Category Archives: Ale

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Ale, Review, Would Drink Again

Fresh Hop Full Moon Pale Ale

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I haven’t always been a big fan of Alley Kat brewery. There are definitely some positives. They’re local, and try to source their ingredients locally as much as possible. They make a pretty good effort to keep waste to a minimum. They’re also Edmonton’s longest running Microbrewery, which is a pretty big deal. Another of our author’s here (Blaine, for those paying attention) had a chance to hear Neil Herbst speak at a Beer Geek’s Anonymous event and touched on it in this post. For my money, Alley Kat’s offerings have always tasted a bit too much home brew and not quite enough craft brew.

I’m happy to report that my opinion is changing.

Alley Kat has started producing their Big Bottle series, which are limited runs released in 650mL bottles. The current offering is Fresh Hop Full Moon pale ale, which isn’t to be confused with their Full Moon pale ale. The fresh hops make all the difference.

This ale pours with nice clarity and a good head. The hops are nicely present up front, beginning a bit piney but ending up with a bit of citrus. The flavour leans towards bitter, but not as much as in an IPA. In that sense it might be a nice gateway beer for those interested in exploring the hoppy side of beer.

I think the difference in this beer can be tied right back to the title. Freshness. The fresh hops lend flavour and depth, which make for a much more interesting beer.

I’ll close this post up by telling you that I love this beer. I will gladly drink it again. In a limited edition sense. To combat that, I already have a few more bottles in the fridge.

Ale, IPA, Review, Would Drink Again

Abita Jockamo IPA

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Let me begin with a general note about beer. I came by this beer under the best circumstances possible. It was gifted me by a good friend who brought it back from lands far south of us. The only proper thing to do at that point is to share it, which I didn’t do then so that I could share this with you now.

This is a pretty clean and well balanced IPA. It pours smoothly with very little head,  and the colour is an impressive copper.

I taste both the malt and the hops here, the former presenting with some caramel and coffee leaning towards a roasted flavor while the later lends some spice and a bit of resin. The are some subtle fruit tones that I really appreciate as well. It finished with slight bitterness that I like in an IPA. Again, I need to mention how well balanced this beer is.

I would gladly drink this again, given the opportunity. It’s not often I get my hands on a craft beer from Louisiana up here in Canada.

Ale, Beer, Saison, Would Drink Again

Sorachi Ace–Brooklyn Brewery

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Sorachi Ace is described as a farmhouse ale or saison by its makers, The Brooklyn Brewery. It features and is named for the rare Japanese Sorachi Ace hop. Pour this cloudy gold beer slowly, as it’s rather sudsy. I enjoyed both the hop and the lemon flavor right away. I tasted wheat and a bit of spice through the middle before it finished dry and sweet. Overall a very light, bright beer with a nice range of flavour.

Beyond the uniqueness brought by the sorachi ace hop, I enjoyed the little reminders of two of my other favorite types of beer: Czech pilsners and Belgian ales.

But would I drink it again? Absolutely. In fact, I already have.