Sequoia Moto Brew

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

My first beer review, of a beer from oh-so scenic Fresno CA....!

Okay, maybe I'm being something of a smart-ass here. Okay, okay -- I am indeed being a full-on smart-ass! I just couldn't resist poking fun at a city that used to be a mecca for me -- that is, compared to the likes of Hanford and Visalia! (Fresno's a fine town -- please hold off on the hate mail!)

Anyway, so what's up with this beer? Well, it's not bad, but really rather plain and "done-to-death". There's very little that I haven't found in any number of other American Pale Ales..., brewpubs, bottled, keg, or whatever.

I'm fighting a very low-grade Summer cold, so I'll give the aroma score the benefit of the doubt. But otherwise? Even my slightly impaired sense of taste can easily tell that this isn't really nothing special at all. A better flair in the malt department than in the hops, which of course is a rather important part of this stort of beer.

But there's something weird going in with the mouthfeel and the finish of this beer. Almost a mouthwash aftertaste -- Mint Listerine? Or is that freshly cut parsley? Either way, rather odd.

Finishable, true -- and wholly forgettable, too.

Music: Overkill's "The Years Of Decay"
//TB [Bottled product contract brewed and bottled by Coast Range, of Gilroy CA. Maybe their brewpub's draught offering is better, but have doubts...]

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

This pale ale pours a light amber color from a 12oz bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is malt, grain and some fruit. A medium bodied American Pale Ale. Malts are caramel and fruity but there is a lot of grassy and graininess to the malts. Hops are mild, slightly bitter and a touch citrusy. Taste more like a pale lager than a APA. Crisp finish a touch harsh. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is very crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

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

Pours with an orange amber body topped by a medium thick head with some lacing. It’s slightly sweet and malty with a touch of caramel and a citrus hop note and a slight touch of pine. Medium bodied, smooth and a touch dry.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 3

Medium amber-golden in color with average carbonation and a hard time building a short-lived head. Decent lace left, however. Aroma is pretty light, but reminds me more of an amber lager than an ale. Mouthfeel is pretty average, but on the thin side, and still reminds me of a lager. Flavor is kinda light and flat....just not very interesting to me. If this is how this beer is supposed to be, I cannot recommend this one...I hope I just got a bad bottle...flat, thin, a little watery and lager-like are not good attributes for a Pale Ale.