Church Key West Coast Pale Ale

 From the Church Key Brewing Company in Campbellford, Ontario, comes this West Coast pale ale.  It's sold in 341mL bottles and contains 5% alcohol.  It pours a hazy metallic orange colour and is thinly covered with an off-white head.  A lemon aroma accents a hoppy base.  The flavour, which starts out in a malty fashion, gets really bitter, really quickly.  There are notes of caramel and citrus.  There's a strong, lingering aftertaste that is highly bitter and slightly dank.  The Church Key West Coast Pale Ale definitely tastes stronger than its 5%.

This is a full-flavoured pale with oomph to spare.  There is a flat note in the aftertaste, but nevertheless, this is a beer that's worth trying.  I don't know that I'd like to sit down to a session of 'em, but there is enough character in the flavour to keep a beer enthusiast on his or her toes.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.