Family Pale Ale Style American Pale Ale
Country USA (OR) ABV 5.0%
Price $$ Packaging 12oz/355ml bottle
Characteristics Hoppy, refreshing

Overview Most craft breweries that make it to a near-national scale have a beer whose reputation precedes them into new states—Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale, New Belgium’s Fat Tire. In Deschutes’ case, Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale seem to be filling that role.

Flavors and aromas Mirror Pond has the typical citrusy character that comes from the use of the Cascade variety of hops, but it also has pleasantly grassy and floral notes, which we suspect are the result of adding hops after fermentation (dry-hopping). The beer is light-bodied, with a focus on hop bitterness and a background of pale and caramel malt. This is a well-balanced, easy introduction to the world of American pale ales.