Eddy Line Pale Ale
The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company

 

 

On-tap at Grizzly Paw Brewpub, in Canmore.

Its light amber colour is enhanced by shiny brassy complexion; its clarity remains perfectly intact although appreciating it can be hard with all the glare caused by holding it up against the light. There's rare sign of any bubbles and, correspondingly, there's scarcely a presence of any head (the exception being the mysterious gangling strings of lace).

Not sure if it's a story or non-story, but this beer is hoppy. Of course that's what I'd expect from an American style pale ale, but this brewery typically produces very middling, mainstream offerings. I guess they decided to shake things up for the summer seasonal. And I couldn't be any happier they did; I wasn't expecting something so characterful.

But full of character it is: bitter, pithy, fruity, piny hops saturate the aroma with a potency equal to that of raw onions and piquancy not unlike that of chili flakes. The scent of grapefruit is accompanied by that of toasty pale malts which carry with them a sort of caramelly sweetness. It's music to my ears, err I mean, nose.

And the taste plays right on key, too. Tinted with that markedly 'green' hoppiness, it showcases a modest (but definitive) amount of toffee-like maltiness and a (fat Italian aunt sized) kiss of grapefruit. The bitterness is assertive as its hoping is more than ample. If anything, actually, it could of used just a little more maltiness (for more body).

Compared to the other beers on offer at the Grizzly Paw Brewpub, Eddy Line Pale was a clear standout. Relatively speaking, it had a ton of character, a ton of hoppiness and was, unlike most their regular offerings, a noteworthy beer that easily tempted thoughts of a second, and probably third pint. If I were running the show in Canmore my first order of business would be to promote Eddy Line to a year-round spot on the team.