Bridge Brewing Company North Shore American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV (C$5.80 at Liquor Crossing Red Deer, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 24-Aug-2016, reviewed 25-Aug-2016)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: earth and pine, caramel malt, citrus, stone fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)
Decent if fairly unremarkable Pale. Not as bright as I like APAs to be, but it’s hard to know whether that’s just age dulling the hops, because – you guessed it – THEY DON’T DATE THEIR FUCKING BOTTLES. The only one of theirs I’ve been really impressed with was their Sleigh Booster Imperial Red, which at 9% is by its nature fairly impervious to the ravages of time. People – at least put a bottling date on there. Get a government grant and give a job to someone of limited capacity, give ‘em a Sharpie or a stamp, and turn ‘em loose. It’s really not rocket surgery. Good, not great, maybe better if fresh, I dunno. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
