As the first beer in our Full Sail Brewmaster Reserve Round Up we popped open Hop Pursuit, described as an extra pale ale with a medium malt body with a ton of hop flavor and a zing of bitterness. It has Cascade, Willamette and Mt. Hood hops – “old school craft brewing hops” in Full Sail’s words – with two weeks of dry hopping.

Hop Pursuit pours an orange gold color with a bit of a thin white head. The aroma is citrus hops and a bit of hop resin. In the initial taste, I got a light hop flavor and strong bitterness transitioning to a citrus (orange?) and piney hop flavor. There is a bitter crisp finish with a medium mouthfeel and a medium malt backbone present throughout.  It checks in at 6% abv and 55 IBUs. I found that it mellows into a pleasant, crisp beer with a nicely bitter finish as it warms.

Name: Hop Pursuit Extra Pale Ale
Brewery: Full Sail Brewing Co., Hood River, OR.
Style: Extra Pale Ale.
Color: Orange gold with a white head.
Packaging: draft and 22oz bottles.
Stats: 6% abv, 55 IBU.
Bought: Worden’s Market, Missoula.
Ruling: Three and a half out of Five Hops. Nice, crisp, hop featured brew.