Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale
Berkshire Brewing Company
- From:
- Berkshire Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #1,336 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 81
Ranked #35,848 - Avg:
- 3.57 | pDev: 13.45%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 246
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 01, 2024
- Added:
- Aug 22, 1996
- Wants:
- 21
- Gots:
- 124
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good
Berkshire Brewing Company's flagship brew is a light colored, medium bodied ale exhibiting exceptional freshness through its 2-Row Pale malt backbone and signature hop flavor and aroma. In the words of renowned beer writer Lew Bryson, Steel Rail EPA is “what the water in heaven oughta taste like.”
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sulldaddy:
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
3.46/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.46/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
I had this sample with a buddy of mine from MA who brought a growler down.
The brew pours a very pale clear, yellow.
A bright white head foams up easily and fades to a thin layer around the edge of my glass.
The aroma is fairly mild with mostly sweet malts and a faint floral hoppiness.
The body is light and carbonation is mild.
I get a slight fruity taste combined with mild malt sweetness from start to finish. It is a very easy to drink brew mostly because it is thin and mild, but also is refreshing.
This beer is not very powerful in flavor or aroma. It would be great on a hot summer day or after mowing the lawn but just for drinking I am looking for more robust flavors.
Feb 09, 2004The brew pours a very pale clear, yellow.
A bright white head foams up easily and fades to a thin layer around the edge of my glass.
The aroma is fairly mild with mostly sweet malts and a faint floral hoppiness.
The body is light and carbonation is mild.
I get a slight fruity taste combined with mild malt sweetness from start to finish. It is a very easy to drink brew mostly because it is thin and mild, but also is refreshing.
This beer is not very powerful in flavor or aroma. It would be great on a hot summer day or after mowing the lawn but just for drinking I am looking for more robust flavors.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania
3.7/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This review is inspired by Todd's recent post about this beer being his first beer ever reviewed on this site. I was up in Western Massachusetts this Labor Day weekend and picked up some of this beer which I drank regularly when living in the area around 25 years ago.
Pours a straw color with a thin layer of head. The nose is pretty weak; there is some grainy qualities, but that's about it.
The malt presence in the flavor profile and the body are slightly above average for this style.
This was enjoyable paired with a bowl of homemade seafood chowder.
Sep 01, 2024Pours a straw color with a thin layer of head. The nose is pretty weak; there is some grainy qualities, but that's about it.
The malt presence in the flavor profile and the body are slightly above average for this style.
This was enjoyable paired with a bowl of homemade seafood chowder.
Reviewed by timobkg from New Jersey
4.28/5 rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.28/5 rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a clear dark yellow with a thin white head.
Aroma of straw, apples, raisins, and hints of vanilla and caramel.
The mild malt sweetness with hints of apricots and shortbread cookies is well balanced by the mild hop bitterness and transitions to black tea and biscuits for the finish.
It's light, refreshing, and finishes with a delightful tea-like tannin dryness that makes you want to take another sip.
Overall, it's delightful. It's mild, but flavorful, and each sip leads into the next such that it disappears faster than you'd expect. I think it would pair wonderfully with a wide variety of foods, and also pair well with nothing more than good company or a moment of quiet relaxation.
Jun 10, 2024Aroma of straw, apples, raisins, and hints of vanilla and caramel.
The mild malt sweetness with hints of apricots and shortbread cookies is well balanced by the mild hop bitterness and transitions to black tea and biscuits for the finish.
It's light, refreshing, and finishes with a delightful tea-like tannin dryness that makes you want to take another sip.
Overall, it's delightful. It's mild, but flavorful, and each sip leads into the next such that it disappears faster than you'd expect. I think it would pair wonderfully with a wide variety of foods, and also pair well with nothing more than good company or a moment of quiet relaxation.
Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts
3.85/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned 11 weeks ago. Was able to snag just a single and thought why not review the beer that gave inspiration to BeerAdvocate and is (I believe) the oldest listed brew on the site. Pours a pale (but not too pale) golden with a bit of sediment in suspension. Aromas are grain-forward, with some light grassy hoppiness. Flavors are similar -- almost like a pilsner -- with a refreshing balance of dry pale malts and saaz-like dried herbal hops. A certified classic that would make a great grillside companion in the summer
77/100
Apr 28, 202477/100
Reviewed by seakayak from Massachusetts
3.75/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
-Look: Crystal clear bright gold with a beautiful fluffy white head.
-Smell: Toasted grains and baked bread with mild grassy hops.
-Taste: Amazingly balanced and smooth - delicious!
-Feel: Soft and round, full and slippery.
