Updrift
Pelican Brewing Company

8/16/2020. From the rating I gave it, it must have been pretty good, but I don't really remember anything about it. It didn't stand out from the other IPAs. It must have been better than many of the others, but nothing super great. Rated 8-2-2023

the hoppy stuff from pelican is always choice, and this one is good too, unbeatable on their patio at the siletz bay location, what a supreme place to sit and drink beer, hours go by like minutes here. pretty bold brew, almost a double in some ways despite not really having the alcohol be much of a factor. this has a hefty grain base and an old school balance, brassy and richer looking without being dark or caramel colored at all, average white head from the tap and pretty good clarity and shine too. the nose and taste are bitter the whole way, fresh and pungent, dank and weedy yes but also grassy and then tropical, even southern hemisphere as it warms, key lime, ripe melon, pineapple candy, easy white wine, and green pinecone to me, mineral forward enough to seem slightly metallic as it warms too, good bite. the malt is bready and earthy, toasted and almost healthful, nutritive, also appreciably fresh. its big and lasting on the palate, the hop bitterness is thorough, but its fruity and almost candied too, sweeter for awhile, and neutral on the ferment. rushing bubbles, a little green grape thing, a touch of honey from the malt. neat interplay between hops and grain, and overall a cool hop profile, very full spectrum. very good, very pelican, great with their steamer clams in here!

 

Pours a clear golden honey with a finger of foamy head that slowly settles to a thin cap with a little lacing. Faint citrus, lemon aroma. Taste follows nose.

On tap at the pub in Tillamook.

A clear orange with a dense off-white head. The nose is clean, snappy , mildly pungent with ripe fruit, grapefruit, orange, pine, a touch of malt sweetness. Candied orange. The palate opens bitter, clean, mildly pungent with mild dank notes and clean fruit. Csndied orange, pine. Grapefruit, a little dried mango. Drying, bitter, clean, refreshing finish. A touch overcarbonated.

on draft at the brewpub

clear, medium golden in color, white head. Bright fruity hop aroma and flavor. taste finishes decently bitter. thin to medium bodied.

 

Had on tap. Clear golden body, classic white head and periodic streams of lacing. Let's start with the feel because it is emblematic of a classic ipa: clean, crisp, hop bitters finish sharply, malt backbone holds out, well balanced. Smell and taste are clones: orange, lime, grapefruit, peach and lemon present in that order of intensity, hop bitters are more herbal than anything, but it is all dulled a bit, want some more intensity from the hop flavors to drive the sip.

32oz crowler from Growler Guys. Rich golden body, small foamy head. Aroma is light caramel, light citrus. Taste continues with this, nice caramelly flavors with a touch of citrusy malts (but not citrusy in a hazy way). Straight forward and simple.

 

 

 

Look: Fairly clear burnt orange and a hefty pour yields a pillowy head that recedes to ½ finger leaving good lacing
Aroma: Peach, melon, tropical fruits, a little herbal dankness and citrus notes throughout. Bready pale malt present but in the background
Taste: Follows nose almost dead on – peachy melon up front, then tropical fruit and herbal notes with citrus coming in for the close. Tasty, slightly sweet bready malt intermingles with the hops quite nicely. Fairly dry and a good bite on the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium-high carbonation, silky throughout but a nice spritzy, almost sharp and dry finish makes this dangerously drinkable as well
Overall: This is really hitting all the right notes for me. I think my first dance with this one wasn’t from a situation where it was stored properly as I don’t feel I was “wowed” like I am now. Great and tasty hop profile with enough maltiness to balance and keep the body nice and full with an awesome hop bite to boot. Definitely will be in the rotation for me when I’m feeling in the hoppy mood (which is often). Another winner

12oz can served in a nonic glass. Can is dated 2-4-20.

Look- Clear golden orange color. Modest off-white that recedes fairly quickly to a thin foam cap, good lacing. Light carbonation streams visible.

Smell- Citrus (tangerine and lemon), tropical fruit (pineapple, passionfruit and mango), peach and melon, caramel malt and herbal/floral notes.

Taste- Similar to the aroma, tropical fruit and citrus, peach, melon and a bit of berry, sweet malt and other light hop notes.

Feel- Medium/light bodied, slightly sticky sweet but pretty crisp with a light bitterness on the back end. Medium carbonation on the tongue.

O- A few of Pelican's recent offerings have been clunkers but this one is solid. Worth trying.

Poured from the can, the beer pours a golden amber color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is likewise impressive in this beer, as I pick up dry tropical fruit, light onion, pine and dank earth. The flavor profile replicates the nose in this well crafted wc style ipa. While there's some initial sweetness from the malt, the hoppy bitterness comes on strong on the finish, drying this beer out nicely on the finish. There's good bitterness on the finish as well, which really blends in so well with the moderate sweetness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and the alcohol is exceptionally well integrated into the flavor profile. For a 7.1 % abv. ipa, this beer is dangerously drinkable.

Impressive effort from the folks at Pelican. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a new beer from them this much. This beer was canned on 5/7/20, and so is very fresh. I doubt this beer will age well, but presently it's quite excellent.

6 pack , 12oz cans from Safeway in West Salem OR
$8.99
Pours a nice light golden colour..bit of haze but probably just the frost. Great off white head.
Fruity aromas..papaya, mango and a bit of lemon zest..very fresh, very welcome
Taste the same as the aroma plus more..there is a strawberry note going on that is great..and a nice zinging hop bitterness..among all the fruit!
Very good mouth feel ..so easy yet so well carbonated.
An excellent IPA from Pelican..this is the best i have had from them in ages.

Lightly hazed gold with three fingers of white dense head. Splotches of lace as the level falls.
Smell is Fruity hops.
Taste is fruity resinous bitter hops just right malt support.
Mouthfeel is medium with good carbonation. Finish is medium dry and bitter.
Overall a tasty West Coast style IPA. Canned on March 16, 2020.