beer_name: Nor'Cal
text: This beer, called a "bitter" on the menu and 4.8% ABV, really seems to be an American Pale Ale. Regardless, it is rather thin, one-dimensional, and out of balance. I had it at Bear Republic on 3 May 09. Amber, it has a medium off-white head, crweamy and slowly shrinking to a ring and wisps, leaving some nice lace. The aroma is toasted grain, grapefruit, and a little lemon. The taste is bitter grapefruit up front and all the way through the finish and lingering bitter aftertaste. It has a little toasted grain and hint of raisin, with the faintest hint of pine needle in the finish, but otherwise is just grapefruit. It is far too bitter for the thin, characterless, watery malt, with almost no sweetness or flavour to balance the bitterness, which lingers. Although not bitter in an absolute sense, this is one beer that is far too bitter relative to the rest of its elements and is totally unbalanced. It is a bit reminiscent of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but the latter is a little better when on tap, fuller in feel and flavour.