Hyland American Pale Ale
Connecticut Valley Brewing

Hyland American Pale AleHyland American Pale Ale
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From:
Connecticut Valley Brewing
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
6%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 13.59%
Reviews:
34
Ratings:
35
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 23, 2008
Added:
Feb 24, 1999
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jdhilt:
Photo of jdhilt
Rated by jdhilt from New Hampshire

3.1/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Nice mix of hops and malt, lot of carbonation but head didn't last long. On the lighter side, easy to drink.
Mar 12, 2002
More User Ratings:
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

2.16/5  rDev -41.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
22 oz. bomber - Thanks to jcwattsrugger for bringing me back a bottle for me from New England.

Pours slightly hazed straw yellow with a white head that is thick at first, but quickly descends to a disappearing patch.

The smell is yeasty, chalky and husky with some floral/herbal/lemony notes.

The taste is yeasty/husky/lemony/floral. A tannic bitterness stays ahead of a weak grainy maltiness. Some metallic tinges are there. I would say that it gets better as it progresses, but it's just that I became somewhat used to it -more sips revealed that it would worsen even more. I know hops are there, but where is the malt? And...hops are bittering, but not particularly flavorful.

It is light-bodied with some lingering flavor (not necessarily a good thing in this case).

Something is off here. It might be an infected bottle/bottling issue. If so, the brewery needs to make adjustments to the bottling line. If not - it's pretty bad beer. After half-way through I thought it improved somewhat. After about 3/4 the way through - well - it became drain-pour.
Jan 23, 2008
Photo of gpcollen1
Reviewed by gpcollen1 from Connecticut

4.07/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured a very light copper color out of a bomber into my imperial Pint. Head rises quickly and settles to just a light blanket. Aromas are very light and sweet with a light citrusy rush if hops.

Taste is similar to the nose in not being one of those overpowering APAs. Lightly crisp and mildly sweet with perfect amount of carbonation. Hops rides in quickly and stays through a lightly dry finish.

A very nice drinker for sure. Nothing over the top at all, just a nice drinking Pale Ale. Thanks ppoitras
Nov 08, 2007
Photo of RedwoodGeorge
Reviewed by RedwoodGeorge from California

4.43/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
We may be so obsessed with the hop monsters that we tend to overlook the simpler styles but when they're executed so well they can be a real treat...

The beer pours a very clear, gold color with a thick creamy white crown. The head lasts throughout the glass and leaves a good bit of lacing.

The nose is a bit understated with some lightly toasted grain flavors and a mild herbal hop aroma. Slight hints of pine resin but pretty well subdued...

The flavor is both subtle and complex... There are quite a few grain notes of biscuit, golden grain and a slight honey flavor but they're all pretty tame. No real sweetness or fruitiness in the mix. The hop notes are again restrained but varied with some nice earthy, mossy hop notes along with a touch of pine and spice.

Great mouthfeel, especially for a bottled beer. Light bodied, well carbonated with very fine bubbles, no lingering oils or sugars on the palate and a nice touch of carbonation and hop astringency to leave a light, dry feeling on the tongue.

This is a really nice Pale Ale and it helps me remember that beer doesn't have to be 'big' to be good...
Dec 09, 2006
Photo of Stimack
Reviewed by Stimack from New York

3/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Brew poured to a somewhat cloudy dull golden color with a ridiculously large white fluffy head that left chucks of lacing down the side of the glass. Something might be a little wrong with the carbonation on this one, as it seems to be a little out of control. The aroma is ok, Malt, spicy hops and dough like scent. The taste is ok, husk like flavors from the malt, biscuit dough like taste and a end of hops. Overall this brew was fair, not a favorite and one I will probably not get again unless I could find it on tap. Side note, very carbonated.
Nov 13, 2006
Photo of kmo1030
Reviewed by kmo1030 from Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
golden honey amber with a nice sized white head.
warmly grainy caramel with a grassy hop aroma.
the taste has caramel sweetness, a little buttery toffee on the back end, with floral hop bitterness, balancing. there is a little fruitiness with warmth mostly a soft apple flavor. nice and simple, but very well executed.
light side of medium bodied with moderate carbonation suits this beer well.
very drinkable and quenching. this seems to lean a lot more to the english pale ale side of things, and honestly i'm quite impressed, hyland has done a real nice job here
May 10, 2006
Photo of neonbrown82
Reviewed by neonbrown82 from Nebraska

3.46/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Before I get into the review, I just noticed the quote on the back on the bottle and it just struck me as funny: "No quaint stories. Just a high quality ale made by three brothers and their families. Brewed and bottled on the family farm in historic Sturbridge, MA." They claim that there's no quaint story and proceed to describe the quaintness of the beer's origin. This has nothing to do with the actual beer, however, so I'll continue on with the review.

