Grumpy Troll Liberty Pole Pale Ale

Draft at the brewpub. Advertised as 1.055 OG and 55 IBU’s. Poured a slightly hazy orange color. Head was bubbly, white, and left some decent lace behind. Smelled of light flowery hops. Light citrus and flower blossom with minimal hop bitterness. Not bad.

Sampler tray

This was the second of eight samples that I worked my way through. Compared to the Captain Fred this one had just a bit more complexity without becoming more than a great session beer. I would pick up a growler of this to take to a party where I knew people hated ’dark beers’ or ’hoppy beers’. It has enough taste to please most beer geeks but yet isn’t so over the top it will drive away anyone who thinks that Blue Moon is the pinnacle of craft beer.

Aroma / Appearance - The pale yellow body was just as described on the beer list. A thin filmy head floated on top for a while; it become more evident when the glass was swirled after I’d finished half of the 4 oz sample. Subtle grapefruits, tree bark and cheap grocery store vanilla extract create a full combination of aromas that is not very complex. Most people should be able to pick it all up within two sniffs.

Flavor / Palate - A toned down bitterness soothes the palate. The mouthfeel is chewy and creamy with the taste of orange rinds, candy corn and caramel becoming obvious. While it doesn’t set itself apart from any of the other well made APAs out there it is still a job well done. I wouldn’t turn down a pint of this if it was offered to me.

I had this in 2 manners... on cask and regular tap. The cask has added dry hopping and was much better than the tap. Golden body with a thin white head. The flavor is malty and "stale" malts. Not a fan of the tap version. The aroma is chalky and grassy hops. On the tap version, the palate is over-carbonated and moderately bodied. The cask version has a strong Mandarin orange and Tang aroma and flavor. Much better. Not as carbonated.

Orangey with White Ring. Wet Hop Aroma. Nice Hop Flavor with a Dry Ending. Simple and Enjoyable. Hop Ale.

Hazy orange color with no head. Aroma is filled with citrus and hops. The taste looses some of that citrus quality as it turns into an earthy hop tone. Dusty finish.

On tap at the Brewpub. orange color with a white head. Good dry hopping. Great combination of boining and finishing hops for flavor and aroma. A workhorse beer.

Clear, vibrant bronze in color with an icy wisp for the head. Best aroma of this brewery’s beers yet, with dry hopping initiative going a long way. Some other wafts of cedar, grass stains and maple sugar. Flavor expectantly unfolds with sweet caramel and bitter hops, along with honey, maple and lemon grass. Simple, solid, balanced APA.

Another beautiful looking beer. Also very smooth. I like this brewpub and need to come back.