Classic Pale Ale
Whistler Brewing Company

Classic Pale AleClassic Pale Ale
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From:
Whistler Brewing Company
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
English Pale Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
78
Avg:
3.28 | pDev: 16.77%
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
35
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 21, 2016
Added:
Aug 02, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BDTyre:
Photo of BDTyre
Reviewed by BDTyre from Canada (BC)

3.75/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From notes taken in May.

Whistler Brewing Co. is closed...long live Whistler Brewing. Whistler Brewing, est. 1989 closed sometime ago but has now supposedly been revived by a BC businessman. For a time, WBC was owned by Big Rock, but was sold off to Bruce Dean in October 2005. The bottle lists a Whistler/Vancouver postal code (but no address or phone number) and the website is just a front page with non-working links and it suggests returning after May 15/06. (The site finally started working sometime in July!) Googling Whistler Brewing resulted in the prior information, plus the intersting tidbit that although the claim on the bottle of being brewed exclusively with Whistler glacier water is true, the beer itself is brewed in Kamloops (that’s about a six hour drive). This means that Dean and his associates are still using the facilities that Big Rock used for WBC before shutting down production, although a Whistler based brewery is in the works.

This beer pours like a pale ale should: a nice light copper with a thick, white head. Smells is predominantly British malts, with a bit of hops. Hints of nuts, fresh bread and toffee.

Taste is decent pale ale. Mostly malt, a bit of hops. Doughy, slightly acidic and sour but not bad. Nothing spectacular, but one of the better BC brews I’ve tried. A little bit fizzy on the mouth, but overall very drinkable. i should have spent the extra money and bought a six pack. I look forward to trying their Export Lager.
Aug 02, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by boszormeny from Canada (ON)

Apr 21, 2016
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

3.44/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
On draft at Monk’s, YVR.
Rich chestnut with creamy off white head. 3.75
Malty candy apple nose. 3.5
Toffee shell with a touch of autumn leaf and vague leafy hops. 3.25
Almost medium, clingy, round. 3.75

Even allowing that this might be an English pale ale, there’s not much going on here. Under strength in every sense and not even interesting enough to session. Lame. 3.5
Jan 28, 2015
Photo of doktorhops
Reviewed by doktorhops from Australia

2.25/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Whistler is apparently a beautiful place to visit and break your leg skiing, or so I've been led to believe. So I purchased a bottle of this supposedly pure distinctive ale [according to the label] which I will now drink, hopefully without breaking my leg.

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a nonic pint.

A: This is not a pale pale ale, it's more of a deep copper ale, which doesn't sound as catchy as 'pale ale' but is more befitting IMO. Also note; there is a thin white lacing on top.

S: Has a distinct Vegemite aroma, perhaps a means to get Aussie ex-pats into it. This aside there are notes of burnt caramel, rye, earthy hops and yeast. Not really pale ale stuff again, more like an English dark ale or a brown ale.

T: Amazingly bland compared to the aroma. Tastes like a soda-stream soft drink before you mix the flavour with the soda water, then it hits you with an additive flavour of burnt caramel, rye, earthy hops and yeast. Finishes as boring as it began with a tapered hop bitterness and a long dry taste. Not impressed by this at all.

M: Light bodied, watery with a hyperactive carbonation taking into consideration the last two items.

D: I hope you can see where I'm going with this review, a pale ale that isn't a pale ale, tastes like an awful soft drink, gassy and most importantly: lacking in coherent flavour. This beer is one reason not to go to Whistler, though my guess is that the Export Rule applies with this brew [the Export Rule being that countries always export their shitest beers , QED: Fosters for Australia] so I imagine their are some really good brews hiding over there. Damn you Export Rule!

Food match: Pour this beer down the sink and drink water with your meal, no joke.
Feb 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Cidius from Canada (AB)

Oct 16, 2013
Photo of itomek
Reviewed by itomek from New Hampshire

3.16/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
A: more copper-red than most pales, filtered, clear, 3/4 inch nice head that lasted most of the pint.
S: biscuity, malty, pleasant notes of caramel.
T: like a red ale, not hoppy enough to be called a pale ale in North America! Malt is the emphasis here, sessionable. Slight coppery taste, sweet caramel undertones.
O: hard for me to review, I would say this fits more in the red ale category, and little distinguishes this from a Rikards Red pour. Solid and sessionable, non-offensive, but nothing special compared to the other competition on this category. Would not buy again
Jul 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Lazaro from Florida

Jun 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by petermethot from New Jersey

Jun 26, 2013
Photo of soju6
Reviewed by soju6 from Missouri

3/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Pours a hazy dark copper color with a very small head and no real lacing.

S: Aroma or malt, nuts and a bit of dark fruit.

T: Taste of roasted malt, bit of toffee and nuts. Mild bitterness and a clean finish.

F: Fairly moderate body, smooth but a bit short on flavor.

O: Fairly bland non-offensive English Pale Ale.
Jun 01, 2013
Photo of SmashPants
Reviewed by SmashPants from Australia

2.01/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Bottle: Decent old-school bottle, cool 'Canadian' label. Clear bottle is a bit of a worry though - hope it lasted the trip over from Canada to Australia...

Appearance: Pours a clear copper orange, 2-finger tan head that fades to a light film on the top of the beer. Decent lacing.