...and before I forget, thanks to ppoitras for the bottle. The beer pours to a crystal clear golden yellow with a massive head. Lacing and carbonation are both good. Maybe a bit too pale looking, but its other qualities make up for it. Besides, I don't care what my beer looks like as long as it is enjoyable.

The beer has a very zesty aroma. Lemon, light hops, and a bit of a soapiness. I'll make sure to rinse the glass out well on the second pour from this bomber just in case the soapiness is from the glass.

The taste is also very lemon zesty. Almost no bitterness to speak of, but a bit of a light citric hop flavor. Dries out ever so slightly at the finish.

The body is light with a sharp carbonation. Slightly quaffable, but not really what I'm looking for in a pale. Reminds me of when the bartender puts a lemon on the rim of my glass when I'm not really a fan of lemons to begin with.
Apr 23, 2006
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

2.91/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to hopdog for this 22 oz bomber…
Appears a light gold with a small white head and scattered lacing.
Smell is of slightly oxidized and flowery with mild sourness in there.
Taste is of the same off aromas with mild maltiness.
Mouthfeel is lactic and slightly sour with sweetness.
Mar 31, 2006
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz brown bomber with no freshess date. Thin layer of yeast sediment on the bottom of the bottle.

A- Pale golden-yellow with a very faint haze ... half decent head that dissapates pretty quick to a thin lace.

S- Mild citrus zest and a dry doughy malt int he aroma.

T&M- Nice smoothness, moderate body ... almost fluffy with a perfect amount of carbonation.Thin pale maltiness with a rough husk in the finish. Clean palate with virtually no fruitiness, warming alcohol in the back. Ample bitterness from the hops, bitter orange peel and deep herbal flavors come to mind. Finishes semi-dry.

D- A solid middle of the road APA. The maltiness leaves more to be desired IMO. Worth a try ...
Dec 24, 2005
Photo of chOAKbarrell
Reviewed by chOAKbarrell from Maryland

2.68/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to Ppoitras for sending me this 750ml silk-screened bottle.

My bottle must have been overcarbonated, because it immediately started to slowly foam out of the neck. Poured a gigantic head, which I liked, but the color isnt all that exciting - kind of murky and nondescript, like a wheat beer.

There's a lot of grain in the nose. Smells like a grassy field in springtime. Not picking up much hops.

Taste is rather limp. Not a whole lot going on - grassy flavor to match the smell. I cant really taste any hops at all. This seems more like a weak wheat beer, without the wheat, if that makes any sense.

Mouthfeel is watery & thin.

This beer goes down pretty easily... I just dont think I'd want to have it again.
Dec 24, 2005
Photo of kmpitz2
Reviewed by kmpitz2 from Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a pale orange color with a billowing head that settles somewhat quickly to 3 fingers over top. Solid looking beer. Nose is light citrus and moderate peppery hop with a modest caramel base. Solid on the nose as well. Flavor is nice citrusy and light peppery hop mix. A bit subdued. Caramel base is right where it needs to be for balance. Just a moderate bitter hangs on the finish, but not offensive. Very smooth. A rather tasty brew. Feel is moderate with a moderate to active carbonation. Probably feels a touch thin due to the carbonation. Very drinkable beer. No real flaws to get in the way, but lacking the intangables to make it stellar. I'd keep this one around to drink if it were available here it town.
Nov 29, 2005
Photo of ybnorml
Reviewed by ybnorml from Rhode Island

