Hampden Pale Ale
Scantic River Brewery

 

Bought a bottle at the Beer Shop in East Longmeadow. This beer looked good with a murky brown-slight gold appearance and a thick head that did not dissipate too much. Aromas had a promising smell of malts, honey, biscuit, herbal spice, and hops. Taste was not that great to my palate, however. The beer has a caramel-like dry fruit flavor that is not mixed well with the hops. The mouthfeel actually makes things worse by making the beer way too carbonated. Overall, this beer had a lot of promise with its appearance and aromas, but the taste and mouthfeel sank it for me.

 

Drank this with a friend bicycle rider in a pizza joint in Belchertown, MA, where the BYOB policy allowed us to bring a nice fresh bomber from adjacent liquor store on the commons. Unfortunately, we had no glass to pour it in, so my "look" is from peering at the cute fish in the Scantic River on label and from peeking down the bomber neck. Smell through the neck was hoppy. Taste straight from the bottle with fine slice of pizza pie and a cajun chicken salad was really really good with the meal. Carbonation was just right; didn't find any of the over-fizzy hassles reported by cbutova. Liked it so much I went back later and got another bottle, which I'll drink with friend biker beer snobs tomorrow from appropriate glassware. Will revise this review if this pale ale tastes or looks better or worse, but I'd say this is an excellent deal for an ale brewed with local hops. Hop character is so fresh and clear this is close to an IPA, just not as bitter.

 

 

A- Opens with a loud hiss that reminds me of a Belgian beer. Poured to a small taster cup with a golden body, slightly hazy. Foams out of the glass with 80% foam in the cup and tons of lace. Overcarbonated.

S- Hardly anything going on here with some stale light fruits, light floral hops and dry malt extract hints. Somewhat herbal.

T- Herbal, grassy and spicy hops out shined by malt extract sweets, grapes, old apples, caramel and something medicinal. Strange fruits and off flavors.

MF- Borderline undrinkable here. The carbonation is just unmanageable on the palate and it turns into pure foam feeling like no liquid is present. Low bitterness.

Just inexcusable. Either overprimed, underattenuated or infected; leaning toward the first two. Carbonation ruins anything pleasant. I love the new breweries popping up locally but need more quality.