Troubled Monk Brewery Pesky Pig American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$2.33 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, bottle date 6-Jul-2016, acquired 19-Jul-2016, reviewed 23-Jul-2016)
Appearance: clear pale gold with two fingers of loose ivory head, moderate retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pithy grapefruit, pine, crackery pale malt, grass, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderately bitter finish. (4/5)
Dunno what that monk’s got to be troubled about: he’s got a beer in each hand, and he’s riding a pig – what’s not to enjoy? As for what’s inside the can, well, pretty much the same phrase applies: what’s not to enjoy? Nice hoppy nose, decent bitterness, and a pleasantly light and crisp body make this quite an enjoyable APA, as long as you drink it fairly quickly: the citrus and pine do fade, leaving behind the grassiness and an almost lager-y character. Luckily, there’s no reason not to drink it at a reasonably quick pace, so, no harm, no foul. (And I’m utterly thrilled to see another craft brewery in Red Deer. The current proliferation of small craft brewers makes me happy.) (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
