First Drop
Upper Pass Beer Company
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- From:
- Upper Pass Beer Company
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- Pale Ale - American
Ranked #115 - ABV:
- 5.9%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,238 - Avg:
- 4.13 | pDev: 6.78%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 15, 2022
- Added:
- Jul 06, 2016
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 79
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Notes:
First Drop is a hop-forward, Vermont-style pale ale that gets its cloudy amber hue from a balanced base of Golden Promise and Pilsner malts. At 65 IBUs, it's hoppy but not overly butter. The fragrant aroma and juicy flavors showcases grapefruit, pineapple and peaches, and results from the synergy between two unique East Coast ale yeasts and a line-up of American hops that include Azacca, Centennial, Mosaic and Citra.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.24/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Ocalafox from Florida
Pours an opaque dark amber with a coarse, persistent head. Initial impression is a surprisingly clean grapefruit, pine, mango, and orange experience. Smells of tropical and citrus fruits and pine. Tastes of pine, grass, pineapple and mango, tangerine, grapefruit rind. Very earthy with a lingering dry and bitter mouth feel. Light to medium bodied and lightly carbonated.
Mar 15, 2022
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Ocalafox from Florida
Pours an opaque dark amber with a coarse, persistent head. Initial impression is a surprisingly clean grapefruit, pine, mango, and orange experience. Smells of tropical and citrus fruits and pine. Tastes of pine, grass, pineapple and mango, tangerine, grapefruit rind. Very earthy with a lingering dry and bitter mouth feel. Light to medium bodied and lightly carbonated.
Mar 15, 2022
4.25 by elamb106 from New York on Jan 12, 2022
4.27 by DBosco from Massachusetts on Dec 06, 2021
4.06 by ddoyle23 from New Hampshire on Nov 19, 2021
3.74 by emptyglassagain from Massachusetts on Oct 21, 2021
3.96 by jak from North Carolina on Sep 28, 2021
4.08/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Sheppard from Massachusetts
Pours a golden with some white head. Lots of candied tropical fruit and heather on the nose. There's a bit of potpouri to it. The flavor is somewhat of a similar experience. This is truly a classic pale ale with some old world sensibilities, despite the new world hops. The new world hops provide some tropical character, but there is definitively restrained and balanced about this that make it a really solid pale ale that I'd pick up again.
Sep 25, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Sheppard from Massachusetts
Pours a golden with some white head. Lots of candied tropical fruit and heather on the nose. There's a bit of potpouri to it. The flavor is somewhat of a similar experience. This is truly a classic pale ale with some old world sensibilities, despite the new world hops. The new world hops provide some tropical character, but there is definitively restrained and balanced about this that make it a really solid pale ale that I'd pick up again.
Sep 25, 2021
4 by Patches826 from Massachusetts on Sep 07, 2021
4.25/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Pablo35 from Pennsylvania
Liked it a lot!
Aug 20, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Pablo35 from Pennsylvania
Liked it a lot!
Aug 20, 2021
4.09/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by smcolw from Massachusetts
This beer comes out very cloudy. The head, while decent for a bar poured pint, is brief, but it leaves great blanket lacing on the glass.
Distinctive pine resin and citrus rind. There's a light fruitiness after the second whiff.
Short lived and relatively dry pale malt start. Strong bittering hop flavor which comes early and finishes the aftertaste. Full bodied with enough carbonation to cut the richness. The swallow features a brief fruity touch. Otherwise, it's all straight up bitterness.
Aug 14, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by smcolw from Massachusetts
This beer comes out very cloudy. The head, while decent for a bar poured pint, is brief, but it leaves great blanket lacing on the glass.
Distinctive pine resin and citrus rind. There's a light fruitiness after the second whiff.
Short lived and relatively dry pale malt start. Strong bittering hop flavor which comes early and finishes the aftertaste. Full bodied with enough carbonation to cut the richness. The swallow features a brief fruity touch. Otherwise, it's all straight up bitterness.
Aug 14, 2021
4.5/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by DuaneL from Delaware
Makes me want to visit this brewery next time we visit Vermont! This is a first class New England style (hazy) pale ale, meaning of course it is not "pale". More like the hazy IPAs in Vermont, and in taste, not far off from Fiddlehead . Very nice!
Aug 02, 2021
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by DuaneL from Delaware
Makes me want to visit this brewery next time we visit Vermont! This is a first class New England style (hazy) pale ale, meaning of course it is not "pale". More like the hazy IPAs in Vermont, and in taste, not far off from Fiddlehead . Very nice!
Aug 02, 2021
4.23 by jcoleMA66 from Massachusetts on Jul 09, 2021
3.77 by Boone757 from Virginia on Jun 25, 2021
4.12/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by jbertsch from Massachusetts
A hefty pale ale that's borderline IPA. Bold malt bill and a hop profile that's earthy, piney, grassy... fans of old school IPAs will be fans of this, as was I.
May 30, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by jbertsch from Massachusetts
A hefty pale ale that's borderline IPA. Bold malt bill and a hop profile that's earthy, piney, grassy... fans of old school IPAs will be fans of this, as was I.
