Marin Mt. Tam Pale Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

they hit the nail on the head here. this is one of the better pales i've had. not a particularly complex style, or beer, but it's good in every way and almost perfectly balanced with the hops and malt. 6/10-had the "Left Hand" unfiltered version of this beer which ups the aroma and flavor just a smidge, and noticeably improved the feel. nice brew!

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 10

MMMM another good Marin brewing company beer. I am really falling for this brewery. Pours with a thick white head that lasts forever. Has a cloudy brown hue. Mouthfeel is super smooth and flavor is full of hoppy goodness and strong malts with little to no bitterness.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

With beers like this, it's quickly becoming a dead-heat, in my own little race for The Best Unknown American Craft Brewery (West Coast Division). For while Marin Brewing has garnered a ton of awards over the years -- many for this very same Pale Ale -- they're never mentioned in the same breath as Stone, Victory, Three Floyds, Dogfish Head, etc. Which is shame, since both Marin and Moylan's (who happen to share the same bottling line/equipment) almost never put out anything that I don't fully enjoy.

The Mt Tam Pale Ale is no exception. Nice firm lacing around the entire rim of the glass, with a dime-thin layer of foam that lasts and lasts. Interestingly subdued aroma, that I might fault in other Pale Ales, but seems to work well with this one. For the lack of agressive nose mearly makes the flavor profile that much more distinctive. Kinda like listening to music on your stereo, and increasing the volume during that 2-3 second silent gap between songs.

Malty for a Pale Ale, but not so much as to take away from the inherently nice and hoppy front and finish. Dances on the tongue, before moving on. Very satisfying mouthfeel, and very good drinkablity.

I tend to go for extremes in beer -- mega hoppy, huge malt, big-ass alcohol..., or the other extreme, with light Session Ales and Hefeweizens. But when it comes to going right down the middle, it's beers like Mt Tam Pale Ale that I can see picking up on a routine basis. Recommended.
//TB

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Orange gold color. Medium white foamy head. Aroma is floral hops and sweet malts. A medium bodied American Pale Ale. Malts are fruity and sweet. Fairly strong hop signature. Hops are floral, piney and grapefruity. Nicely balanced, Smooth tasting. Nice APA and not one in the typical APA mold, the hops are much more aggressive and the malts are not as prevalent. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours with a copper body topped by a thick head with a good amount of lacing. The aroma is slightly sweet yet bitter and hoppy with nice grapefruit notes and a little tin note. The flavor is bitter and hoppy with pine notes, grapefruity undertones and a touch of sweet malt. Medium bodied, slightly dry and smooth.