Loser Pale Ale
Elysian Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

From notes taken 04/19/17:

Copper-amber, very hazy with some suspended fleks. Head’s a light-tan foam with a somewhat creamy texture, moderate retention, and a fair amount of lace. Citrus, resin, grass, caramel aromas. Similar to taste, some extra toast and toffee, then the rind sets in as expected. Medium-bodied, finer and softer carbonation, though plenty of it.

This was given to me by some fellow dog walkers and I have no idea how old it was although it was surely at least two years old. 22 ouncer poured into a tulip. However old it was had no impact on the head, which was large and frothy and took its time dissipating. Color was darker than I'm used to with an APA, maybe the age had something to do with that. Smell was disappointingly faint with some grass hints making me think the hops had aged away. The taste was nicely complexly malty with a good feel in the mouth. I might try to find a fresh one to see how different it is.

L: pours hazy copper amber with rapidly rising bubbles under a thin, off-white foam cap with poor retention.

S: Dank tropical fruit aromas with a touch of citrus and malt rise from the glass. Malt aromas are medium low, fermentation aromas medium low, hop aromas medium to medium high.

T: Fruit and malt begin the flavor attack and then a citrus rind bitterness comes forward. Tropical fruit and malt biscuit flavors are medium, hop fruit flavors are medium to medium high. Malt sweetness with a light caramel note is medium low to medium. The finish is citrus rind bitterness, tropical fruit, bread crumb, and a hint of caramel with moderate linger. Overall balance is to towards the hop.

F: Loser Pale Ale has a very creamy medium body with medium carbonation and no astringency.

O: A very nice, drinkable American Pale Ale.

 

This pale ale is a decent offering from Elysian - it's nothing ground breaking so it doesn't deserve to be a true Loser but it does have it's downfall. This has a very sweet toffy caramel flavor profile for sure. I just did a review on the Hop Ottin IPA from Anderson Valley Brewing and if you asked me to do a blind taste test between the two I'd swear they were the same beer. Not sure what kind of yeast they used for this baby but I'd bet my first born it's from the English Ale family of of yeasts due to it's strong butterscotch flavor profile. That being said, I am not a huge fan of this kind of pale ale. I like the more clean, citrusy style more attune with the SoCal IPAs. I gave this a 3.5 cuz I really dig Elysian otherwise my rating would have been markedly lower. Give it a try - not a bad beer but nothing to write home about.

 

 

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a chalice.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy amber orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Solid finger of off white head that settles into a thin patchy layer.

Smell: An earthy and juicy aroma with a scent of citrus and grass. Earthy hop scent of wet grass. Citrus hints of orange, grapefruit, and lemon. Malt hints of caramel, grains, and cracker with yeast. A solid balanced aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, an earthy and juicy taste with notes of citrus and grass. Citrus hop notes of orange, grapefruit, pineapple, and lemon. Earthy hop notes of grass. Malt notes of caramel, grains, and cracker along with some yeast. A solid taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Juicy, drying, and smooth.

Overall: A solid take on a Pale Ale. Nice balance of hops and caramel malt.

 

 

Pours a dark golden color with a fresh staying head. smells of light citrus and baked bread. Taste is house malt with light citrus hops an earth grassy taste. medium carbonation with a mild bitterness. Nice drinkable APA.