed perfectly to the style guides.
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4.01/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Slightly hazy with tiny particulates.
Lighter amber. Short lived white head.
Aroma is sweet and full of tropical fruit.
Taste follows the aroma with sweet tropical notes from the hops. But bitterness is minimal and does not linger.
Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but expected for an APA. Lower than normal carbonation.
Solid APA with great profile.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Slightly hazy with tiny particulates.
Lighter amber. Short lived white head.
Aroma is sweet and full of tropical fruit.
Taste follows the aroma with sweet tropical notes from the hops. But bitterness is minimal and does not linger.
Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but expected for an APA. Lower than normal carbonation.
Solid APA with great profile.
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3.44/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: Mostly clear straw yellow color, with a small white head and no lacing.
S: Mango and lemon are dominant, with so.e toasted light malt in the background.
T: Lemon candy and tropical fruit, a medium piney bitterness, with a slight toasted malt backbone.
F: Light body and medium carbonation.
O: Very tropical fruit forward as is common these days, drinkable but not memorable.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: Mostly clear straw yellow color, with a small white head and no lacing.
S: Mango and lemon are dominant, with so.e toasted light malt in the background.
T: Lemon candy and tropical fruit, a medium piney bitterness, with a slight toasted malt backbone.
F: Light body and medium carbonation.
O: Very tropical fruit forward as is common these days, drinkable but not memorable.
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3.18/5 rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle. Pours hazy straw yellow with a medium fluffy white head that retains well and laces the glass some.
The aroma is sweet lemony fruit with some stinky resin.
The flavor is sweet candy fruit with resiny, slightly harsh metallic, hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.
Overall, an OK pale ale.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle. Pours hazy straw yellow with a medium fluffy white head that retains well and laces the glass some.
The aroma is sweet lemony fruit with some stinky resin.
The flavor is sweet candy fruit with resiny, slightly harsh metallic, hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.
Overall, an OK pale ale.
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3.55/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Wolf Picker Experimental Pale Ale
BOTTLE: Acquired as part of an Odell 12-pack variety box (3 bottles of this were included along with 3 core Odell offerings). Brown glass. 12 fl oz. Classy label design. Branded pry-off crown cap.
Hopped with HBC 638. 5.50% ABV. "Featuring rare hops with subtle hints of peach and mango."
Fluffy off-white head takes up ~70% of the glass, sitting atop a vibrant clear filtered copper body and taking ~8 minutes to fully recede. Thick, frothy, and soft in appearance.
AROMA: suggests fresh pale malts, peach, and a hint of tropical character, though I don't know that I'd say mango. In any case, it's noticeably less tropical than many of the new popular hops (I've heard them called "hipster hops" by a Jester King employee and that's an entertaining term) that are popular in so many U.S. IPAs these days. Fragrant and floral, with none of the boozy pineapple that plagues so many tropically focused IPAs and pale ales.
It's much more classical in its hop profile than it is experimental, evoking American hop varietals much more than Kiwi hops (or shortage-popularized hops like Japan's sorachi ace). Pleasant as a result, suggesting a balanced pale ale with a nice hop presence but not too much bitterness.
TASTE: Peach intermingles with tropical fruit (okay, I'll concede - it's mango) and pale malts to good effect, resulting in a balanced pleasant brew with a fruity floral hop presence but not one that ventures into the deep end of the tropical hop pool; this one just dips its toes and that's enough. I almost get a wisp of some chile-like heat for some reason, or at least a peppery sort of spicy heat.
TEXTURE: Smooth, a bit dry, soft, light to medium-bodied, refreshing, well-carbonated, approachable, and coating. Not oily or juicy, both of which would be nice. Not astringent, harsh, gushed, hot, or boozy.
The dryness of the mouthfeel coupled with the subtle yeasty spiciness gives this an almost Belgian yeast-like taste. Lacks the clean attenuation and presentation of flavour you'd expect in an American pale ale, but it does taste filtered.
