Wayne Gretzky Craft Brewing No. 99 Pale Ale – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$3.40 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 23-Jul-2020, reviewed 24-Jul-2020)
Appearance: slightly hazy deep gold with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry crisp finish. (4/5)
I had zero expectations here, but it’s actually a pleasant little Pale, crisp and refreshing with a decently bitter finish. I was never much of a Gretzky fan (though I acknowledge his record) but I’m certainly not foolish enough to assume that excellence in one area necessarily translates to excellence in another. That certainly the case here: it’s not bad, but it’s a long way from great, and in my opinion actually falls slightly short of world-class. Good, not great, and not something you need to make a special effort to find. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
