Coronado Neptunes Nectar Hardy Pale Ale

Brewed by Coronado Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Coronado, California USA

22oz bottle from BevMo Mission Valley. Pours peach colored with a 2 finger off white head. Nose had some light hop character, sweet spice? This one was very hard to describe, I think I’ll have to try again and re rate.......damn it!

650 ml bottle from Bev4less in Santee. Pours a cloudy orange color with a fair off-white head that has good retention. The aroma is light with honey, mango and faint citrus. The flavor is loaded with sweet caramel, mango, papaya, honey and pecans. The palate is smooth and creamy. The finish is long with lingering fruits and honey. Overall: I very much enjoyed this brew. Another winner from the folks at Coronado.

Bottle from South Bay Drug. Copper color with a strong light beige head. Lots of bubbles coming off the bottom of the New Belgium strong glass. Warm light fruit aroma over yeast. Medium body with creamy carbonation. Lots of smooth roast caramel, lots of fruit and zest, lots of spicey hop. More dry than not. Very flavorful. I put it more in the Belgian than American strong ale category.

Bomber from Del Cerro. Nice deep amber in color upon pouring. Aroma is quite sweet. Some yeastiness is present, along with some earthy hoppiness. Sweet fruity flavors up front with some dry spiciness and yeast. Some dry spicy hops in the finish. Pretty enjoyable.

Got to go with scottoale, I thought this was an APA when I bought it. Pours hazy auburn with a thick, rocky off-white head. Thick, sticky lacing. Peach/apricot aroma with tart grapefruit and toasted bread in the nose. Sharp taste. The toastiness is more biscuit-like; drier and tongue-smacking. More citrus with a lingering peach flavor gives it a nice bittersweetness. The orange peel gives it a touch of spice, but not enough to turn it into a "Belgian inspired" brew. An easy-drinker. Very smooth and dry enough to keep coming back for more. Its because of that I’m having a really hard time believing this was a Strong Ale, despite the higher ABV.

Pours a transparent copper orange with a frothy clingy-lacing off-white head. Aroma of lightly sweet toasty pale malt with a light citrusy hop balance. Body starts with a mild pale malty sweetness and a good balance of resiny bittering and flavor hops. Very drinkable and finishes crisp and bittersweet. A nice hoppy strong ale.

On tap at the 2008 Strong Ale Festival. Poured a medium and hazy amber color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, orange peels, and a little toasty. Tastes of citrus, pine, with caramel.

On tap @ Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens 01.06.09. Hazy orange, compact dense orange-tinted head. Spicy fruity aroma, yeasty even. Sweet treacle and honey malts, ripe melon, almonds, and spice. Sweet with low bitterness. I agree completely with the rater just prior to me that this really comes across as a Belgian style more than an American strong. Interesting.