May 30, 2021
3.96 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts on Apr 30, 2021
4.47 by AWSdrummer25 from New Hampshire on Apr 20, 2021
3.66 by msondel from Massachusetts on Apr 19, 2021
4.17 by Johncnh from New Hampshire on Apr 16, 2021
4 by Shenk87 from Pennsylvania on Jan 09, 2021
4.15 by Jonnybgood from Massachusetts on Jan 03, 2021
4.44/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by afkIPAs from New Jersey
Upper Pass receives some Upper level scores on all categories for First Drop. It surely Passes with flying colors and Drops itself very close to my First overall spot.
This IPA pours a burnt gold. It is super hazy and murky. A hefty head lasts for quite a while and leaves a true coating of lacing down the glass.
Lovely citrus notes. I get a lot of orange and pineapple. First Drop has the bright and spicy smell that you don't always get out of these murky opaque IPAs.
The taste follows the smell very fittingly. A strong bite from pineapple or grapefruit and a full bodied feel of lighter citrus like orange. There are great earthy notes too. Definitely a bite piney.
First Drop has the right amount of carbonation. A medium feel and a relatively smooth aftertaste for its look and flavor.
This IPA was recommended to me by a bartender of 163 Taproom in Lake George, NY. I had never seen nor heard of this brewery before but I gladly tried it. All I can say is "Thank you, April!" for putting me onto one of my new favorites!
Dec 09, 2020
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by afkIPAs from New Jersey
Upper Pass receives some Upper level scores on all categories for First Drop. It surely Passes with flying colors and Drops itself very close to my First overall spot.
This IPA pours a burnt gold. It is super hazy and murky. A hefty head lasts for quite a while and leaves a true coating of lacing down the glass.
Lovely citrus notes. I get a lot of orange and pineapple. First Drop has the bright and spicy smell that you don't always get out of these murky opaque IPAs.
The taste follows the smell very fittingly. A strong bite from pineapple or grapefruit and a full bodied feel of lighter citrus like orange. There are great earthy notes too. Definitely a bite piney.
First Drop has the right amount of carbonation. A medium feel and a relatively smooth aftertaste for its look and flavor.
This IPA was recommended to me by a bartender of 163 Taproom in Lake George, NY. I had never seen nor heard of this brewery before but I gladly tried it. All I can say is "Thank you, April!" for putting me onto one of my new favorites!
Dec 09, 2020
4 by ANIMOUL from Vermont on Nov 26, 2020
3.7 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania on Nov 07, 2020
3 by prisdefer from New York on Oct 23, 2020
4.24 by IdrinkGas from Pennsylvania on Sep 19, 2020
4.08 by rfahrner from Massachusetts on Aug 25, 2020
4.12 by Canalfisher22 from Massachusetts on Jul 31, 2020
4.25 by jlmontague from Connecticut on Jun 18, 2020
3.37/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by TheBigBoy from Pennsylvania
Ok, decent APA, but not landmark
Apr 19, 2020
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by TheBigBoy from Pennsylvania
Ok, decent APA, but not landmark
Apr 19, 2020
3.89 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania on Apr 18, 2020
4 by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania on Mar 15, 2020
4.06/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
On tap at Worthy Kitchen
Lightly dingy dark golden color with a thin off white head that dissipates quickly. Citrus tropical earth and light pine with some light bready malt to back it up. tasty
Mar 02, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
On tap at Worthy Kitchen
Lightly dingy dark golden color with a thin off white head that dissipates quickly. Citrus tropical earth and light pine with some light bready malt to back it up. tasty
Mar 02, 2020
4.18 by Brushkanna from New Jersey on Feb 12, 2020
3.76/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by justintcoons from Pennsylvania
16 oz can poured into an imperial can-shaped glass.
Appearance
Hazed-out, murky rusty-blonde. Near 2 fingers of loose head.
Nose
Mango, passion fruit, dank, and blueberry.
Taste
Smoked pine needles, earthy dank, and forest floor. Grapefruit pith and light passion fruit. Dried biscuit and slight caramel.
Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, crisp, moderately bitter, and dry.
Overall
Oddly enjoyable smoky pine taste.
Feb 11, 2020
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by justintcoons from Pennsylvania
16 oz can poured into an imperial can-shaped glass.
Appearance
Hazed-out, murky rusty-blonde. Near 2 fingers of loose head.
Nose
Mango, passion fruit, dank, and blueberry.
Taste
Smoked pine needles, earthy dank, and forest floor. Grapefruit pith and light passion fruit. Dried biscuit and slight caramel.
Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, crisp, moderately bitter, and dry.
Overall
Oddly enjoyable smoky pine taste.
Feb 11, 2020
4.5 by jwat from Pennsylvania on Feb 09, 2020
4.56/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by Magilla60 from Pennsylvania
Super juicy great flavor.
Jan 09, 2020
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by Magilla60 from Pennsylvania
Super juicy great flavor.
Jan 09, 2020
4.18 by Casterbridge from Connecticut on Jan 05, 2020
4 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania on Dec 26, 2019
4.36/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
by CraftKingandQueen
Definitely some syrup backbone to this beer not a citrus bomb neipa but more of a pine, malt and def a ton of dry hop. Delicious and a great opposite to your fruity hop bombs with plenty of hop.
Dec 23, 2019
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
by CraftKingandQueen
Definitely some syrup backbone to this beer not a citrus bomb neipa but more of a pine, malt and def a ton of dry hop. Delicious and a great opposite to your fruity hop bombs with plenty of hop.
Dec 23, 2019
4.25 by cp45 from New Jersey on Dec 22, 2019
First Drop from Upper Pass Beer Company
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
288 ratings