Space Otter American Pale Ale
Mispillion River Brewing

 

My nice neighbor brought this to me as a gift.... Never heard of this brewer so I was excited to try ....full bodied and looks nice ... Something about the funky and/or skunky aftertaste makes it not as appealing as I was hoping for ...

Mispillion River Brewing "Space Otter"
12 fl. oz. can without freshness codes or freshness dating
$2.49 @ Total Wine & More, Claymont, DE

Notes via stream of consciousness: The label that I'm looking at doesn't say "American" pale ale but I'm sure it's the same beer. It's poured a hazy golden body beneath a massive head of white foam. Holding it up to the light I can see plenty of very tiny bubbles rising steadily within, as well as a small pile of yeast or proteins on the bottom and some visible particulate in suspension. The aroma is quite floral, which is interesting, and it's not at all fruity as I'd expected it to be. I can smell yeast as well, which is distracting to me but probably barely noticeable to many others. On to the taste then, it's floral, grassy, lightly piney, delicately citrusy, and lightly sweetish with grainy malt. I can taste the yeast in it. A firm, median bitterness balances it and it finishes dry with a floral character that's like Asiatic lilies, grassiness, pine, and a touch of lemon passing fairly quickly. In the mouth it's medium bodied and gently crisp with a very nice, super-fine-bubbled carbonation that seems natural. As it warms I'm getting more citrus and some mango out of it. The head has held up well and it's left some decent lacing about the glass but it's not the greatest. I give this one a thumbs up as a standard go-to pale ale but it really needs a little bit more polish to make it great.
Review #8,660

Can pour into a pint glass.
Hazy pale yellow color with decent head and limited retention. Grapefruit, pineapple, pine, hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is moderate with a nice crispness.

Taste was that of a pale ale similar to most AB-Inbev beers most often consumed by Americans. On a day when you are working in the yard, this beer would easily quench your thirst.

 

 

Middle of the road offering, not awful, but would not buy again. Was a thoughtful gift from my Aunt visiting from DE. Enjoyed on hot summer days on the beach, so cannot complain!

 

Almost clear light golden color with a decent head. Hoppy/citrusy aroma with a hint of lemon and orange. Okay citrus /grapefruit taste. Finish is dry and bitter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 ounce can into pint glass, canned on 11/7/2017. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 2 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/zest, light pepper, pine, cracker, white bread, light honey/biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate pale malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of big tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/zest, light pepper, pine, cracker, white bread, light honey/biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, cracker, white bread, light honey/biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no lingering hop astringency after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Moderate increasing dryness from bitterness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is a delicious American pale ale! All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink with the moderately bitter/resinous/drying finish, not aggressive. Very flavorful and not watery. Nice Citra/Azacca profile. Very juicy, vibrant, dank, and earthy balanced hop complexity; nice pale/Munich malt backbone for the ABV, with no residual sweetness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.