Nautical Reference Pale Ale
Hilliard's Beer

I had this on-tap in a beer-can pint glass at the brewery.

Appearance: medium orange hue with a light haze and a relatively strong effervescence. Head is a thin layer of white foam with a thin lace left on the glass. I rather like it.

Smell: malty with a hint of biscuit and a floral hop character. The biscuit, light toast and floral hops make the overall effect soapy, but — it’s potent mélange if you’re into that sort of thing.

Taste: quite a lot like the aroma. Toasty, rather than biscuity, but combined with the floral hops it’s a very soapy, floral experience. Not bad, but perhaps not everyone’s bag.

Mouthfeel: medium body but with a big carbonation and a big, fulfilling creaminess. I really like it.

Overall: a decent pale ale, if not one that blows me away. A reasonable session drink, especially if you’re into toasty/floral pale ales.

 

 

 

draft at the brewpub

a: served in a brewery logo can glass, golden orange in color with a finger deep bone white head that falls back to a thin ring

s: pale malts with a bready, slightly toasted aroma, nicely grainy, hops open with sappy pine and citrus rind

m: lighter bodied with a crisp medium carbonation

t: flavorful body of pale malts, touches of grainy bread and hints of toast, hops bring a moderate vein of citrus rind and a touch of pine, restrained but balanced bitterness, good stuff

o: a pleasant pale ale with an extra little dose of character from the chocolate malt, drinks well

 

Had on tap at Hilliard's. Review from notes.

A: Pours a clear orange/amber color with a very small head that reduces to a thin ring quickly. No lacing to speak of.

S: Not an overly hoppy aroma. Some toasted grains and caramel with light pine and a bit of tropical fruit zest.

T: More toasted malt with some toasted nuts as well with grains and some faint grass and orange zest.

M: Light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O: An ok APA. Had it since everything else is readily available in can. Liked the Hilliard's space though, very cool industrial feel.

on-tap, at the brewery

I've enjoyed many a pint of the Nautical Reference, often paired with something from a food truck parked out front. In the era of dumping a farm full of Citra hops in a beer and still calling it a pale ale, this may not excite the average BA. That's fine - it's an extremely solid creation in the spirit of what a Pale Ale used to be - grassy, layers of toasted malt, earthy green hops. It's honest, versatile and refreshing.