Ithaca Pale Ale

Brewed by Ithaca Beer Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Ithaca, New York USA

23-Jun-06 (12 oz bottle: Obtained 09-Mar-06 in trade with jah noth, thanks Dan!) The typical problems I have with Ithaca beers manifest themselves in this beer once again. The aroma is very fruity and floral, but I’m definitely picking up signs of apple skins. And actually, the apples are a bit more noticeable in the flavor, but the floral, fruity nature of this beer is prominently on display. However, there is no sourness to this beer this time, so it’s a definite improvement over the disaster that befell my previous tasting of this beer. While the carbonation is a little bit under control this time, it still has an expansive feel to it on each sip. Medium-bodied and very lively on the palate, the carbonation makes this a very burby beer. Light amber in color, but it’s only slightly hazy this time, so I can easily see the dozens of steady, swiftly-rising streams of carbonation bubbles. The off-white head is tall and long-lasting, thanks to the steady supply of carbonation, and lacing is loosely ringed, so this is an artificially attractive beer, but attractive nonetheless. Though better than the previous tasting, this is still not an enjoyable beer. Excessive carbonation and the presence of apple skins are all flaws that are impossible to overlook, and the overwhelming floral character isn’t enjoyable either.

16-Jul-05 (12 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with shadey, thanks Shane!) Jesus Christ! The carbonation level is so high, the cap nearly blew off like Krakatoa! Needless to say, regardless of how gently I’m trying to pour this beer, I’m getting a glass full of off-white frothy head. The lumpy head is comprised mostly of very large bubbles, no surprise there I guess, and as it dies away, it fails to leave more than a few small chunks of head on the glass. Light amber in color, fairly hazy in appearance, and the carbonation bubbles are large and remain very steady for quite some time. The nose is sweet, floral, fruity, but also soapy, so the problems continue. Up front, the floral and fruity flavor is quickly wrestled to the ground by a fairly citric hoppiness, and it’s this sour, citric, moderately bitter hoppiness that dominates the finish and overall impression of the beer. Very mildly sweet, but if it’s supposed to be sweeter, it’s hard to tell because of the strong citrus here. It goes without saying that the mouthfeel of each sip is very expansive, so much so that with each sip, my cheeks puff out, and I feel like bubbles are almost coming out my nose. Belches are noisy and violent. I don’t know what the deal is with Ithaca, but this is now my third beer from this brewery, and each has had significant problems. This is the worst of the three so far. (6, 3, 4, 2, 9 = 2.4)

One of the best American Pales out there. Nice balance of hops and malt. A great summer brew and solid session beer. Props to Ithaca on this one.

12oz bottle via trade with beastiefan2k - Thanks Eugene! - Pours amber with a creamy offwhite head that stayed for a bit then faded. Not much lacing. Aroma is grassy and light floral hops over grains. Begins sweet with caramel and biscuit malts but finishes with a touch of floral bite. Pretty well balanced and light and well carbonated on the palate. Would be a solid summer session I think.

An amber beer with white bubbly head. Very light grass type malt aroma. Sour flavor of malt flows in and ends sweet to the taste buds. Very impressive for this area of NY.

It’s always good to drink local, and if it’s a good beer as well all the better. It looks good in the glass, with a decent amount of head. I’m not much of a pale ale person, but this representative example of the style is what I choose when I’m in the mood.

Amber-yellow with a thick, fluffy white head. Not impressed with the aroma - it has a strange metallic/citrusy/slightly sout thing going on. The flavor is much better - spicey and piney hops, with just enough malt to back it up. Smoothly carbonated, medium bodied.

Bottle (12oz). Poured bubbly slightly hazy amber-gold with a large white fizzy-foamy head. Pleasantly sweet aroma, very light malt, apple and pear hints, dry mild floral vaguely evergreen hops, some yeast character - not bad at all, although it’s quite skittish. Maybe because I drank it from a De Koninck glass it reminded a a bit of that beer, sweet grain, aggressively carbonated, sweet character held somewhat in check by yeasty/citrusy mild hops - average body, quite a bite to it - I like it, perhaps it would be better on tap where the carbonation would take more of a backseat. Easy to drink.

Jan. 25, 2006; 12 oz. bottle

Quite a departure from other pale ales I’ve sampled. Reviewers here have mentioned pears -- yup, that’s it! -- *sour* pears and bread. Significant fruity aroma. The eyebrow-raising hoppiness ultimately redeems this brew somewhat.

The brew does have some "issues," not the least of which might be its low 4.6% ABV . . . Interesting to sample, but don’t know if I’d seek this out again.