It’s that time of year again. The sun is out longer, the days are getting warmer and, while I still enjoy my fair share of stouts at this point in the year, I have been enjoying some really tasty IPAs.

Full Sail Brewing’s latest in their Brewmaster Reserve line of beers, is Hop Pursuit, an extra pale ale that packs a pretty decent amount of hops into a 22oz bottle. Brewed with Cascade, Willamette, and Mt. Hood hops, the beer is hoppy, but not overly so.

Appearance

Hop Pursuit pours a golden orange in color with a large fluffy white head.

Aroma

It’s got a wonderful hop presence on the nose that’s not too citrus-like, but instead leans more toward a piny resin. There’s a small bit of malt mixed in there as well. Overall, Hop Pursuit has a well balanced, smooth aroma.

Taste

This brew has a nice piny and earthy tone with a good bit of malt balancing it out. The hops have a bit more of a citrus/grapefruit character in the taste than the nose, but for the most part the beer isn’t too fruity in that regard. The finish is on the drier side with a welcome bitterness.

Overall

At about 6% ABV, I found this one quite drinkable. It’s got a well rounded, traditional and earthy hop presence with a great crisp, bitter finish that suited me perfectly on a warm afternoon. I don’t recall what I paid for the bottle, but I don’t believe it was high enough to scare me away from another couple of bottles or five.

Rating: 3.5/5

Note: this is a review of a promotional sample I received from the brewery.

Any time I get a press release from San Diego’s Karl Strauss Brewing, I know it will be followed shortly by a bottle of something quite tasty. Just about everything I have gotten from them has been outstanding. Their latest seasonal, Pintail Pale Ale is no exception.

Brewed with Cascade and Newport hops, the beer is then dry hopped with Amarillo hops for a fragrant aroma. I found it to be one of the hoppier tasting pales I’ve had in recent months.

Appearance

Pouring a golden amber in color, the beer sits in the glass nicely with a decent sized off-white head that faded to a good, sticky lacing.

Aroma

Pintail has a lovely aroma. Grapefruits and citrus dominate the nose with a big, yet well rounded hoppiness as a slight maltiness lingers behind. It certainly smells hoppy, but doesn’t present itself as a tongue-busting, bitter beer.

Taste

While the nose was quite aromatic, it mislead my brain into thinking my mouth was safe from a solid hop punch. The beer isn’t overly bitter or biting, but it does have an astringent tartness and crispness that will leave you wanting another sip. The hops carry a light pine resinous along with the larger grapefruit and citrus notes. The crisp brew is clean on the palate with a semi-dry, lingering finish.

Overall

It’s one of the more fragrant and hoppier tasting pale ales I’ve recently had, but it has a nice balance with the malt backbone. I’d almost venture to call this more of an IPA as it smacks of a tart hoppiness that I would expect from that style. That all said, I really enjoyed this beer. The aromatic nose and biting nature of the hop presence, along with a 5.3% ABV, made this beer quire drinkable and refreshing.

Rating: 3.5/5

I picked up a six pack of Yards Brewing Philadelphia Pale Ale on a lark the other day. I’m always willing to try something new, especially when the brewer proclaims its product as a “non-traditional style.”

Plus, this one gave me an opportunity to break up the flow of stout reviews I’ve got in line for the site.

Appearance

Pouring a golden amber in color, this pale ale has a sizable head that faded slowly to decent lacing.

Aroma

There’s a decent helping of hops thrown into the malt body on this beer. A lingering lemon zest and citrus add to the nose.

Taste

Bisquity malt opens up on the tongue as the crisp carbonation pushes light pine and citrus hope notes along the palate. The lemon zest is there adding a lightness and refreshing character to the brew. the finish has a mild bite that only begs for more. I’m not particularly sure how the use of the pilsner malt affects the overall taste of this beer, but it’s pretty darned good.

