Review - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company's Drifter Pale Ale
"No commercial description"
Pours a light amber hue producing a small, tan-colored fizzy head above a still body. High degree of clarity. Thin wispy lacing grasps the glass but doesn't hold on for long. Aroma leaps out of the glass with copious amounts of grapefruit, pineapple, and green apple, and just a medley of other tropical fruit. Initial taste is slightly bitter with a beautiful bouquet of fruity esthers, finishing bittersweet with a really nice mouthfeel. Light to medium bodied, it has soft carbonation with a smooth, clean finish, palate is left in a pleasant state – slightly bitter for a bit.
The hop presence is perfect for a west coast pale. The bitterness is there but subtle. This would be a good starter beer for someone who would like to try IPAs. It is not as hoppy or bitter as the Sierra Nevada pale.
Reviewed on January 26th, 2009.
