Microbrasserie Les Trois Mousquetaires Pale Ale Américaine – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV | 42 IBU (C$4.27 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Apr-2021, acquired 10-Jun-2021, reviewed 14-Jun-2021)
Appearance: slightly hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: biscuity malt, grass, floral, citrus, light pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly spicy finish. (3/5)
I’m of two minds about this one: although it’s quite well-done as an old-school (verging on old-fashioned) example of the style, the label description would seem to be more appropriate to a completely different beer: “Bière ambrée caractérisée par l’apport aromatique des houblons du terroir de l’ouest américain.” Well… first and foremost, it’s not amber, but straw. And secondly, the hopping aroma is not particularly representative of what I would consider West Coast: despite the fact that it’s hopped with Columbus, Centennial, Cascade, and Amarillo, for me the dominant hop character is grassy and floral, followed by some citrus and very faint pine. On the tongue, I appreciate the no-nonsense sharp bitterness and the slightly spicy hop burn finish, but again the absence of an emphatic resiny pine puts it at odds with its stated style profile. Bottom line, it’s good, but no better than that. (14/20)
7/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze
