Coast Range Pale Ale

Formerly brewed at Coast Range Brewing Co.
Style: American Pale Ale
Gilroy, California USA

Bottle poured clear copper with a amber head. Aromas of carmel, bread, and a bit of spice. Flavors of carmel, bread, and a slightly spice sweet finish.

(12 oz bottle: BevMo in La Jolla, CA) I guess I should issue the disclaimer that I’ve had a partial sixer of this beer sitting on a bottom shelf in my beer cellar (aka, my cave of a bedroom) for about 8 months now, and each time I drink a bottle, I like it more and more. It’s an odd American Pale Ale to say the least, and while not what I’d consider a quality beer, there’s something about it that I find intriguing. Kind of like slowing down for to gawk at a car crash (okay, I steadfastly refuse to do this, but most people can’t help it). It demonstrates what seems to be a clear "house" flavor to the Coast Range beers. The flavor is very caramely, bready and sweet, somewhat fruity, and a bit floral. There is some mildly bitter hops coming out in the finish, but the caramely, floral flavor is definitely dominant throughout. Late in the finish, several seconds after swallowing, I swear it tastes like Cracker Jack (not Jacks!!!). Medium bodied, well carbonated mouthfeel, a bit on the dense, coating side for the style. The nose is decent, with a misleading maltiness coming to the forefront, caramel being less of a factor here than in the flavor. Dark amber in color and fairly hazy. The off-white head dissipates at a normal rate, settling to a broken film, but leaving a fairly dense blanket of lace on the glass. No question, this beer is not to style. It’s way too sweet and caramely for a pale ale, and seems closer to typical American Oktoberfests (despite being an ale), but in the end, if you overlook the style errors, this is oddly enjoyable.

Small tan head, very good retention and a fair amount of lace. Clear copper colored brew. Mild hop nose, faint spiceyness, citrus. Light body. Funky malt flavor, astringent, *&)#<& hop flavors. Finish is dry, grainy. Thanks Stephen.

Draft. Amber beer with a big off-white head. Caramel malt aroma that overpowers hops. Caramel malt flavor with floral and some citrus hops.

Nothing too special about this one. The hops are earthy in both flavor and aroma. A slight bit of malt and not much else. Tasted a bit macroed. Wouldn’t try it again.

Fizzy white head that sticks around for quite awhile. Pleasant, light copper appearance. Fresh, floral aroma with some sweet malty undertones. Flavor has some light hoppy citrus notes with a bit of caramel malt sweetness. The carbonation is a bit too high for my taste. Overall, a decent APA.

Mean-looking clipart hombre on the twistoff label. Hazy, dark-honey amber beer with a lagerish head. Nicely bittered, sweetish with some caramel or toffee, tart fruit (peach, apricot). This was an easy-drinking beer, but the Cascades nuts won't like it. On the border between a PA and a brown.

Hazy amber body with medium beige head. Aroma is moderately sweet and floral. Taste is moderately sweet, peach, some caramel, and medium floral possessing light bitterness. Medium-light body.