Smell: Smell is of malt, wheat germ, and cereal grains. Pungent and somewhat unpleasant.

Taste:  Taste is horrendous, with an acidic, astringent metallic taste. Poured most of it out. I have the impression that it may have suffered from a bit of light strike on the journey over.

Aftertaste: Better, primarily because it diminished quickly. Some malt in the aftertaste, but not enough to salvage this awful beer.

Mouthfeel: the mouthfeel was reasonable - decent carbonation, but not soda-pop style.

Overall: Pretty nasty, funky malts. I will have to try this one again - I think it may have been affected by light strike on the way over from Canada. Not sure it would be worth AU$70 a case anyway.
Jun 24, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by creez from California

Mar 20, 2012
 
Rated: 2 by shagal from Canada (AB)

Jan 26, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by cdwil from Texas

Dec 29, 2011
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

2.2/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
Part of the Summer Brews pack from Cost Plus World Market.

Pours a clear copper orange with a 1 inch bone colored head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. Nice foamy rings of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, wheat germ, and cereal grains. No other smells whatsoever, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Taste is horrendous with an acidic, astringent, solvent, metallic taste. Some malt pops up in the aftertaste but not enough to salvage this beer. A good level of carbonation with a crisp yet smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this seemed like a promising beer from the look and smell but once I tasted it all bets were off. Drain pour on this one.
Jul 28, 2011
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
330ml bottle.

This beer pours a clear medium amber hue, with a stingy finger of thin foamy off-white head, which fizzes away anon, leaving some spreading, actively dissipating lace around the glass. It smells of biscuity malt, some sour fruitiness, and musty grassy hops. The taste is bready, somewhat caramelized malt, a mild baker's yeastiness, and bitter earthy, weedy hops. The carbonation is moderate, a zing or two, here and there, the body medium-light in weight, and generally smooth. It finishes off-dry, the consistent malt pushed a bit more by some peppy grassy hops.

A good example of a more hoppy English pale ale, even if those hops seem haphazard and muddled. Oh well, the result is a decent enough quaff, the sort better consumed without the burden of analysis, from my humble experience.
Jun 23, 2011
Photo of bagpiper2005
Reviewed by bagpiper2005 from Idaho

3.58/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pour: Clear medium orange-amber in color. Two fingers of white head with decent retention and some small streaks of lacing on the glass. Active carbonation.

Smell: Very biscuity aroma with hints of pale malt and fruitiness. Light hop tang.

Taste: Sweet pale malt front end with a hint of honey. The middle reveals a strong biscuity flavor akin to an Amber Ale. Light citrusy hop bitterness in the back.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with high carbonation, yet there's a certain degree of smoothness as well.

Drinkability/Overall: Good flavors going on here, and very easy and smooth drinking. Very refreshing.

Final Notes: This beer won't knock your socks off but it'll definitely hold its own. Great summertime beer.
May 21, 2011
Photo of Bookseeb
Reviewed by Bookseeb from Washington

3.06/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance has a nice cloudy amber with a thick off white head with light lace. Smell of pale malts, a lite note of dark fruit and spice. Taste is lightly sweet, spicey with a cloying malt earthiness having moderate hops. Mouthfeel is light with a good spike of carbonation. Not all bad of a brew, just one I wouldn't reach for readily.
Aug 29, 2010
Photo of zoolzoo
Reviewed by zoolzoo from Connecticut

3.86/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to a good friend who picked this up for me while rambling around the continent...

A: Modest off white head, hazelnut like color. Pretty good retention, sticky.

S: Earthy notes and spicy, almost Belgian... yeast. The aroma is certainly not offensive, but lacks a strong presence.

T: Sweet and biscuity malts, candi sugar, and once again a perceived Belgian yeast character which took me by surprise. Finishes with grassy/bitter hops, accented by peppery spice. Crisp and refreshing all around.

M: Slightly chewy with ample carbonation. Smooth.

D: Drinkability is excellent - pleasing flavors, refreshing, only 5%!
Aug 12, 2010
Photo of donniecuffs
Reviewed by donniecuffs from New Jersey

2.53/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Had this on tap at The Keg, on a recent business trip to Vancouver. Poured copper with literally zero head into a pint glass. Possible soap residue issue? Well, maybe, but given the fact that my two buddies' pints of other beers both had nice heads (that lasted), it was not a good first impression. Literally no aroma aside from basic biscuit, but this was likely compounded by the lack of head. The taste was only modestly better, with only an additional hint of nuttiness to speak of. The texture was very thin, but obviously sessionable. Maybe I'll give this a second try on my next trip.
Jul 13, 2010
Photo of RJLarse
Reviewed by RJLarse from Washington

3.48/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
I bought a six-pack of Whistler Classic Pale Ale in a grocery store. Poured in to a pint glass.

Pours a nut brown/bronze color and is clear. A moderate foamy whit head tops the brew, and leaves some dainty lace on the glass.

Smell is an earthy scent, with some moss and vinegar notes. It;s a little bit acerbic and sharp.

Taste is a malt flavor with a peat flavor, and an acidic bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is light and clean. No cloying nature at all.

A drinkable beer, and very much in keeping with the English style pale ale. If you like the English style give this a try.
May 24, 2010
Classic Pale Ale from Whistler Brewing Company
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 35 ratings