Spring Pale Ale
pFriem Family Brewers

 

500 ml bottle

Pours a huge two and a half finger white head into my willi glass. The head is pretty soapy looking, and I can hear it fizzing, not good. The body is crystal clear, and pale, straw yellow in color. Carbonation looks extremely high. Head retention is above average so far. Overall, honestly I don’t like how this beer looks so far.

The nose on the other hand is quite nice. Somewhat dry, with a fair amount of melon and a little zesty. Hops are not overpowering, but are very well placed at the front of the nose. The hop profile smells dank, galaxy hops would be my guess. It smells very fresh and refreshing, just like a spring pale should. Not sweet at all. This is somewhat strait forward, but it’s well done – good nose.

Hmm, flavor is a little more simple. Not getting nearly as much of a kick as I did on the aroma. Relatively watery for a large portion of the palate, a pretty characterless bitterness hides in the back the entire time, not very bitter. Pretty grassy though, I suppose that’s the one contributing hop flavor. Tastes like there is only 25-30 IBU’s in this guy, compared to the on the label. A little lemon perhaps. While the nose was refreshing and full of character, this is boring and dull. The appearance reminds me of a pilsner, and the flavor honestly tastes far more like a pilsner than it does any kind of pale ale. It’s not terrible, but this is a let down for flavor when you compare it to the nose, the style, or simply judged on its own. I know they were going for a light pale, but this is too far. The problem is simple, not enough flavor. Overall, not that great.

Mouthfeel is not very good either, watery with a low carbonation – earing on flat at times. Small amounts of bitterness give it a little character I guess, but not enough to make any kind of difference.

The drinkability is ok I guess, it’s light. This doesn’t taste bad in any way, it’s just like…why am I drinking it? There is just so little to it.

Overall not much more to say, not enough flavor. Probably the only less than average beer I have had from pFriem.

The lacing helped the final appearance, it was nice and thick from top to bottom. Still, this was a weird looking beer, and not really my style. Not too sure how to grade this. It’s not a bad looking beer I suppose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handsome clear pale golden brew with long-lasting foam in the Stella goblet. Light fruity aromas followed by blast of straw and flowery hops. A distinct touch of honeydew melon. Mellow with light, crackery malt but the hops have a little bitter bite after some sipping. A little mineral flavor.

This does lean in the Pilsner direction. There's something about the resiny notes that linger in the hop flavors, and that crisp, direct bitterness. Another carefully crafted brew from the masters of the lighter side in Hood River. While it starts out so suavely an IPA fanatic would find this stands up on the hop side. From the 500 ml bottle purchased at Central Market north of Seattle.

Pale straw color, clear with minimal head and some nice lacing. Very faint aroma, hints of floral hops. Wonderful crisp grassy hop flavor with prominent floral notes reminiscent of jasmine tea and rose water. Fine bubbles, well carbonated. Excellent!

To me, this beer could be a hoppy Pilsner. It has the floral and cracker malt characteristics. Aroma has some fruit and citrus qualities. Pale golden color, clear, foamy, white head with streak lacing. Watery mouthfeel, although it is a crisp brew. Nice hops aftertaste- resinous and citrus based. A good springtime beer.