Retrospectrum
Cabin Brewing

 

Appearance: Poured with two fingers of head that produced a solid amount of lace for solid duration the head lasted. The body is slightly cloudy pale brass with solid signs of carbonation there. More retention, more lace and maybe a bit more cloudiness I think would win the day here.

Smell: Hoppy, but not to the point of absurdity and citrus is the dominant note, but grass, pine, earth and herbs all make appearances in and out of this party set with a biscuit malt backing. The only issue is the potency isn't quite where I'd want it to be.

Taste: I get the rainbow like branding here, as milder citrus hops start us off with a mild biscuit note before we do a meet and greet with grass, herbs, pine, grapefruit and rounding us off with a small dash of earth. This is a hop boquet, that never creeps up to be overly aggressive which I appreciate.

Mouthfeel: The only complaint I have is the aftertaste very much focuses on the pine resin and earth hops at the end. It never gets out of control, but aren't the people I wanted to get stuck with at the end of the party (preferring more citrus, herb and malt) but it's well restrained. The carbonation is solid and helps out of whole beer and the transistioning is exceptional on this one, passing between each other well. It doesn't get too dry, but it is there.

Drinkability: Medium body, maybe slightly on the lighter side, but quite a bit closer to medium. Interesting brew that despite the present dryness, is quite sessionable. Not sure I'd want it in the summer heat, but would make a great spring drinker.

Final Thoughts: This is what a pale ale should be. Hoppy, diverse, slight biscuit presence but never passed into high IBU IPA territory. I'd happily reach of this when I wanted something hoppier, which would tend to be the spring or fall. Well done, well made, wish I could get it in Ontario.

 

 

Appearance - Pours a clear amber copperish hue with two fingers of bubbly white head.

Smell - citrus, leafy, earthy, and floral hops, hint of pine, grapefruit peel, citrus peel, bready malts, and earthy yeast.

Taste - citrus, leafy, earthy, and floral hops upfront. The pine resin, grapefruit and citrus peel come through next. The bready malts and earthy yeast round out the brew .

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes sticky with the hops, and fruits lingering.

Overall - An enjoyable APA that is too sessionable in my opinion. The hops and all other flavours are spot on. Worth a go!

 

 

473ml can - I'm guessing that the made-up name here is referring to an old-school APA, with a spectrum of flavours. Or something.

This beer pours a mostly clear, medium golden yellow colour, with a teeming tower of puffy, loosely foamy, and bubbly ecru head, which leaves some decent coalescing cloud form lace around the glass as it slowly seeps away.

It smells of gritty and grainy cereal malt, sugary tropical fruit, further domestic citrus rind, some flinty stoniness, and more leafy, weedy, and resinous piney green hop bitters. The taste is bready and crackery pale malt, some pineapple and kiwi exotic fruity notes, orange and white grapefruit peel, a damp minerality, and some earthy, musty, and piney verdant hoppiness.

The carbonation is adequate in its palate-satisfying frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and generally smooth, with nothing really playing the role of the proverbial party pooper at this particular juncture. It finishes trending dry, the hops gently directing the lingering after-party.

Overall - this comes across as a well-made enough pale ale, nice and hoppy, yet with not a whole lot of attendant bitterness (if that matters to you). Easy to put back, and another solid brew from this fledgling Calgary operation.