Wild Rose Brewery AF23 Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV | 45 IBU (C$7.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, bottle date 15-Sep-2016, acquired 18-Sep-2016, reviewed 21-Sep-2016)
Appearance: clear medium gold with one finger of rocky white head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bright pithy citrus, vinous, biscuity pale malt, tropical and stone fruit, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body tending slightly watery, moderate carbonation, short mildly bitter finish. (3/5)
This starts off quite promising, with bright fruity hop aromas dominating upon decapping. The flavours don’t quite deliver on that, though, and the body tends slightly to the watery. This remains the case through the entire pint: the aromas stay bright and promising, but it stays just a little light on the tongue. Ultimately, it sort of comes across as a somewhat watered-down IPA (albeit a really good IPA). The APA style has always struck me as being a bit of a challenge, and this beer definitely characterizes that. I enjoyed it, but kept feeling it could have been better. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
