Beer of the Weekend #223: 483 Pale Ale
It is time for another “drinking to my health” mid-week sampling. However, it’s not like I haven’t already drank enough for my health tonight. I enjoyed two John’s Generations White Ale’s at The Hideaway with Mervgotti.
On a side note, The Hideaway’s Portobello sandwich took a turn for the better recently. It was bland as hell the first time I ate it a couple months back — a whole mushroom, piece of lettuce, and two buns — but someone rescued it from Patheticville. Here’s the description from the online menu: “Marinated grilled portabella mushrooms topped with mixed greens, a balsamic reduction and roasted red pepper aioli. Served on a French roll and garnished with tomato and red onion.” Fuck yeah!
Tonight’s beer is another indigenous Iowa beer: 483 Pale Ale, brewed by the Great River Brewery of Davenport, Iowa.
According to the Great River website, the brewery started in Iowa City as a brewpub and moved its operation to Davenport in 2008. Though the history page does not specify, I am sure Great River was affiliated with the Old Capitol Brew Works & Public House. In fact, not only is Old Capitol listed on the can alongside Great River as the brewer, I saw posters for 483PA on the door of the bar when I walked past it tonight.
Serving type: One 16-ounce can. No freshness date on the can.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass (not straight this time). The color is a clean, clear, light copper. Two fingers of eggshell colored head dissipated quickly to leave a bubbly and spotted lacing and then a foamy ring around the edge.
Smell: I can smell the grapefruit citrus from an arm’s length away. Sure enough, the first whiff is an invigorating bouquet of grapefruit and lemon citrus laced with bitter hoppiness. The aroma dominates, but leaves room for a little toffee and caramel.
Taste: The flavor follows with a hoppy bite, which is not at full strength until the aftertaste. The taste mostly mirrors the smell: grapefruit and lemon citrus, bitter hoppiness, and toffee and caramel malts, which probably keep the beer from turning into an IPA. It is hoppy, but not full-force, Portland, bitter beer face hoppy. It just has an aggressive bite, which is much appreciated and surprising for a native Iowa brew.
Drinkability: Great River claims 483 Pale Ale is for the hop lover, and I agree. Three cheers for Hawkeye State hoppiness!
Fun facts about 483PA:
-Style: Great River calls it American Style Pale Ale.
-Price: $1.99/can at the New Pioneer Food Co-op on South Van Buren Street in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.4 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends Pan Asian cuisine, earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), nutty cheeses (Asiago, Colby, Parmesan), tangy cheeses (Brick, Edam, Feta), salad, and poultry.
-Color: Great River pegs the SRM at 4.5. Frankly, I was expecting something similar to Miller Lite, but it was much darker than Tasting Beer’s corresponding description of “pale gold.”
-Why 483? According to text on the back of the can, it is “named after our mile marker on the mighty Mississippi.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
On a side note, The Hideaway’s Portobello sandwich took a turn for the better recently. It was bland as hell the first time I ate it a couple months back — a whole mushroom, piece of lettuce, and two buns — but someone rescued it from Patheticville. Here’s the description from the online menu: “Marinated grilled portabella mushrooms topped with mixed greens, a balsamic reduction and roasted red pepper aioli. Served on a French roll and garnished with tomato and red onion.” Fuck yeah!
Tonight’s beer is another indigenous Iowa beer: 483 Pale Ale, brewed by the Great River Brewery of Davenport, Iowa.
According to the Great River website, the brewery started in Iowa City as a brewpub and moved its operation to Davenport in 2008. Though the history page does not specify, I am sure Great River was affiliated with the Old Capitol Brew Works & Public House. In fact, not only is Old Capitol listed on the can alongside Great River as the brewer, I saw posters for 483PA on the door of the bar when I walked past it tonight.
Serving type: One 16-ounce can. No freshness date on the can.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass (not straight this time). The color is a clean, clear, light copper. Two fingers of eggshell colored head dissipated quickly to leave a bubbly and spotted lacing and then a foamy ring around the edge.
Smell: I can smell the grapefruit citrus from an arm’s length away. Sure enough, the first whiff is an invigorating bouquet of grapefruit and lemon citrus laced with bitter hoppiness. The aroma dominates, but leaves room for a little toffee and caramel.
Taste: The flavor follows with a hoppy bite, which is not at full strength until the aftertaste. The taste mostly mirrors the smell: grapefruit and lemon citrus, bitter hoppiness, and toffee and caramel malts, which probably keep the beer from turning into an IPA. It is hoppy, but not full-force, Portland, bitter beer face hoppy. It just has an aggressive bite, which is much appreciated and surprising for a native Iowa brew.
Drinkability: Great River claims 483 Pale Ale is for the hop lover, and I agree. Three cheers for Hawkeye State hoppiness!
Fun facts about 483PA:
-Style: Great River calls it American Style Pale Ale.
-Price: $1.99/can at the New Pioneer Food Co-op on South Van Buren Street in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.4 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends Pan Asian cuisine, earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), nutty cheeses (Asiago, Colby, Parmesan), tangy cheeses (Brick, Edam, Feta), salad, and poultry.
-Color: Great River pegs the SRM at 4.5. Frankly, I was expecting something similar to Miller Lite, but it was much darker than Tasting Beer’s corresponding description of “pale gold.”
-Why 483? According to text on the back of the can, it is “named after our mile marker on the mighty Mississippi.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
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