Pale Ale
Church-Key Brewing Company

So apparently this is actually another name for the Church Key West Coast IPA. I'm reviewing it under the 'Pale Ale' listing because that's what they called it at the brewery, but perhaps these listings should be combined?

Also, I think they've changed the recipe from what was served up at Volo Cask Days, since my experience with it differed significantly from the reviews below.

I had this on tap from the brewery this weekend, at some little environmental festival that was going on outside. I thought it was a really, really good example of an American Pale Ale, the best I've had this side of the border (by far). WAY outdoes the Durham Hop Addict sampled a couple days earlier.

Terrific grapefruit and pine aromas and flavours, definitely heavy on the hops but not abrasive or unpleasant in any way. Nicely restrained aftertaste, good oily mouthfeel... hard to believe some of the earlier reviews refer to the same beer (and maybe they don't!).

This strongly reminded me of Three Floyds Alpha King, and I was disappointed when told they had no plans to bottle it.

Pours a clear copper, small white head, that goes pretty fast, little bit of lace. Smell is sweet, caramel, some grains, chocolate and a little floral. Taste is grainy, caramel, floral and citrus, pretty weak. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to high carbonation. Not bad, certainly drinkable, but I don't think I'll have again.

Also listed at the VOLO Cask Situation as simply: Church Key 'Pale Ale'. I sampled off tap at Smokeless Joe's under the title: 'Church Key INDIA Pale Ale'...
A glossy (looks iced over) appereance. No real head, but a small, floating bit of bubbles, looks like spit actually. First impression is a refreshing bit of amber malt in the front. Aroma is still nill (probably served a little too cold). I wasn't all too happy once it warmed though, the aroma that would finally present itself was stale and weak. None too inviting. The malt became increasingly carboardy. This isn't much of an IPA - not British style, not new age style - this isn't really too distant from macro IPA excuses. Maybe under another name I could be more lenient, but this has no hops what so ever, and the malt couldn't do much to cover for that. Also, a very grainy finish which was neither much pleasant.

Light orangish amber colour and pretty clear. No foam was present from the pour. The aroma was quite sweet with an orange/floral hop component. Mild bitterness, but with strong floral hops and malt sweetness. Mild citrus hops too. A little harshness in the finish. The body was a little too full, making it feel heavy and a little dead due to the low carbonation on cask. I'd give it another try on tap, just to see if it didn't translate that well to cask.

Had on cask and that's my review, light body, way too much hop. Was not as tasty on tap:
Orangey with a little head. Fresh new beer, at C'est What pre-Festival. Chinook-hop aroma, does not stand up in taste. Too bitter and a tad metallic, Thin mouthfeel, weak body. Needs balance,i.e. malt. a hop addict's dose. .