Cruiser

On Bar Hop's beer list, Amsterdam Brewing Co.'s Cruiser is listed as a "North American Pale Ale". I had an 18oz. draught of this 4.9%alcohol brew. This Torontonian ale arrived with a thick and fluffy off-white head atop a hazy reddish-gold liquid.

Cruiser has a sweetish, citrus aroma that feels like a grapefruit syrup. It has a moderately thin, crisp, and dry mouthfeel. This beer has very little going on on the malt side of things--the needle tips heavily to bitter. Notes of resin and citrus dominate, and there is an almost tart element. The finish is also citrus-y, but has a faintly disagreeable earthiness that would be great in another beer, but doesn't really work with the vibe cultivated in this one.

This is a pretty fair American pale ale. It's flavourful and refreshing, but with a final note that isn't entirely on.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.