September 23, 2005 - #76 of 365

Brewer: Smuttynose Brewing Company (New Hampshire, USA)
Beer: Shoals Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale
abv: 5%

Background: Bottle from Vintage Wines. It’s an English-style Pale Ale, which means it’s has more maltiness to balance the hops. The hops are generally English varieties.

Appearance: Pours orangish-amber with a half-finger off-white head. Slow effervescence.

Aroma: Soapy hops and bready malts.

Flavor: Very nice malt character up front, with a good amount of hop bitterness at the end. Not over the top with either flavor.

Notes: Good. My bottle’s a little old for a Pale Ale (my fault—I hadn’t gotten around to drinking it), so I’ll be generous.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5