Santa Barbara White Star XPA

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Another fine beer from the Santa Barbara Brewing Company that I first had at the 2003 San Diego Real Ale Festival a few months back. It made an even stronger impression on me this time, since there wasn't nearly the same quantity of fine beers at the Festival of Beer as what was available a few months ago next to Pizza Port Carlsbad. In fact, I suspect that this was the only example of Real Ale at the entire Festival of Beer, as odd as that might sound.

Minimal carbonation, and a bit lacking in the mouthfeel category. The first fault I can live with (being from a quasi-firkin and all), but it's a kind of a shame about the thin body. I would guess that would be due to the rather haphazard way this was served: pulled off a malfunctioning beer engine into a pitcher, and then pitcher-to-glass. Oh well, no biggie.

Nice flavor, though -- very interesting meshing of the malt and the hops, with neither taking over too strongly. One can tell that this is a less assertive cousin of SBBC's Double Star IPA, since they share many things in common. If I had to chose between the two, I would of course go for the big-ass IPA. But this would surely get Honorable Mention, too.

An enjoyable Pale Ale, even if served under rather arduous conditions!
//TB

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Has the traditonal color of the apricot. Has some decent hoppy notes in the aroma with those following into the body along with some citrus additions, but nothing to speak to highly of.

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

This pale ale pours with an orange-gold body topped by a thick, creamy head with a good amount of lacing. The aroma is slighlty sweet yet bitter and hoppy with a slight grapefruit note and a touch of pine. The flavor is slightly sweet yet bitter and hoppy with piney notes, a touch of fruit and lots of bitterness. Medium bodied, smooth and slightly dry.