Phillips Brewing Company Short Wave West Coast Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV (C$2.95 at Sundance Wine Market, 650 ml, best before 7-Nov-2015)
Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pale malt, light citrus and pine. (6/10) Taste: mild to moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, short duration clean finish. (3/5)
Not an unpleasant APA, but it tends a bit to the watery – which puts it in some pretty awkward territory. I mean, APA is already a pretty questionable style: it’s got most of the IPA characteristics, but should be lighter in flavour, and arguably more sessionable. Well, at 5.2%, this thing is hardly light or sessionable (For most people. Yes, I can session 5.2, that’s neither here nor there.) yet it’s got a watery body and a mild flavour. Why would I not drink a full-on IPA, with a fuller body and fuller flavour, at the same ABV? Don’t get me wrong, this is a pleasant pint, but that’s all it is. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
