Kirkland Craft Brewed Pale Ale
Stats: Alc 5.4% By Volume IBU: 37
Bottled by: Hopfen Und Malz Brewing Co in San Jose, CA
Description on Bottle: “This classic, American pale ale
displays the complex bitterness and aroma from the hops of Yakima Valley,
Washington. It boasts a fragrant bouquet of spice and citrus that combines with
an herbal flavor profile. Its hoppy characteristics are balanced by a clean,
malty body from the pale and light caramel malt.
Price: $19.99 for 24
bottle variety pack 12oz (Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Blond Ale, IPA)
Purchase at: Costco (It is only available at certain times
and usually in limited quantities so stock up while you can!)
About the American Pale Ale (APA): The Pale Ale came to
light around 1980 with the first brewery using the Pale Ale name and produce a
significant quantity of this brew was the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, which
was named the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. APA’s are typically brewed with around 5%
abv utilizing large quantities of American hops, mainly Cascade Hops. They are
brewed with a cleaner yeast and two row American malts. The lines are blurred
between IPA’s and Pale Ales, but IPA’s are usually stronger and have a much
hoppier flavor profile. Pale Ales true to their name are usually pale in color.
Many have started brewing this popular type of beer as it does not generally turn
away people afraid of stronger, hoppier beers.
First Impression: Well first off, I love a good American Pale
Ale. It has been my go to brew for years now! If I ever do not know what to
order at a new place, I’ll reach for the APA first! Well, after opening the
bottle you have to take a whiff of this brew! It smells absolutely delicious.
Like the label says, it has a slightly spicy scent with hints of citrus that
give off a wonderful aroma! It is well known that the aroma of a beer enhances
the flavor since this is an important component of the human sense of taste! I
chose to drink this one straight from the bottle, simply because my assortment
of beer glasses at home is not adequate yet to fill the many different types of
beer that require a different type of glass. (I will post about the different glass
types and why it matters what your beer is in.) Anyways, the first sip was
fantastic! It is not overly bitter, so inexperienced drinkers won’t be turned
off by these suds. The carbonation was perfect, not too bubbly to make me burp uncontrollably
but definitely not anywhere close to flat. It does have a spicy taste to it,
but you can pick out some citrus characteristics if you listen to your taste
buds close enough. It is definitely not as hoppy as an IPA, so I know I am
drinking an APA. I believe I taste Cascade hops and judging by what is written
on the label, the Yakima Valley definitely grows Cascade hops so this would be
a great educated guess.
Middle of the Blast: Well, this brew definitely continues to
blow me away. The more I drink the more of the flavor profile that follows. I
am currently in the middle of my beer. It stays pretty smooth, still not overly
bitter. Most APA’s are between 30-45 on the IBU scale so with this being a 37,
it isn’t too bitter but also not under bittered (if that is even a word). I am
surprised by the slightly caramel flavor I pick up in this brew because most
APA’s tend to hold back the caramel malt flavor. You can definitely tell they
use two-row American malt. I can’t believe how smooth this beer is. I haven’t
been disappointed in any one of my sips. This is definitely a beer that you can
enjoy even if you aren’t a fan of most APA’s.
Last Sip: Brew Blaster’s, I am sadly on the last sip of this
absolutely fantastic brew…This is a sad day for all beer lovers alike. One
never wants to look at the bottom of an empty bottle. Alas, I will hold back
the emotions and take this last gulp with honor and dignity that this brew
deserves. Costco and Kirkland definitely picked a great brewery in Hopfen Und
Malz Brewing Company. They have definitely taken a classic American Pale Ale
and made something their own! The last sip is just as good as every other one
that I have had. It finishes smooth and spicy. I am tasting more hops now than
I did in the beginning, which for me as a lover of APA’s is not a bad thing. I
have to say, this has been a wonderful experience drinking and reviewing this
beer and will put this brew on the list to have again. Oh wait, I just
remembered that I have 3 more in the fridge right now!
Rating: **** Blasters, I have to give this one a 4-star
rating. I can’t say it is perfect, but for the price point (around $0.83 per
bottle) it is hard to beat. It has that craft-brewed quality that you expect
with the production beer price! The hard thing is finding this one because
Costco does not always stock it (I am going to try to find out why it isn’t stocked
constantly). The brew itself is definitely a blast with its medium-bodied,
medium bitter taste for an APA. It is refreshing and easy to drink while
still giving off a complex aroma and flavor profile that APA lovers and
beginners can both enjoy! So Blasters, when you see the Kirkland Craft Brew
Variety Pack at Costco, pick up a case (or two, or three) and enjoy this one!
Comments
Post a Comment