Buzzards Bay American Pale Ale
Buzzards Bay Brewing

 

 

 

I remember this beer well - I bought a few cases when I learned it was not going to be produced any longer. Being a few years out I will not get into details about the taste, but the closest thing I've had to it is the Long Trail Pale Ale, which is my new go-to Pale Ale now that Buzzards Bay Ales have been discontinued.

Rumor has it that the last case is buried on the grounds at the brewery. Anyone feel like loaning me a shovel and a metal detector?

12oz bottle acquired in trade.

Poured a medium and a slightly hazy amber color with a huge (4.5 finger) sized off white frothy head. Aromas of caramel, pine and a little fruity. Tastes of caramel, very light pine, and some citrus. Somewhat of a lively body (as also evident with the huge head).

Notes from: 1/27/06

11/3/2004. On tap at Harlow's Pub. Pours a pretty nice copper color with a medium off-white head. Flavor starts off a little malty then turns fruity, bitter, and hoppy. Pretty good balance and a pretty solid overall beer. I'd have no problem getting again if it weren't retired.

Thanks to my colleague "Bad Back" Jack for the generous samples of this product!
BBB Pale Ale pours a clear medium amber with a 1/2" off-white head having good retention. The nose is of sweet malts and a mild dose of hops along for the ride. A fine effervescence is detectable on the tongue and in the mouth, but visibly the carbonation is repressed with only a small stream of CO2 ascending from the center of the glass. The taste is medium bodied, with flavors of sweet malts, honey, and ferrous hitting the tongue. While this brew has a slightly sweet - syrupy component to it, it finishes quite dry. This is one of the most complimentary nuances to this brew. Although this beer lacks the sophistication of some of its brethren, it has good potability and a friendly easy-going style.

Can't tell if this is the same beer: 12oz bottle has a green label and says "Pale Ale".

1-finger rich tan head, with good retention, atop a clear, copper-honey body. Decent lacing on the glass. Subdued malt nose, mostly caramel with just-sliced apples, and a just-detectable floral hop scent. Gentle carbonation up front, medium body, slightly buttery on the tongue. Hits with rich malt, same caramel and apples, on the sweet side but fairly balanced, some pineyness and pleasant bitterness fully emerging in the finish, though largely dry.

Sweeter than I'm used to, but then again my tastebuds have been whacked with the more hopped-up brews. Well-balanced for the style. Quite satisfying and easily sessionable.

From notes:

Colour is a light copper hue.

Smell has lots of hops, and a very orangey overtone.

Taste has some earthy hops, a thin maltiness, along with some spice and earwax.

Mouthfeel is just a little thin, but oddly, hearty. Something seems missing here.

I find this one rather drinkable. Good session beer, to me.

Be well
-UF

Only one other review associated with this beer at the time of this review, and I think I dug this much more than that fellow. I quite enjoyed my sample, overnighted from the brewery, and definitely recommend this. Reviewed on 8/9/05 at about 55-60oF. Bottled approx May 2005.

Ap: Slightly hazy deep straw/light copper color. Head is just off white in color, nice and tight, holds indefinitely. True staying power. A moderate amount of carbonation rises through the brew.

Ar: Very juicy malt scents, quite like apple and caramel, but also approaching fruit punch. Very little hop presence noted (light floral impression).

T: Quite nice, yes! Very simple at first, but there’s an evolution here. Begins with a gentle spice from the East Kent Goldings hops, deftly balancing the sweet caramel and fruity malts. Bitterness quickly comes in afterwards to wipe away the fruitier tones and leaves the palate dry and clean, ready for another sip as notes of cereal and biscuit surface toward the back, fading as the bitter Magnum hops again take over. This is very nicely done and quite a refreshing change from the hop dynamos that largely comprise the US Pale Ale offerings. Not that there’s anything wrong with those, but this is a nice, true to style English Pale Ale (or perhaps, as it is sufficiently bitter, could be considered “bitter” or “Special Bitter”).

F: See above. Fairly dry, quite bitter, balanced, with flavors of apple skins and caramel. Superbly executed.

Misc: I find this to be a very worthwhile attempt at the English Pale Ale style.