The Pale Ale Project

There's a brewery in Ottawa that I've always liked but don't get the opportunity to drink as often as I'd like.

It's not the brewery's fault: it's mine.

When Beyond the Pale first opened its doors, a couple of years ago, the only place that you could buy the beer was in its Parkdale Market-area site or in a few pubs in the Hintonburg area. Or, you could find them at a booth in a beer festival.

Back then, if you wanted to take some of their beer home, you had to go directly to the brewery and pick up a growler. And because the brewery was popular, you had to get to the brewery as soon as it opened its doors, before they sold out. Their latest batch sold out quickly, which meant that you could miss out on special brews.

Which is usually what happened to me.

But now that the brewery has started to can their product and move into the LCBO, I can always find some Pink Fuzz, and now, I can try their latest offering.

I was especially prompted to pick up their new pale ale because a friend of mine created the artwork on the can.

What was inside the can was equally impressive.

Pale Ale Project (4.9% ABV)
Beyond the Pale Brewing Company
Ottawa, ON

Appearance: a luminescent, deep gold with ample effervescence (I saw what I thought was a bubbly twister in the glass) and a thick, foamy-white head.

Nose: ripe citrus—tangerine and pink grapefruit—and pineapple, with floral overtones.

Palate: lemon, grapefruit, with light hops on a light body, though the flavours carry to a solid finish.

Overall impression: this is one of the most-flavourful pale ales I have tried. It has the light body of a session ale but the weighty flavour of an IPA. I was sad that I had only bought myself two cans—I was seriously craving more and this might just become my regular brew of the summer.

Beyond the Pale has come out with a successful project. Grab some while you can. I suspect this ale is for a limited time.

And kudos to artist extraordinaire and Ottawa-area historian, Andrew King, on a great label. I like the intricate work: a friend of mine saw it and felt it had a Rube Goldberg machine and I agreed. I like how the picket fence worked into the art, paying homage to the company logo.

Beer O'Clock rating: 4

Cheers!