Mirror Pond Pale Ale by Deschutes Brewery

Beer specs

Preferred vessel: Pint glass
Color: 13 SRM

Beer details: Rating: 78; Mirror Pond Pale Ale; Brewery: Deschutes Brewery · Bend, OR; Variety: Ale · American Ale · American Pale Ale; Alcohol: ABV 5.00% / ABW 4.00%; Preferred vessel: Pint glass; Color: Red/Brown (American Amber) (13 SRM); Added by Tom Watson

Mirror Pond is just a short walk from the Deschutes Brewery & Public House in downtown Bend and reflects the Three Sisters Mountains. This scenic spot alongside the Deschutes River is the locals’ choice for summer festivals and concerts.

Smooth, Crisp, Fresh, Hoppy, Warming

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Reviews

Review by Brian

Rating: 66

Brian

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Denver, CO

Oct. 31st, 2008 at 10:43 p.m.

Comment:
Dark gold, with a white head. Nice bittering, slight grapefruit hops. Crisp finish. A decent pale. Good balance, nice hop presence. Doesn’t try to be an IPA and doesn’t feel watered down.

Characteristics: crisp grapefruit
Review by JPatrice

Rating: 79

JPatrice

drank this beer from a Bottle

Jan. 13th, 2009 at 4:48 p.m.

Comment:
Mirror Pond has recently replaced my old standby-Black Butte Porter. The sheer volume of flavors helped push it over the edge. A slightly complex beer, perfect for the Spring, or the bowling alley

Characteristics: complex fresh spring
Review by Rob Hudson

Rating: 83

Rob Hudson

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Eugene, OR

Jan. 13th, 2009 at 4:55 p.m.

Comment:
Pretty much the staple at the restaurants where I live. Probably a bit closer to the IPA style than Pale Ale but it comes off smooth and delicious. The cascade hops used give it a nice grapefruity flavor and crispness that is always in season.

Characteristics: grapefruit hoppy
Review by &y

Rating: 97

&y

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Seattle, WA

Jan. 14th, 2009 at 12:48 p.m.

Comment:
The most drinkable American ale I have ever sampled. Nice and hoppy without being bitter, great crisp finish, all in all a tasty everyday beer.

Characteristics: crisp hoppy
Review by Ryan Schroeder

Rating: 66

Ryan Schroeder

drank this beer from a Bottle in Seattle, WA

Jan. 15th, 2009 at 6:26 p.m.

Comment:
Gotta agree with Rob Hudson above that mirror pond gets a bit close to an IPA for me. Still balanced though and very drinkable. I don’t find it very fruity at all.

Characteristics:
Review by Matt Johnson

Rating: 70

Matt Johnson

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Renton, WA

Feb. 1st, 2009 at 8:35 p.m.

Comment:
Good balance of malt and hops. A very refreshing beer with a nice bitter zing at the end. Not a ton of body but also not watered down. Perfect for summer.

Characteristics: chrisp fruity aroma hoppy
Review by elmazz

Rating: 79

elmazz

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Eugene, OR

Feb. 7th, 2009 at 10:45 p.m.

Comment:
A good clean pale. Middle of the road for me.

Characteristics:
Review by woodtemple

Rating: 86

woodtemple

drank this beer from a Bottle in Bonney Lake, WA

Feb. 11th, 2009 at 2:51 a.m.

Comment:
a great overall beer, and it feels more like a pale ale than an IPA to me. I sacrificed two bottles of Mirror pond to a chicken marinade that tasted exactly like the beer, it was amazing. Highly recommended for a lighter pale ale.

Characteristics:
Review by Ben

Rating: 70

Ben

drank this beer from a Bottle in Albuquerque, NM

Feb. 21st, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.

Comment:
Not as hoppy as some IPAs, but a nice bitterness and not rough on the stomach. Definitely more to the IPA than just a regular Pale though.

Warm notes from the malt take the edge off the hoppiness a bit I think. Nicely balanced in that regard.

Characteristics: bitter hoppy warm
Review by Jon Jordan

Rating: 84

Jon Jordan

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Addison, TX

March 9th, 2009 at 8:42 p.m.

Comment:
Bitter but warm, and enjoyable treat year round.

Characteristics: bitter crisp refreshing warm
Review by Steve Lenti

Rating: 75

Steve Lenti

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Pasadena, CA

March 13th, 2009 at 6:11 a.m.

Comment:
Good drinker. Slightly more hoppy then your normal Pale Ale but not overly bitter. A very refreshing beer.

Characteristics: crisp hoppy smooth tasty
Review by Sam Hughes

Rating: 83

Sam Hughes

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Redmond, WA

March 14th, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

Comment:
My beer of choice most places

Characteristics:
Review by Steve Ercolini

Rating: 78

Steve Ercolini

drank this beer from a Bottle in Renton, WA

March 16th, 2009 at 7:07 p.m.

Comment:
I am not a huge fan of Pale Ales, but I very much enjoy this one! Somewhat hoppy with just the right amount of bitterness in my opinion. Nice crisp and clean taste. Easily could down quite a few of these. Another reason Deschutes is my favorite brewery!

Characteristics: clean crisp hoppy
Review by Donleezey

Rating: 89

Donleezey

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Eugene, OR

April 6th, 2009 at 4:48 p.m.

Comment:
One of the best pale ales. Fresh, tasty, balanced, not over hopped. Perfect on hot days to cool down and on cold days to warm up.

Characteristics: balanced fresh hopped smooth
Review by Wren

Rating: 77

Wren

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Santa Monica, CA

April 24th, 2009 at 7:48 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics:
Review by SharaK

Rating: 85

SharaK

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Portland, OR

April 29th, 2009 at 8:45 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics:
Review by Brian Forth

Rating: 75

Brian Forth

drank this beer from a Bottle in Olympia, WA

Aug. 8th, 2009 at 6:26 p.m.

Comment:
A solid lawnmower / session beer. Good balance with citrus like hops. Definitely not trying to be a hoppy IPA in my opinion, just enough.

Characteristics: citrus golden session
Review by Remi

Rating: 78

Remi

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Spokane, WA

Dec. 11th, 2009 at 11:11 a.m.

Comment:
I’m not always into pales, but I do enjoy Mirror Pond. Slightly citric, slightly sweet, and very very drinkable. Definitely one beer geeks, snobs, and beginners alike can join in on.

Characteristics: citrus sweet