Santa Cruz Mountain Pale Ale

Brewed by Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Style: American Pale Ale
Santa Cruz, California USA

Very pale gold with a rocky white head. Flavor is big on citrus and yeast, a bit of crystal sweetness. It’s refreshing but not sure what it wants to be, almost a bit of belgian pale to it, but not enough to really work as a belgian. Far too citrusy, lemony for a pale ale. Hmmmm, overall not sure what to make of it.

Bomber from Bottle Trek. Hazy gold color with a one finger white head. Aroma of floral/citrus hop - rather light. Medium+ body with creamy carbonation. Flavor is a little citrus sour over very lightly roasted caramel. Then floral hops bloom. More of a light ESB than an APA. It’s quite delicious. Finish is pretty balanced: a little hint of sweet, but bitter to stave it off.

Appearance: Pours a clear, yellow body with a big, foamy, white head. Smell: Simple aroma that’s a combination of grainy malts and lemon-scented handsoap. Taste: Tired maltiness that’s briefly sweet and delivers a kick of grain husks. More cheap lemon soap along with a medium hop bitterness. Slight citric hint on the finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation. Mouthfeel is a tad watery. Drinkability: Seriously, what the hell is this nonsense.

Date: 03/15/2008
Mode: bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: cloudy light yellow, creamy white head, drippy lace,
Aroma: astrengent malt aroma with a touch of crystal sweetness and peppery spicyness,
Flavor: light sweet malt flavor, lots of earthy balance, long bitter finish,

Aroma: 4/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

(organic) 22oz bottle. Pours clear bright yellow, thin white head. BMC looking. Not what I expect an American Pale Ale to look like. Very lager looking or even a Light Belgian Ale. Aroma of big citrus! Lots of lemons. Flavor is fizzy. No malt character. Finishes with an OK bitterness. Not likely gonna have dis und eegen...

Sampled out of a 22oz. A mild brew that doesnt quite have the bite that some of the other brews do. Light on hops and malts but has a nice hue and palate. Worth the sample!

Pours a golden yellow color with a white head. Aroma is grainy, astringent, and some citrus hops. Flavor is malty, grainy, astringent, I think slightly infected, and a bitter citrus finish.

29-Sep-07 (22 oz bottle, bottling date of 05-Jul-07: $3.69 at BevMo in La Jolla, CA) I waited a few months for a new batch of this beer and have been rewarded with a healthy beer. It’s still an odd pale ale though, with crisp, lemon citrus, hay, and dusty hops being the dominant flavors over a slightly grainy malt background that’s similar to a pilsener. In other words, this could pass just as easily pass as a well-hopped pilsener with a lemon wedge. Body is light-medium, carbonation is medium, and the mouthfeel is dusty and dry with a crisp finish. The nose is dusty and citrusy. Medium-yellow in color with quite a bit of haze. Small, whitish head settles to a wide ring. Significant "ice crystal" lacing decorates much of the glass. While it’s not what I’m looking for in a pale ale, it’s still reasonably enjoyable nonetheless.

16-Mar-07 (22 oz bottle: $3.69 at BevMo in La Jolla, CA) Just like with their IPA, I’ve tried three bottles of this beer and all are problematic. Sigh... To quickly sum up my impression of these bottles, this is a good looking beer with some nasty phenolics. Golden colored and hazy with a 2 inch cap of voluminous, white foam on the pour that settles over time, but always holds a full layer for the entire session. Not much malt in the nose, just a touch of light grain. Dusty hops is apparent, but unfortunately, the phenolic aroma is what stands out. And despite the reasonably aggressive use of hops in the flavor and a pleasant, if soft-spoken grainy malt background, it’s all spoiled by the phenolic flavor. Dry on the palate and medium-high in carbonation. The medium body is heavier than I expected for a beer that is a mere 4% ABV. In fact, this is probably the most flavorful 4% beer I can remember drinking. Shame about the unrelenting phenolic problem. (4, 4, 4, 3, 7 = 2.2)

23-Sep-05 (Draft: 2005 San Diego Festival of Beer in San Diego, CA) Not a bad tasting beer, featuring a grainy malt that reminds me of some Coast Range beers, plus a mild spiciness. Medium bodied. Grainy nose, lightly sweet, slight hoppiness. Dark straw color and fully clear. Small white head fades to nothing within a minute. Just an average beer, but this might be worth seeking out if I’m ever in the Santa Cruz area. (6, 2, 6, 3, 12 = 2.9)