4.3/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A very clean yellow beer. Has a bif foamy bright white head and good lace. There is a nice sweet cereal malt aroma with a hint of spiceyness in the background. A very good balance between the light sweet bready maly and an easy spicey hop character. All in all a tastey easy to drink Ale.
Oct 04, 2005
Photo of vladtheimpaler
Reviewed by vladtheimpaler from New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bomber. Yellow-gold, clear, nice lasting white head. Fruity aroma with a touch of hops. Slightly overcarbonated at the beginning, but settling down nicely as the time passes. Pale malt sweetness and citrus hops balance out nicely. I may also be picking up a slight bit of oxidation here, but not too much to detract. The hops linger on the palate in the finish. Not a bad drinking brew.
Sep 30, 2005
Photo of meathookjones
Reviewed by meathookjones from Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle. After starting to pour this lightly into a glass the head almost erupted out of it. The glass was 99% foam and took forever to die down enough so I could pour some more. Finally I could see the brew was a clear yellow after waiting for awhile. Aroma was very mild with light earthy hops with some sweet caramel malt. Taste was very similar and weak. Some grassy hops as well as a bit of graininess and some sweet malt. Crisp feel to it but way over-carbonated. Not bad just not enough flavor or aroma. I could have a few though if I was in the mood for something easy on the taste buds.
Aug 08, 2005
Photo of deejaydan
Reviewed by deejaydan from Michigan

3.77/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got this on BIF20. Thanks Pete!

Pours a hazy yellow color, decent head to start that dimishes to a thin head, good lacing on this one.

Smells similar to green apples, slight tart aroma that carrys overy into the aroma.

Tastes slightly tart, almost saison like, dry and slightly tart. I like that, it's different enough, but not way out there.

Good, clean carbonation and mouthfeel. Some prickily bubbles dance on the tounge.

This is a good, slightly different than the normal beer.
Jun 01, 2005
Photo of CharlesRiver
Reviewed by CharlesRiver from Connecticut

3.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22 oz bomber that I purchased in Sturbridge at Yankee Spirits. The bottle is screen printed as opposed to having a paper label. The first thing that stikes me is the color. It much lighter than I had expected. Dark yellow with a good size white foamy head.

The smell is a bit metallic with some of the hops coming through. The taste is very refreshing. Good solid malt backbone with some hops mixed in to balance it out. The metallic taste comes in again at the end for me. This is definitely a beer that I purchase again. Six packs of this would be nice.
May 29, 2005
Photo of FLAbeergutinMASS
Reviewed by FLAbeergutinMASS from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
What a pleasant surprise! Even being a resident and consumer of Western Mass beers, I'd never heard of this beer. Pulled it off of the "be a local hero" shelf at a grocery store.

Should be classified as an EPA but nonetheless pours a pale yellow, no mistakes here. Head remains after a couple of sips, nothing but what'd expect.

Big time hops for this style. Even after the second sip I was contemplating how hoppy it was. Very smooth very light, gives you the feeling that you are dinging a heavier beer that’s easily consumed. I guess that's the point at times.

Good beer.
May 13, 2005
Photo of CRJMellor
Reviewed by CRJMellor from Arkansas

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a golden copper with yellow highlights. 2-finger head with a white head that leaves spots of lace on the glass.
Aroma of cracked wheat, caramel and some grassy hops.
Flavor is mix of wheat and caramel that slides effortlessly into a sliding but fairly sharp citurs and resiny bittering.
Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a really spiced-up hop finish.
Drinkability is relatively high. Solid standard Pale Ale with a touch more spiciness in the hops than most. Very nice.
Thanks to PPoitras for the sample.
Apr 23, 2005
Photo of assurbanipaul
Reviewed by assurbanipaul from Texas

3.18/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a light golden color (a little lighter than usual) with a white foamy head. The aroma is light and yeasty with a touch of pale malt and faint hops.

Taste is light and sweet. Light, very pale malt topped with a very light touch of hops, not very much at all. Biscuity sweetness dominates, not much bitterness at all. Very faint elements of honey, pine and a yeasty citrus develop after a while of drinking this. Not nearly enough hop presence to really round out the pale ale style.

Mouthfeel is medium, smooth and easy to drink. Not bad at all but, personally, I don't think it's quite interesting enough to hold my attention. If I just saw it unnamed without the bottle, I would think it to be a slightly heavy lager. Thanks to ppoitras for this sample.
Apr 09, 2005
Photo of LuckySevens82
Reviewed by LuckySevens82 from Florida

3.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22 oz bomber.
Pours a golden copper color with orange undertones. A dense white head tops this one. Good lacing and good retention.
Smell is dominated by toasty malt, fruit (apples, pears), caramel, and citrusy hops.
Taste is earthy hops, bready malts with a toasted quality, fruit (apples, citrus, pears) and caramel.
Overall, a very good APA. I would have this again, and again, and again were it available to me.
Apr 01, 2005
Hyland American Pale Ale from Connecticut Valley Brewing
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 35 ratings