Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery

Very solid APA with a nice but not overpowering hops taste.

 

 

 

 

Re-reviewing this one as it’s been a dozen years since I last reviewed it.

12oz can (5/16/2023) into a tulip. Pours a clear amber color with a huge billowing almost Duvel-like eggshell head with lots of sticky lace.

Aroma is hoppy and grassy, floral. Piney Northwest hops, fragrant sweet malt.

Taste is a blend of bready caramel malt and floral hops; light bitterness. Clean water. Nicely balanced. Very old school.

Mouthfeel is soft, medium bodied, crisp, drinkable. Something about it is vaguely reminiscent of beers brewed with Belgian yeast.

Overall a tasty, classic approach to the APA, one of my first go-to beers from the ‘90s. It’s somehow comforting to know that beers like this are still being made.
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Previous review (8/19/2011) preserved for posterity:

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap in an American pint glass at Bick's Broadview Grill. Review from memory (less than 30 minutes ago).

Color is a slightly hazy copper with a beautiful 1-finger head, good carbonation.

Aroma is floral and herbal hops.

Taste is floral, bitter hops with a nice pale malt balance. This beer straddles the line between a pale ale and an IPA. Used to drink this often and it's been way too long.

Overall this is a good example of a Northwest-style pale ale, generous with the hops and always refreshing.

12oz can. Date stamp on can bottom is 'PKG ON 04/20/23'. Very legible stamp.
Nearly clear, deep gold colored body. One finger of white head, which settles back to a thin cap and ring. Leaves behind strings and spots of lacing.
Aroma of toasted malt, with hops expressing the flavors of citrus and grass.
Taste has a solid malt base. Citrus flavors of orange and lemon. Slightly spicy. Grass. Floral.
Medium mouth feel, which is substantial. Some tongue sting. Very good carbonation.
A totally good experience all around.

 

 

 

Smooth, flavorful, thick feel, perfect pale ale. Clean tasting. Yum.

Let’s try this one out of a bottle definitely great flavor Piney crisp and light I love his beer cheers

 

A nice easy drinking Pale Ale but prefer Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

 

On tap in the marvelous Bryson City Outdoors taproom. A deep orange amber with nice creme head, good aromas of hop and malt, and very nice tasting brew with a clean hop balance. Very nice! Maybe better than Sierra?! Pale ale excellence.