Small Bird Series: Mini Mallard
Trillium Brewing Company
- From:
- Trillium Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #308 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #15,559 - Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 5.97%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 26, 2025
- Added:
- Jun 24, 2021
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Serendipitously born out of a misinterpretation of "Little Brewster", our Small Bird Series of mid-strength Pale Ales offer classic heightened Trillium aromatics, on a refreshingly soft drinkable canvas. Pairing New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops with PNW-grown Strata, Mini Mallard is the latest addition to the flock.
Presenting a hazy golden yellow, we're greeted with juice-forward notes of fresh fruit salad, candied pineapple, and zesty citrus. Finishing dry, with a kiss of grapefruit-like bitterness, a pour disappears deceptively quick.
Presenting a hazy golden yellow, we're greeted with juice-forward notes of fresh fruit salad, candied pineapple, and zesty citrus. Finishing dry, with a kiss of grapefruit-like bitterness, a pour disappears deceptively quick.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
3.67/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.67/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Canned 2025/08/08
Pours a light fizzy head with lower retention, cloudy pale orange color
Nose brings citrus and a bit of tropical fruit, candied orange, grapefruit, candied pineapple, pithy, a mild doughy malt
Taste brings a lot more of those, citrus up front with some orange tangerine juice, a bit creamy sorbet like, sweet pineapple and mild tropical notes, maybe even unripe mango, more pith and creamy base malt, water softening mineral notes add a hint of chalky character, finishing with a bit of green spicy unpleasant dry hop
Mouth is med bod but creamy and juicy, med carb
Overall eh, it has some nice hop characters until that green spicy hop on the finish, and a bit of a chalky mineral leftover, not their best
Sep 26, 2025Pours a light fizzy head with lower retention, cloudy pale orange color
Nose brings citrus and a bit of tropical fruit, candied orange, grapefruit, candied pineapple, pithy, a mild doughy malt
Taste brings a lot more of those, citrus up front with some orange tangerine juice, a bit creamy sorbet like, sweet pineapple and mild tropical notes, maybe even unripe mango, more pith and creamy base malt, water softening mineral notes add a hint of chalky character, finishing with a bit of green spicy unpleasant dry hop
Mouth is med bod but creamy and juicy, med carb
Overall eh, it has some nice hop characters until that green spicy hop on the finish, and a bit of a chalky mineral leftover, not their best
Reviewed by bobv from Vermont
3.93/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 ounce can with unreadable date. (09 or 05)
Moderate pour yields a 5/8 inch white head over a very hazy,
light golden body with virtually no lacing at all.
Nose of citrus, mostly orange, with the slightest grape aroma.
Taste is where the sauvignon blanc grape comes forward with citrus there as well.
Finish is fairly dry and wine-like.
Nice mouthfeel with medium carbonation.
Overall, a pretty good stab at an APA and glad for the chance to try it.
Cheers!
Sep 30, 2023Moderate pour yields a 5/8 inch white head over a very hazy,
light golden body with virtually no lacing at all.
Nose of citrus, mostly orange, with the slightest grape aroma.
Taste is where the sauvignon blanc grape comes forward with citrus there as well.
Finish is fairly dry and wine-like.
Nice mouthfeel with medium carbonation.
Overall, a pretty good stab at an APA and glad for the chance to try it.
Cheers!
Reviewed by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania
4.33/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
My third 4 pack from my Trilium 10th Anniversary “free shipping “ 12 pack.
L- Hazy murk .
S- Subtle hoppy tropical fruit.
T- Full juice with complex hoppy flavor.
F- Silky smooth luscious mouthfeel!
O- For a low abv APA this is a wonderful
complex treat!
Mar 18, 2023L- Hazy murk .
S- Subtle hoppy tropical fruit.
T- Full juice with complex hoppy flavor.
F- Silky smooth luscious mouthfeel!
O- For a low abv APA this is a wonderful
complex treat!
