Special Pale Ale
Wellington County Brewery

Special Pale AleSpecial Pale Ale
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From:
Wellington County Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
English Pale Ale
Ranked #137
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,640
Avg:
3.44 | pDev: 11.34%
Reviews:
75
Ratings:
152
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 14, 2023
Added:
Aug 16, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  18
Special Pale Ale is an approachable and smooth pale ale that is deep copper in colour with a roasted malt and subtle apricot aroma. With a balance of malt and hops patterned after traditional English pale ales. this malt-forward beer has biscuit and caramel flavours upfront with a delicate floral hop finish.

IBU: 22
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Beerbuds:
Photo of Beerbuds
Rated by Beerbuds from Canada (ON)

3.24/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Smooth beer. Not much hopes. 22IBU. Deep gold colour. Well balanced. More malty then hoppy. Not very flavourful. Left something to be desired.
Jan 10, 2018
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.77 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Feb 14, 2023
Photo of Budala
Reviewed by Budala

2.51/5  rDev -27%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
L: bright with a white head that dissipates quickly
S: almost nothing at all
T: a strange and unpleasant floral character that verges on soap-like
F: not bad and appropriate to a Pale Ale
O: Drain pour due to unpleasant soapy flavor
Jan 25, 2023
Photo of White_Dragon
Reviewed by White_Dragon

3.75/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
As advertised, an excellent lighter beer reminds one of an English bitter but lighter overall. If it were at a better price point it would rate higher, but $ aside this one can actually compete with the German/Czech greats.
Edited slightly down a bit - less body and overall not as memorable as a good Czech lager, head disappeared quick, no lacing… still great but in fairness needed to curb my initial enthusiasm
Dec 20, 2022
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

3.73/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Clear, dark amber appearance with a small, off white head and a fair amount of lacing. Toasted malt aroma along with a touch of pitted fruit. Medium bodied, well carbonated, but a little thin on the palate. Mildly hopped taste was balanced with some grainy malts, all leading to a lingering sweetness as it finished. A gift from friends while visiting Niagara Falls.
Jan 23, 2022
Photo of Tony787
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)

3.61/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I bought a can at the LCBO in Ontario 473ml at 4.5%.
Poured a 2finger head into glass dark color roasted Malts and fruit flavors
Overall an easy drinking beer.
Cheers
Dec 02, 2021
 
Rated: 2.86 by edthehead from Maryland

Dec 02, 2021
 
Rated: 3.78 by Isaac_L95 from Canada (ON)

Apr 08, 2021
Photo of swim
Reviewed by swim from Canada (ON)

3.65/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: Transparent orange copper orange. Thin off-white foam and some bubbles.
S: Faint odour, a bit spicy and some grassy grainy malts.
T: At first it has a prominent enjoyable skunky spicy lagery bite strangely, the caramel malts are more in the background until the second half of the glass, some slight tart apple juice and very slight corny flavours , pithy citrus flavours more prominent towards the end, not very sweet or bitter, minimal aftertaste.
F: Sips a bit watery but finishes thicker and foamier, has nice crisp seltzery medium carbonation, a little dry finish
O: Excellent session beer with an enjoyable interesting taste and rather refreshing feel, would certainly drink another.
Feb 02, 2021
 
Rated: 3.69 by Andy32 from Canada (ON)

Aug 20, 2020
Photo of InspectorHound
Reviewed by InspectorHound from Canada (ON)

3.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look: Opaque ruddy brownish orange. Like orange pekoe tea. Pours with a 1 1/2 finger densly bubbled white with brown/orange head. Head disapates slowly leaving a 1/4 finger head after 5 minutes.
Smell: Malt, with a sacarin like artificial sweetness
Taste: Very light at the front end, Black tea like in the middle, with hints of dry light rye bread and malt. Bits of caramel sweetness peak through until the end. Slightly bitter on the back end.
Feel: Watery, light with a little bit going on at the sides of the mouth and mid tongue.
First time I tried this beer I was maybe a bit harsh. So after re-review I will say it's better than I remember, and earns a B.
Aug 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by boszormeny from Canada (ON)

Apr 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.52 by ikidunot from Canada (ON)

Sep 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.52 by mistahmojoryan from Canada (SK)

Jun 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.26 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Jan 16, 2018
Photo of ewpass
Rated by ewpass from Canada (PE)

3.61/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Clear copper with a good head. Basic malt nose. Smooth malt-forward body with a softish finish. Easy-drinking brew.
Jan 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by bryanzk from Canada (ON)

Oct 17, 2017
 
Rated: 2.85 by Juiposa from Canada (ON)

Sep 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.43 by Mousel from Canada (ON)

Aug 18, 2017
Photo of Easton70
Reviewed by Easton70 from Canada (ON)

3.35/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
There's something familiar about this one that I can't put my finger on. It's mostly in the aroma but featurea in the taste to a certain extent. It's a funky, musky characteristic but it's not unpleasant. It's pretty well balanced but I'm not sure I'd want to drink too many of them. That funky dankness would get to me pretty quickly.
Jul 06, 2017
Special Pale Ale from Wellington County Brewery
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 152 ratings