Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Deschutes Brewery

The clear bright copper/amber colored beer pours out into a Duvel glass with a 1/2” off white head that recedes slowly but visibly to a thin cover over most of the surface while leaving a persistent pattern of lacing on the sides of the glass. Sipping creates a couple of arches and lots of small patches and legs of lacing.

The aromas include a noticeable, well rounded caramel malt background complimented by some almost fruity aromas that include pine needles and citric grapefruit from the hops

The flavors are much as expected from the nose with the pine needles and grapefruit from the hops as well as a noticeable caramel sweetness from the malt backbone. The malt and its sweetness are in a very nice balance with the bitterness in that neither conceals the other and each keeps the other from becoming unpleasant.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and a bit prickly from the moderate carbonation. The fairly long finish begins as the caramel sweetness briefly allows the pine and grapefruit to become more prominent as they are all slowly fading. Both the malt sweetness and the fruity, citric and piney bitterness from the hops are present throughout the finish to the clean, crisp semi-dry lingering ending.

Overall, this is a very drinkable beer with a very well balanced interplay between the hops and the malt. I definitely expect to be having more of this one since it is a very enjoyable APA and I could see adding it to my regular rotation of APAs.

Pours clear, dark golden with a fluffy thick white head. Aromas of citrus hop notes, pine, toasted bread. Taste is light caramel sweetness from the malt and biscuit followed by lemon citrus Cascade hops and pine. It's well balanced and not overly bitter. Mouthfeel is smooth with moderate carbonation. Overall, this is a good pale ale that's like Sierra Nevada

 

 

Dark gold pour, two fingers of rocky khaki foam. Nose is orange blossoms and malt.

Taste shares citrus, floral, light caramel, medium kilned malt, touch of resin. Mouthfeel is fairly light. Finish is subtle but lasting citrus and pine.

 

A golden amber colored draught, with a decent off-white head, little lacing.
The caramel malt flavor is present, but struggles to compete with the hops bitterness. A slight carbonation bite that dissipates going down, and leaves you with a balanced aftertaste, and wanting another sip.
A very enjoyable Pale Ale!

 

 

 

Hard to find a better all around 5% ABV beer.
It starts with the color - a handsome copper look, bringing to mind its British relatives. Hoppiness is reserved, well short of mistaking this for an IPA. Properly balanced.
Go-to brew at ballpark to see the Bend Elks. A couple of these before the 6th inning and driving home is wonderfully uneventful.

 

 

A Pale Ale is a Pale Ale but being from Deschutes you know it will be good. Nice light sweetness & hop flavors, much better than the commercial pale ales available. Rated 10-25-2018

 

Picked up a six pack of twelve-ounce cans at Curtis Liquors in Cohasset, Massachusetts for $12.49. My first brew from these guys, have never seen in MA. Just ok for me.

Look: Yellow/orange with a generous white head.
Smell: Good, some tropical fruit mixed with a pleasant hop aroma.
Taste: A slight hop flavor up front gives way to a wonderful orange aftertaste.
Feel: Great, high in mouth.
Overall: This is always a good choice and one of my favorites from Deschutes along side Jubelale.