Beer of the Week (Vol. XCI)

Another edition of Beer of the Week brought to you by the barrel-chested folks at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who can help you explore the wide world of wine, whiskey, and beer.

This week we feature another offering from Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. 5 Barrel Pale Ale:

The distinctive hop character of our 5 Barrel Pale Ale is due to the extraction of essential oils from select hops. We treat 5 Barrel Pale Ale to an infusion of fresh whole hop flowers in the Hop Back and the Fermentor, as well as four hop additions during the kettle boil. We like how this gives the beer a fresh, lively flavor and aroma.

Brown bottle. Label has craft paper qualities and light tan background. Design is simple yet classy.

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 5.2%

COLOR (0-2): Rich copper color. 2

AROMA (0-2): Citrus and floral. 2

HEAD (0-2): White color. Minimal volume, fades quickly, but laces the glass nicely. 1

TASTE (0-5): Nice combo palate of semi-sweet malt and floral hops. Moderate bitterness with subtly smooth flavors of grapefruit and pine. Medium-bodied, thinner mouthfeel, and very drinkable. 4

AFTERTASTE (0-2): Nice lingering flavors. 2

OVERALL (0-6): A very solid pale ale. It’s not overly hoppy, but still quite tasty. The flavors are well-balanced and it’s a beer that comes together nicely as a complete package. 4

TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 15