Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Naughty Neighbour American Pale Ale at 4.9% ABV | 39 IBU (C$4.49 at Oak & Vine, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 31-Jul-2017, reviewed 31-Jul-2017)_
Appearance: hazy deep gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, resiny pine, caramel, hint of green onion. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly watery, moderate carbonation, dry slightly astringent finish. (3/5)
Not terrible, by any means, but it falls prey to some of the common failures of APA/Session Ales: given the lower malt bill, the body tends slightly watery, and the hop bitterness gives way fairly rapidly to a slightly astringent finish reminiscent of citrus oils. Then there’s that little hint of green onion, all too common among some of the starts-with-C hop varietals. Doesn’t smell as good as it looks, doesn’t taste as good as it smells, and doesn’t finish as good as it tastes. (If I were the type of person to take cheap shots, I might make a comparison between a good-looking beer with questionable taste, and the “neighbours” to whom the name refers… Good thing I’m not that type of person, right?) (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
