Alley Kat Brewing Co. Alley Jane Hemp Ale American Pale Ale at 5.0% ABV | 41 IBU (C$7.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, best before 16-Jan-2019, acquired 7-Sep-2018, reviewed 12-Sep-2018)
Appearance: bright clear pale gold with one fat finger of loose white head, excellent retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: toasted malt, biscuity and grainy caramel, dank resiny pine, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering building bitter finish. (3/5)
“Alley Jane”, huh? Could be worse, I suppose, it could be “Smaragdine Dragon”. (Yes, it is so a word – look it up. Although, now that I think about it, that’s a good one, considering it means “emerald”, and could be considered reminiscent of that most famous of dragons, Smaug. Alley Kat, if you actually use *this* colour name, I want a case of the first ones off the line couriered to my house. I didn’t get paid for “Periwinkle”!) And no, despite the name, no THC in this. (I rather suspect that’ll be a long time coming, actually, if ever… unless I brew my own…) Definitely toasty and “lager-y” as described on their web site, although with a little less dank you-know-what-ishness than the name might suggest. It’s there, but takes a bit of a back seat to the toasty notes. Decent enough, I suppose. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
