Brewed in Delta, BC comes Four Winds Pale Ale (5.2% alc, poured at home from a bottle) in my opinion the breakout brewery of the year last year. These are available in four packs.
Aroma and Appearance: fresh floral, citrus and a bit of a tropical aroma, pours copper coloured with minimal foam and not a lot of bubble action in the glass.
Flavour: hops upfront right away, a touch of orange in the middle and grapefruity bitter finish and a dry aftertaste that coats your throat. The malt is a bit overpowered by other flavours, this could almost be an IPA if it were more heavily hopped.
Overall Impression: This is good go to Pale Ale if you are looking for something you can drink a few of. It’s a lot more interesting than the faux craft versions out there by some of the bigger bought out producers and supports a local upstart. This is a good beer to bring to a friends place for an outing or to drink at home on any given night.
Rating: I would rate about 8/10 for a craft beer as in excellent. It is a truly interesting for a Pale Ale which is a good thing as they are often boring. IBU’s are 38, but finishes both dry and refreshing at the same time.
Food Pairing: This would pair nicely with an extra sharp white cheddar or a dry cheese like parmesan.
West Coast Beer Geek 