Overall

I’m not sure this was the ideal brew for a colder day, but I can sure as hell see several bottles of this disappearing on a lazy summer day. It’s quite drinkable and has a great flavor.

Rating: 3.5/5

Widmer Brothers decided to bring out of retirement this pale ale that was shelved back in 2007. Before I even get into the tasting notes, I’ll tell you right now, I’m damned glad they did. Drifter Pale Ale is one of the best, if not THE best, pale ale I’ve ever consumed.

Let me clarify that a bit.

Pale ale isn’t one of my favorite styles of beer, but I have enjoyed my fair share in the warmer months. Flying Dog, Anchor, Sierre Nevada and Stone are just a few of the breweries whose pale ales I’ve consumed over the years, but Widmer Brother’s Drifter is a refreshing take on the style. The brewery’s interpretation of the pale ale is driven by the use of Summit hops in the recipe. I don’t know enough about that hop variety to delve further into it, but I can tell you that it certainly adds a certain something special to the beer.

Appearance

Drifter pours copper in color with a decent, full head that faded slowly to a decent lacing.

Aroma

It’s definitely one of the more aromatic pale ales I’ve had. The hops are right there in the front, but not too demanding as wonderful citrus notes are there as well. There’s a subtle sweet maltiness, as well.

Taste

This is a pretty well balanced beer. Bold, yet not overbearing, hops and citrus are followed by a decent malt presence to create a rich, refreshing beer. There’s a wonderful, yet mild bitter bite in the finish. It’s a very clean and fresh tasting brew.

Overall

The three samples that came in the mail were not nearly enough to satiate. The Drifter is one hell of a beer that’s incredibly drinkable and smooth with just enough depth and complexity. My refrigerator will most certainly be stocked with this one in the coming months as the weather warms.

Rating: 4.5/5

SUMMIT HOPS BRING REFRESHING CITRUS TWIST TO NEW PALE ALE FROM WIDMER BROTHERS BREWING

PORTLAND, Ore. – December 29, 2008 – Kurt and Rob Widmer, innovators of American-style Hefeweizen, may be laid back guys but they are serious about brewing great beer. Their latest creation, Drifter Pale Ale, is no exception. Brewed with Summit hops, a new variety known for its intense and abundant citrus aroma and flavors, Drifter’s taste is unique to the category. True to the pale ale style, Drifter’s light bittering hops give the brew a crisp, clean and refreshing finish ideal for those longing for lazy days adrift on the lake.

“We crafted Drifter to make waves in the category and provide beer lovers with a new pale ale experience,” said Kurt Widmer, co-founder of Widmer Brothers Brewing. “Most pale ales are brewed with Cascade hops. Ours is truly an original, made with Summit hops known for their delicate flavor and undertones of tangerine, mandarin orange and grapefruit.”

Drifter is a laid back, smooth and inviting pale ale; its subtle caramel malt sweetness balances the tangy hops and leaves drinkers feeling refreshed and satisfied. Drifter was a Silver Medal winner in the Pale Ale category at the 2006 Great American Beer Festival (GABF); the beer sails in at an ABV of 5.7% and 32 IBUs.

Drifter will be available on tap in 20 select states* beginning January 5th, with six-packs on shelves in early February. The beer will launch nationwide in mid-April and will be offered year-round. A Drifter six-pack retails for approximately $8.99.

About Widmer Brothers Brewing

What started as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer has now become a reality for two ordinary brothers who still just love beer. Kurt and Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when, in their twenties, they dreamed of brewing American interpretations of authentic European style beers. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the first American-style Hefeweizen; today, the unfiltered cloudy beer is the company’s signature brew and one of the best selling wheat beers in the country. Based in Portland, Ore., the brewery currently produces a variety of beers including Drop Top Amber Ale and Broken Halo IPA. For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmer.com.

*Introductory states include: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, LA, MN, MS, MT, ND, NM, NV, SD, TX, WA, WI and WY.