The Mountain Strong Pale Ale
Akasha Brewing Company

Surprisingly I haven't reviewed an Akasha beer yet, though I have tried their Hopsmith IPA and was most pleased by said beer, so my first official foray into Akasha’s brews will be a seasonal release: The Mountain Strong Pale Ale. This is a 6.2% ABV American Pale Ale that isn’t quite an IPA, but it could be with that percentage (in fact I think I’ve had a couple IPAs under 6.2% now). Main take home though is: this is a big hoppy Pale Ale that Doc will like [aww, thanks Akasha, pour moi?]. Hop bill includes classic West Coast hops such as: Simcoe, Amarillo and Centennial, a great hop bill, and knowing what I know about Akasha (via Hopsmith) that should translate to Bearing Immense Gusto in the flavour department.

Poured from a 375ml can into a nonic pint.

A: Slight hazed golden body that greets you like a friendly sun rise, meaty 1 inch off-white that drops back leaving some impressive lattice-work lace inside the glass, this is a classic-looking American Pale Ale to be sure. 8/10.

S: That classic West Coast one-two of piney/orange hops smacks you in the face like a fresh IPA, Akasha did good here! Hints of earthy/dry cracker and biscuit malts provide a solid base from which to launch a hop onslaught. For an up-and-up American Pale Ale this is pretty damn BIG aroma. 9/10.

T: Earthy character upfront leads into those aforementioned piney/orange hops, dry cracker and biscuit malt centre, and a long dry finish that ends with a solid grassy hop medium bitterness. There’s a decent amount of finesse in the balance between malt/hops that some of the best US brewers find. Yes, this is everything I was expecting from these exceptional hopsmiths at Akasha – a no-nonsense classic West Coast Pale in IPA’s clothing, nice. 9/10.

M: Mouthfeel could use a bit more heft, it’s not far off though – I’m really just nitpicking here, but when a beer is this good the small flaws stand out more. Body is almost medium with a dense and slightly thin carbonation. 7/10.

D: I did say “classic” a bit in this review [5 times including that last one… add in the rest of the review and that brings the total to: 14 – wow, I did well there], however it’s difficult to articulate it any other way: this is a classic West Coast APA, it’s like that first time you cracked open a Stone IPA: classic, or that time you first tried Ballast Point Big Eye: classic, in fact I can’t think of anything else to say but: classic, classic, classic classic. Classic Doc! 8/10.

Food match: A classic match for this would be pizza, good pizza – not Domino’s et al.