Pumphouse Igniter Pale Ale

When compared to other Colorado IPA’s this one holds its own. It has a nice hop-to-malt balance, a crisp mouthfeel and a good finish.

From the Jug at the Pumphouse Brewery & Restaurant, Longmont 08/10/2008 Hoppy aroma. Golden coloured strong in alcohol hoppy and pale with pine fruit flavour. Crisp and bitter in the finish.

Draft at the brewery. Dark amber in color and flavors of caramel malts with light spice and a very light hop profile make this a very average pale ale. Pretty plain, non-descript even and certainly nothing to get too excited about especially on a beer trip through Colorado.

Crushed with Jakebra at the brewpub. Light hops and caramel malt on the nose. Great bitter hoppy flavor and finish kicks ass. Excellent pale ale.

I’d say the American beer community has moved beyond this hoppy pale ale with the advent of extreme brewing. But this is a nice beer and should be enjoyed for the balance of hop and malt, for the contrast of sweet malt and bitter hop, achieved without one overpowering the other. It’s a nice beer.

Tap @ Pumphouse: Poured a lightly hazed dark copper color with a small off-white head. Grapefruit and citrus aroma with some malt trying to get through. The flavor was dominated by grapefruit hops and some caramel. Bitter rind finish. Long bitter finish. Light to medium body.

On tap at the brewpub on 10/14/07: Pours a transparent copper bronze with a nicely-lacing froth of clingy white head. Aroma of fairly fresh citrusy hops and mildly sweet toasty pale malt. Body starts with a decent malty sweetness and some citrusy, earthy hop balance toward a crisp, very drinkable bittersweet finish.

Date: 10/14/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

clear copper, fine white head, scattered and drippy lace, sweet grapefruit aroma, lots of sweet crystal malt flavor, well balanced with lots of citrus hops, nice lasting bitter finish,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4