-Overall: Very good pale ale that's flavorful and highly drinkable!
Feb 24, 2024-Smell: Toasted grains and baked bread with mild grassy hops.
-Taste: Amazingly balanced and smooth - delicious!
-Feel: Soft and round, full and slippery.
-Overall: Very good pale ale that's flavorful and highly drinkable!
Rated by DuaneL from Delaware
4.5/5 rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
DL likes this one a lot. JK just OK.
May 16, 2023
Reviewed by The_Beer_Guru from New York
3.5/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I rated this beer a 3.5 but this isn’t bad it’s just a beer you can pound down easy with more flavor than a bud light. Just an easy drinking ale. Could definitely pound several of these after a shift but not a beer I would buy for enjoyment.
Dec 16, 2022
Rated by brewme from Massachusetts
3/5 rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Reviewed from memory. Blah, not good
Dec 02, 2022
Reviewed by Gmann from New York
3.1/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.1/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours a pale straw color with a wispy white head that quickly settled into a sparse cap with some lacing. A notch or two below the color spectrum for an APA.
The aroma is of a honey malt and metal notes. Light rust?
Malt forward APA. Toasted cracker malt. Light bread and slight apple fruitiness. Hops are just there to balance. Perhaps the "Extra" pale ale name comes from a slightly more aggressive malt presence. Certainly not from the hops.
The feel is moderate with soft and fizzy carbonation. Lightly sweet on the palate with just enough bitter offset. Quite dry in the finish.
A meh craft brew. A notch above the mass brewed crap but not spectacular.
Nov 12, 2022The aroma is of a honey malt and metal notes. Light rust?
Malt forward APA. Toasted cracker malt. Light bread and slight apple fruitiness. Hops are just there to balance. Perhaps the "Extra" pale ale name comes from a slightly more aggressive malt presence. Certainly not from the hops.
The feel is moderate with soft and fizzy carbonation. Lightly sweet on the palate with just enough bitter offset. Quite dry in the finish.
A meh craft brew. A notch above the mass brewed crap but not spectacular.
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut
3.27/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.27/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Somewhat hazy medium yellow with a bit of short-lived white head that receded quickly to a thin cap. Aroma has some AAL vibes to it, with some lemon and breadiness. Taste is fairly non-descript. Light bread, very little bitterness. A drinkable beer that really stood out 15+ years ago. Still solid after all these years.
May 27, 2022
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
3.55/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The beer that started Beer Advocate - Berkshire Brewing Company Steel Rail extra pale ale. A big thank you to @Roy_Hobbs for sending this one along.
Pours a cloudy, pale straw color. Thin sudsy white head forms on the beer before mostly dissipating. Aroma has notes of straw, crackery malts, some light lemon, honey and floral hop notes. Its a very mild aroma overall.
Taste follows the nose in that this is a very mild approachable pale ale. Notes of crackery malts, a touch of grain, honey, dried grass, alfalfa and a touch of floral notes. Light to mild bitterness on the back end. Simple, approachable, and well done. Feel is light, sort of crisp. Bright carbonation.
Overall a solid pale ale. However, it is admittedly cool to get a chance to drink this beer given its history and importance to BA.
Dec 25, 2021Pours a cloudy, pale straw color. Thin sudsy white head forms on the beer before mostly dissipating. Aroma has notes of straw, crackery malts, some light lemon, honey and floral hop notes. Its a very mild aroma overall.
Taste follows the nose in that this is a very mild approachable pale ale. Notes of crackery malts, a touch of grain, honey, dried grass, alfalfa and a touch of floral notes. Light to mild bitterness on the back end. Simple, approachable, and well done. Feel is light, sort of crisp. Bright carbonation.
Overall a solid pale ale. However, it is admittedly cool to get a chance to drink this beer given its history and importance to BA.
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
3.85/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured at fridge temp. Pours a nice transparent yellow with minimal head. Good carbonation with bubbles slowly disappearing.
Nose is crisp malts, honey, wheat, light lemon. Slight floral note. Quite mellow overall.
The taste is really nice. Surprisingly sweet upfront. Crisp. Honey, candy, lemon, bread, wheat, grass, and a bit of a floral note.
Mouthfeel is light and crisp. Overall, a nice easy-drinking pale ale.
Dec 25, 2021Nose is crisp malts, honey, wheat, light lemon. Slight floral note. Quite mellow overall.
The taste is really nice. Surprisingly sweet upfront. Crisp. Honey, candy, lemon, bread, wheat, grass, and a bit of a floral note.
Mouthfeel is light and crisp. Overall, a nice easy-drinking pale ale.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!