Hi-T Pale Ale
4th Meridian Brewing Co.

8oz glass at Beer Revolution YEG Oliver Square. Version #2 of Hi-T, in that this is not the original brown ale. A little bit of research (by that, I mean Google-fu) always helps, eh?

This beer appears a clear, medium copper amber colour, with one slim finger of puffy, finely foamy, and somewhat bubbly eggshell white head, which leaves some imminently approaching storm system lace around the glass as it quickly abates.

It smells of gritty and grainy cereal malt, muddled domestic citrus rind, a hint of musty yeastiness, some damp minerality, and plain earthy, herbal, and floral green hop bitters. The taste is bready and grainy caramel malt, still blended generic citrus notes, some ethereal toastiness, a few dead yeast cells, and more bland weedy, musty, and musky floral hoppiness.

The carbonation is fairly benign in its complacent frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and generally smooth, with just a wee clamminess making a minor fuss here. It finishes off-dry, the malt lamely limping out the side door.

Overall - while this is leagues better than the last offering that I suffered through from these guys, it is still afflicted with a certain ennui that puts it near the back of the pack in terms of Alberta-made pale ales.