Head to Head: Bells Pale Ale vs. Highland St. Terese’s Pale Ale

Welcome to today’s Head to Head challenge.
Style: American Pale Ale. View Table

Beer	Bells Pale Ale	Highland St. Therese’s Pale Ale
Brewer	Bells	Highland
Country	America	America
State (if Applicable)	Michigan	North Carolina

As usual the tasting was done blind and to style.

Appearance: Winner – Tie

Bells – This beer pours golden with a small white head. The head diminishes quickly and leaves almost no lace.

Highland – Virtually the same color and head size as the other beer. It would be hard to tell them apart.

Aroma: Winner – Tie

Bells – The dominate smell is of floral hops with a slight candy sweetness.

Highland – This has more of a grainy hop aroma along with a similar sweetness.

Taste: Winner – Bells

Bells – There is some hop bitterness in the flavor but in general it has a refreshing if bland character.

Highland – This has a slightly odd flavor I could not quite place. It detracted a bit from the grain and malt sweetness of this beer. I kept searching for a trace of bitterness but it never really materialized.

Body/Finish: Winner – Bells

Bells – This had a light body with a dry finish with a trace of bitterness.

Highland – This has a light body with a smooth mouthfeel and almost no bitterness in the aftertaste.

Overall: Winner – Bells
This started out quite even with the Bells Pale Ale pulling out the win towards the end. Both beers had a good appearance and a nice aroma. The bells just had slightly more flavor and a better finish. The Highland seemed to have a slightly odd flavor that I could not place. It did start to taste better as it warmed a bit and was never off putting it simply was a little strange. Both beers were drinkable and refreshing especially for a hot summer day although I am not sure I would seek either out.

~ by alelagerlambic on July 24, 2008.