Drifter Pale Ale
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

Short tasting notes from 2011.
6 pack of 12 ounce bottles from Anoka municipal liquor.
Has a dull copper look with a fairly hoppy smell for a pale ale and there's a hint of bread as well. It tastes really hoppy with some sweet caramel and again light bread or even biscuit. Not strong or intense but more hoppy than I would've guessed for a pale ale but it's very tasty and easy to have more than one in a row for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From a bottle, into a pint glass. Somewhat-clear, rust color, with less head than average but with adequate carbonation. Tiny flecks of barley or hops are suspended. A smooth but flavorful brew, with satisfying hoppiness but not particularly bitter. No unpleasant aftertaste. A bit citrusy. Overall, one of my favorite pale ales.

 

12 ounce bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Pours a copper, rusty orange with an off white, creamy head, good amount of lacing, beer is clear with a good amount of carbonation as well.

A: Subtle aromas of citrus like grapefruit peel and pine, slight notes of caramel malts, alcohol absent on the nose, fairly straightforward.

T: Up front, notes of grapefruit and lemon peel with pine needles, a little bit of pepper, spicy, herbal note, moderate/low bitterness, finish has lingering notes of citrus peel and pine along with some slight caramel malts.

M: Light bodied with a dry finish.

O: A very drinkable APA that has more caramel malt notes than other APAs I've tasted and can remember, I probably would not seek this out again but I would not refused one if offered.

Pale golden with a hint of red hue gives this beer a beautiful look before even being tasted. A citrusy aroma and creamy mouth feel makes this the best APA ever created. The taste is excellent for the style.

Darker than 'pale' this ale comes in a dark gold, almost amber and auburn color scheme, standard 1/2" white head. The nose really pops on these, especially for a Widmer beer, best dry hopping I may have ever had from them, seems Nelson and Amarillo by morning.

I like the crisp hop bit and carbonation mouthfeel on these. As it warms the malt can become a little more heavy, those caramel feels really creep on this one, especially the older the bottle. Fresh though, you're hard pressed to find a more decent widely available option outside of something classic like SNPA, but this is like an updated proprietary newer hop varietal for pale ales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

L: Reddish amber, ½” cream colored head, multi-sized bubbles S: Has rich hop aromas, citrus and some malt in the background T: Starts with a burst of creamy maltiness and then is followed by spicy herby hops and finishes with more hop flavors lingering through the finish than hop bitterness. A little lemony citrus from the hop balanced by malt sweetness. F: creamy, medium body, medium carbonation, no astringency. O: With the whiff of hops up front you expect more bitterness but this highlights hop flavors more than bitterness balanced by the malt. Very well done, drinkable, refreshing and repeatable.