Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale
Alexander Keith's
- From:
- Alexander Keith's
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- Style:
- American Blonde Ale
Ranked #546 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 63
Ranked #39,774 - Avg:
- 2.65 | pDev: 28.3%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 305
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 10, 2026
- Added:
- Apr 16, 1998
- Wants:
- 19
- Gots:
- 123
SCORE
63
Poor
63
Poor
The pride of Nova Scotia.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by thehyperduck:
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
2.4/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
2.4/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
I've had this stuff many times before but never actually sat down and reviewed it, until now that is.
Pouring it into a glass produces a short-lived white head. The beer itself is a pale yellow colour, reminiscent of most adjunct lagers - and let's be honest, regardless of the IPA in the name, that's what it is. The nose follows suit - corn and adjunct smells, nothing very enticing.
The taste is similar to most mass-produced lagers. There's a bit of bitterness indicating that hops were used at some point in its production, but it's faint and not at all what one would expect from an actual IPA. The heavy carbonation, as many have already mentioned, is similar to soda pop, but it does give the beer a 'crisp' quality I suppose. The mouthfeel is thin and watery. As far as drinkability goes, despite all of the criticism I would have no problem tossing a few of these back, and in fact have done so many times in the past.
We all know that Keith's is not at all representative of the style that it claims to be. If I were judging it as a macro lager, I would likely give it above-average marks - by those standards, it's actually reasonably good and I would virtually always pick it over, say, Canadian, Blue, or Bud. If you are looking for an IPA though, you might as well look elsewhere.
Jun 09, 2010Pouring it into a glass produces a short-lived white head. The beer itself is a pale yellow colour, reminiscent of most adjunct lagers - and let's be honest, regardless of the IPA in the name, that's what it is. The nose follows suit - corn and adjunct smells, nothing very enticing.
The taste is similar to most mass-produced lagers. There's a bit of bitterness indicating that hops were used at some point in its production, but it's faint and not at all what one would expect from an actual IPA. The heavy carbonation, as many have already mentioned, is similar to soda pop, but it does give the beer a 'crisp' quality I suppose. The mouthfeel is thin and watery. As far as drinkability goes, despite all of the criticism I would have no problem tossing a few of these back, and in fact have done so many times in the past.
We all know that Keith's is not at all representative of the style that it claims to be. If I were judging it as a macro lager, I would likely give it above-average marks - by those standards, it's actually reasonably good and I would virtually always pick it over, say, Canadian, Blue, or Bud. If you are looking for an IPA though, you might as well look elsewhere.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
2.33/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
2.33/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
Valemount 17/7 2018. 34,1 cl bottle at Don’s Social House. A red Elk head on a green label. The tagline is “The Pride of Nova Scotia”.
Pours clear yellow with a medium-sized white head. Settles as a thin almost transparent layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Climbing up the side of the glass. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is sourish and not particularly intense. Fresh grass, citrus. A little acerbic.
Medium strong carbonation. Thin, watery texture.
Flavor is medium sweet followed by a medium strong bitterness. Aftertaste is lightly bitter with sweetish notes and a little watery.
To call this an India Pale Ale is straight out weird. It smells and taste of Pale Lager.
Feb 19, 2026Pours clear yellow with a medium-sized white head. Settles as a thin almost transparent layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Climbing up the side of the glass. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is sourish and not particularly intense. Fresh grass, citrus. A little acerbic.
Medium strong carbonation. Thin, watery texture.
Flavor is medium sweet followed by a medium strong bitterness. Aftertaste is lightly bitter with sweetish notes and a little watery.
To call this an India Pale Ale is straight out weird. It smells and taste of Pale Lager.
Rated by JohnnyCrocs
4.77/5 rDev +80%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.77/5 rDev +80%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
My favourite beer.
Nov 06, 2025
Reviewed by talisen-crw from Canada (ON)
3.75/5 rDev +41.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +41.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
At my lady Pamela's house; canned and chilled, 473mL in a pint glass. From my favourite LCBO at Tecumseh Mall in nearby Windsor. My first beer from the Halifax, Nova Scotia brewery.
Apr 18, 2025
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)
3.47/5 rDev +30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.47/5 rDev +30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Alexander Keith's 'India Pale Ale' @ 5.0% , served from a single 473 ml can
A-pour is light gold from the can to a clear light gold in the glass with a small size white head leaving a streaky lace along the tulip
S-floral hops , bready malts
T-clean & not so crisp (Maritime) East Coast IPA , kinda weak
MF-ok carbonation , medium body
Ov-easy drinking brew , not an IPA , closer to a blonde lager
prost LampertLand
May 25, 2024A-pour is light gold from the can to a clear light gold in the glass with a small size white head leaving a streaky lace along the tulip
S-floral hops , bready malts
T-clean & not so crisp (Maritime) East Coast IPA , kinda weak
MF-ok carbonation , medium body
Ov-easy drinking brew , not an IPA , closer to a blonde lager
prost LampertLand
Rated by Philosophy223
3/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
mildly tasted like a buttered popcorn jelly bean. bought it at the caesar's casino in Windsor
Dec 06, 2023Rated by Netpoetry from Canada (NS)
3.44/5 rDev +29.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.44/5 rDev +29.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Great for a lager witch what it realy is.
Jul 27, 2023
Rated by emerge077 from Illinois
2/5 rDev -24.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2/5 rDev -24.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Worst beer available in Winnipeg, next to Kokanee.
Jul 27, 2022
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