20th Anniversary Fresh Hop
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro

I had this beer on-tap in a narrow pint glass at the brewery.

Appearance: lightly hazy dirty golden hue with a thin layer of ivory foam. Not bad.

Smell: nicely malty with a rather earthy hop character. Not bad at all.

Taste: fresh earthy hops with a very pronounced bitterness at the end. Very autumnal; I like it.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and creaminess for the style. It really works for me.

Overall: definitely on the dank and earthy side for a pale, but on a crisp October day like this it hits the spot.

This was a real letdown. Cloudy yellow-orange in appearance, I initially had high hopes. The nose was a mix of overwhelming bubble gum and sharp hop notes which in no way complimented each other. Initial taste was actually an acceptable grainy malt flavor but unfortunately was quickly and abruptly followed by oniony hops. On the next sip I realized there was indeed strong tropical fruit flavors but they were competing against the unpleasant mixture of bubblegum and onions. Carbonation was decently strong which prevented the flavors from lingering, thankfully.

Served in 20oz glass at the brewery. A semi-cloudy pale yellow color, with about a half-inch of white head that had good retention and great lacing. Lots of Amarillo hop scent in the nose, with a light grain base. Pretty similar on the tongue, with the hops perhaps having a bit stronger presence. Smooth even body. Clean, dry finish. Excellent drinkability. Overall, a very nice and enjoyable brew. I'll be crushing them, while they last.