Drake's 1500 Pale Ala

Brewer - Drake's - San Leandro, CA
Style - American Pale Ale
Alcohol By Volume (ABV) - 5.2% (12oz bottle)

At first glance:
"A Pint A Day Keeps Scurvy Away" Sounds like something I needed to check out, so I did. Dark bottle, couldn't gauge the color.

At first nose:
Hoppy, sweet & aromatic. Upon my pour, it showcased a beautiful medium-darkness orangey-red pale ale hue.

At first taste:
It did say it'd be smooth on the bottle, and at 5.2%, I should've known it would be light. The flavor is still good, but not as robust as I would've liked.

Aftertaste:
My tongue is happy, with just a small but of sweetness. Just what to expect from a very light pale ale.

Upon further inspection:
Nothing special. I don't think I'd buy this again, but it was worth the try. Drake's says that since this style was so well recepted, that they continued with the "special recipe" (my bottle was from their first run of the 1500 series, now they have a different label). I guess people wanted something softer, not me.

Other Notes:
Not about the brew: Sorry this has been the first post in far, far too long. I must get back into this with more effort.

Drifter Pale Ale

Brewer - WIDMER BROTHERS BREWING COMPANY
Style - Pale Ale
Alcohol By Volume (ABV) - 5.7% (12oz bottle)

At first glance:
Another brew from the Widmer Bros. team, I already like their Hefeweizen, so this was naturally one to try.

At first nose:
This pale ale has got a rather sweet scent to it, almost fruity like say; with the intensity of a Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat (look for that review to come), but no, not cherry, more of a citrus feel.

At first taste:
A gentle bitter, nothing too harsh on the palette, could easily be your first beer of the night and you'd hardly wince at it. As far as a pale ale, it's on the lighter side of bitter. The citrus tones carry over nicely. I could see having one or four of these with a nice Lemon Salmon dinner.

Aftertaste:
Nothing to write home to mom about, it's light, fruity and not a bit unpleasant.

Upon further inspection:
With a generous ABV, you will definitely get what you pay for; after all, we are in a recession. A few of these will rosy up your cheeks, and you won't have the ability to be upset.

Other Notes:
My bottle cap said something underneath, but I could hardly read it. I want to say "A PROST - To Sleeping In!" If so, I say HUZZAH!

Thanks be to Saul, for his generous donation.