OVERALL: Ludicrously easy to drink. (I think the kids call that "crushable"?). Odell committed to an interesting hop selection and the result is an interesting pale ale that discerning drinkers will enjoy. Well priced for its quality and absolutely a brew I'd recommend to friends. More good work from one of Colorado's finest breweries, though depth of flavour and hop pungency could be improved to good effect.
Low B / GOOD
***
2nd impressions from another bottle:
Tasty balanced stuff with a pungent hop profile for an American pale ale.
Low B (3.55) / GOOD
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Wolf Picker Experimental Pale Ale
BOTTLE: Acquired as part of an Odell 12-pack variety box (3 bottles of this were included along with 3 core Odell offerings). Brown glass. 12 fl oz. Classy label design. Branded pry-off crown cap.
Hopped with HBC 638. 5.50% ABV. "Featuring rare hops with subtle hints of peach and mango."
Fluffy off-white head takes up ~70% of the glass, sitting atop a vibrant clear filtered copper body and taking ~8 minutes to fully recede. Thick, frothy, and soft in appearance.
AROMA: suggests fresh pale malts, peach, and a hint of tropical character, though I don't know that I'd say mango. In any case, it's noticeably less tropical than many of the new popular hops (I've heard them called "hipster hops" by a Jester King employee and that's an entertaining term) that are popular in so many U.S. IPAs these days. Fragrant and floral, with none of the boozy pineapple that plagues so many tropically focused IPAs and pale ales.
It's much more classical in its hop profile than it is experimental, evoking American hop varietals much more than Kiwi hops (or shortage-popularized hops like Japan's sorachi ace). Pleasant as a result, suggesting a balanced pale ale with a nice hop presence but not too much bitterness.
TASTE: Peach intermingles with tropical fruit (okay, I'll concede - it's mango) and pale malts to good effect, resulting in a balanced pleasant brew with a fruity floral hop presence but not one that ventures into the deep end of the tropical hop pool; this one just dips its toes and that's enough. I almost get a wisp of some chile-like heat for some reason, or at least a peppery sort of spicy heat.
TEXTURE: Smooth, a bit dry, soft, light to medium-bodied, refreshing, well-carbonated, approachable, and coating. Not oily or juicy, both of which would be nice. Not astringent, harsh, gushed, hot, or boozy.
The dryness of the mouthfeel coupled with the subtle yeasty spiciness gives this an almost Belgian yeast-like taste. Lacks the clean attenuation and presentation of flavour you'd expect in an American pale ale, but it does taste filtered.
OVERALL: Ludicrously easy to drink. (I think the kids call that "crushable"?). Odell committed to an interesting hop selection and the result is an interesting pale ale that discerning drinkers will enjoy. Well priced for its quality and absolutely a brew I'd recommend to friends. More good work from one of Colorado's finest breweries, though depth of flavour and hop pungency could be improved to good effect.
Low B / GOOD
***
2nd impressions from another bottle:
Tasty balanced stuff with a pungent hop profile for an American pale ale.
Low B (3.55) / GOOD
2,667 characters
4.03/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Clean golden amber, with a lovely head of off-white suds. Slight but attractive loopy lace.
Aroma: Crisp tropical and citrus hops. Yum.
Taste: Really delicious citrus and tropical hops, with a definite fruitiness coming through loud and clear. Low on bitterness, but high on drinkability, this is a superb ale.
324 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Clean golden amber, with a lovely head of off-white suds. Slight but attractive loopy lace.
Aroma: Crisp tropical and citrus hops. Yum.
Taste: Really delicious citrus and tropical hops, with a definite fruitiness coming through loud and clear. Low on bitterness, but high on drinkability, this is a superb ale.
324 characters
4.47/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Aroma is pine, spices and a hard to pinpoint hint of big body, almost IIPA. The flavor is citrus, berry/slightly sweet hops, malts, rather large body for an APA, complex tropical fruit and a bitter/tart finish.
211 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Aroma is pine, spices and a hard to pinpoint hint of big body, almost IIPA. The flavor is citrus, berry/slightly sweet hops, malts, rather large body for an APA, complex tropical fruit and a bitter/tart finish.
211 characters
Wolf Picker from Odell Brewing Company
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
211 ratings
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