I’m so serious about this beer that I waited until after April Fools to publish it.  

Pale ales these days tend to be a bit thin and underwhelming. It’s not the beer’s fault. It’s our fault. The mystic lupulin threshold shift and the consistent practice of palette abuse has left us a little desensitized. But then along came this gem.  

I love this beer.  

It pours a bit hazy, which is interesting and not expected. Although I see there is wheat in the grist so that makes sense. The aroma though,  is an immediate surprise. An intricate mix of tropical fruit and pineapple but over a solid layer of citrus, resin and dare I say, dankness. As the temperature increases slightly, some passionfruit joins in. I had to relook at the can to make sure I had read it correctly. It smells like someone expertly blended a New England IPA and a West Coast IPA. Kinda looks like too. 

There is a lot going on here and I haven’t even tasted it yet. Ok, there is some light, grainy supportive malt, which is spot on, and some wheat sharpness that pushes it to the upper end of refreshing. Still, the hops continue to dominate. Bitterness is spot on, not too aggressive, but reminds us of what we are drinking. The body is medium-low. It’s like a thinner IPA, combining characters from both coasts. 

Overall, this is balanced, complex, flavourful, refreshing and unique. This beer is equally comfortable in the dark corner of a pub on a rainy day as it is providing recovery from a hot afternoon of mowing the lawn. 

This beer will match well with a variety of foods, but I do feel that it wants cheese. Clothbound cheddar, double Gloucester, Gruyère or Jura  Montagne would all match nicely. 

Town Brewery