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
3.8/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
(16 oz can, 05/09/22; gifted by my bro who purchased this at the brewery last month... poured into my Belhaven pub pint)
L: opaque, cloudy, yellow-jade colored liquid; fleeting, greasy foam... no head retention, no lacing; looks a mess overall
S: mango rind, overripe grapefruit skin, lemon muffin... typical NEIPA aromas... expression muddy, but intensity fairly bold
T: slight lemon-ginger zip up front; mid-flow is grassy then floral into the finish... aftertaste has a mild, 'glassy', ultra-light caramel coating/shell to the cakey malts and bright, zesty-herbal fruity hops
F: noticeable effervesence; pungent peppery, bitter-herbal, mildly-acidic high accent, delicately prickling the palate roof, while stunning the floor, leaving a mellow warmth... light-medium bodied, with that swell and silky-chubby texture clearly derived from the malt muck and gushy resins... it's got a lightweight flow but thick foggy density
O: I ought to know better by now - expecting a clear, snappy-tight attack, but presented with slop... its buzzing hop static is its best attribute, arguably standing out more in this low abv version of a generic NEIPA... yawn (1910)
Jul 02, 2022L: opaque, cloudy, yellow-jade colored liquid; fleeting, greasy foam... no head retention, no lacing; looks a mess overall
S: mango rind, overripe grapefruit skin, lemon muffin... typical NEIPA aromas... expression muddy, but intensity fairly bold
T: slight lemon-ginger zip up front; mid-flow is grassy then floral into the finish... aftertaste has a mild, 'glassy', ultra-light caramel coating/shell to the cakey malts and bright, zesty-herbal fruity hops
F: noticeable effervesence; pungent peppery, bitter-herbal, mildly-acidic high accent, delicately prickling the palate roof, while stunning the floor, leaving a mellow warmth... light-medium bodied, with that swell and silky-chubby texture clearly derived from the malt muck and gushy resins... it's got a lightweight flow but thick foggy density
O: I ought to know better by now - expecting a clear, snappy-tight attack, but presented with slop... its buzzing hop static is its best attribute, arguably standing out more in this low abv version of a generic NEIPA... yawn (1910)
Reviewed by ComeOnYouSpurs17 from Massachusetts
3.94/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I normally do not enjoy beers with Nelson Sauvin, but gave this a try because the little bird series from Trillium has rarely let me down.
Pours pale, hazy, and golden. Smell is candied pineapple and peach. Taste is mango, peach, green apple, and ruby red grapefruit bitterness. Mouthfeel is refreshing, medium juicy, and pleasantly dry. A lovely beer overall that balances out the sour white grape taste that I usually associate with Nelson Sauvin.
Oct 08, 2021Pours pale, hazy, and golden. Smell is candied pineapple and peach. Taste is mango, peach, green apple, and ruby red grapefruit bitterness. Mouthfeel is refreshing, medium juicy, and pleasantly dry. A lovely beer overall that balances out the sour white grape taste that I usually associate with Nelson Sauvin.
Rated by jbolger from Connecticut
3.95/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A satisfying & refreshing summer brew.
Jul 06, 2021
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
3.59/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Cloudy light OJ color with an airy, whiteish head that quickly dissipates into a wisp and crown. No lacing to speak of.
Mild white wine and citrus in the nose.
Sort of meh tasting. The muted wine and citrus elements don’t pop at all (even for an APA), while a strong doughiness unfortunately does show strongly.
Full bodied and slick for the style, with spritzer-like carbonation.
Not awful, but Trillium has a lot better to offer than this.
Jun 25, 2021Mild white wine and citrus in the nose.
Sort of meh tasting. The muted wine and citrus elements don’t pop at all (even for an APA), while a strong doughiness unfortunately does show strongly.
Full bodied and slick for the style, with spritzer-like carbonation.
Not awful, but Trillium has a lot better to offer than this.
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