The Grouch
Northern Ales & Grocery

12oz can purchased at Williams Seafood in Spokane for $1.49. No freshness date. Should I be concerned this is a lager made by a brewery called Northern Ales?

Poured into Budge Bros. nonic pint glass, this was an initially clear, then chill-hazed liquid that was the color of lemonade. What head there was began dropping almost immediately, leaving a very thin, bone-white foam rim. There was no lace at all.

Vaguely corny and sweet in the aroma department, but mostly smelled like a whole lot of nothing.

The taste was reminiscent of vegetable oil, with a weird, not altogether chemical-like thing in the background. Nothing here tastes particularly strong – it’s pretty bland, really – but what there is isn’t good. As it warmed, the yarf-indicing portion of the taste swelled up considerably, and this became my first drain pour in quite a while.

Light bodied, with a watery mouthfeel.

The name was ironically chosen, as it converted me from someone looking forward to beer o’clock into a grouch. Not much going on, and what there is would be well worth avoiding. At best, it could work for something to shotgun at high speed before it warms up enough to taste, but that’s not really something I look for in a beer. It’s been a while since I took a chance on Northern Ales. Sadly, I bought a bottle of their scotch ale at the same time, so I’ve another of their beers to look forward to.

Poured by the brewer @ Huck's. No bottle date.

Light straw with some white foam and brilliant clarity. Smells like a Coors - simple, light corny with straw and alcohol (which shouldn't be noticeable). Flavor is of oxidized malts - cardboard and grass and straw and newspaper like finish. medium bodied with low carb for the style. I did not enjoy this.