New Level Brewing Power Wolf Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 6% ABV | 70 IBU (C$4.19 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 16-Jul-2019, reviewed 27-Jul-2019)
Appearance: clear medium amber with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, resiny pine, citrus, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, building and lingering bitter finish. (3/5)
The brewer web site says “Someone told us that this should be labelled a session IPA. But, a session IPA is just a Pale Ale right?” which I find a bit puzzling. I mean, traditionally, I wouldn’t expect 6% to be classified as all that “sessionable” – hell, by Canadian labelling standards it’s considered “Strong Beer” – so I dunno why they don’t just flat-out call it an IPA, especially given the big bitterness. (I mean, yes, I could probably session it, but I’m a bit of a booze hound. Oh, well, nobody asked me…) Regardless of whether you call this an APA, ISA, or IPA, it’s a bit emphatic, with a distinctly old-fashioned malt dominance leading the way over a building and lingering bitterness. It’s OK, I guess, but not much better than that, and is hardly blazing new trails. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
