Mr. Pink Hibiscus and Watermelon Pale Ale

Appropriately named, Mr. Pink Hibiscus and Watermelon Pale Ale from Toronto’s Bandit Brewery is a rose-hued beer with a thin layer of white head. The 5% alcohol supper comes in 500mL bottles branded with Bandit’s trademark raccoon—this time decked out in homage to Steve Buscemi’s memorable character in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.

Mellow watermelon characterizes the nose, and it dominates the flavour as well. Behind that, there is a slight floral bent. The beer has a thin mouthfeel that doesn’t provide much of a platform for bitterness, but it does give the ale a delightfully refreshing, summery quality.

A full-strength yet light-bodied ale, this beer is juicy and refreshing, if also a touch too sweet. The melon is none too subtle, which is great if you dig it. There isn’t actually a whole lot of underlying beer elements.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Western Suds: Sea Maiden

According to the copy on the cute teal and pink cans of Sea Maiden, this sour watermelon ale occupies the space where “watermelon meets pink Himalayan sea salt”. The 4.5% alcohol number comes from Richmond, BC, where it’s brewed by Britannia Brewing Company.

The beer is cloudy, with a pale orange gold colour and a whole lot of carbonation. It pours with a huge amount of loose white head, though the suds weren’t around for the long haul. Sea Mermaid has a tart, briny aroma that doesn’t really scream watermelon; however, a subtle hint of pink melon is woven throughout the flavour, and is particularly evident towards the finish. Along for the finish are gose-like notes that are both salty and sour.

Billed as a watermelon sour, I’d class this beer as a gose. It’s playful and quirky, with an unusual flavour topography. The concept is quite well executed, though the beer is sufficiently tart that sour beer neophytes might be put off. Personally, I enjoyed my dance with the Sea Maiden, though I’m unlikely to be requesting a second in the near future.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.