Heavy in body but heavy in TASTE!
Written: May 29 '08 (Updated Sep 20 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Delicious; sweet; not too harsh; easy to drink multiple times.
Cons: Heavy in body; might be too strong for novices.
The Bottom Line: If you want a beer you can drink for the taste, this is it.
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| Chad9976's Full Review: JW Dundee's American Pale Ale |
Despite the name, JW Dundee’s line of beer is not Australian. They apparently felt the need to remind us of their country of origin by naming this brew “American Pale Ale” instead of simply just pale ale. Go figure.
As I’ve stated numerous times I’m a fan of ales and this particular beer is a great example why. It’s simply bursting with flavor, and although it’s got the hoppiness of a Sam Adams, it’s not an assault on your palate. It is quite heavy in body, but the delicious taste more than makes up for it.
POUR, COLOR AND AROMA
A beer that pours quickly and easily is always a good thing and JW Dundee’s American Pale Ale certainly is impressive right out of the bottle. It only forms a small head, which dissipates into a thin layer about halfway through the drink, but it has no effect on the taste or drinking experience.
Its color is a bit hard to pin down as you could describe it as a dark amber or copper color but it also borders on being flat-out red. Wherever it lies in the color spectrum is quite impressive, especially considering it’s crystal-clear with constant carbonation happening.
This is also a very pleasant-smelling beer, rather sweet and flowery (certainly delightful to my nose).
TASTE AND FINISH
Now that’s what I’m talking about! There’s just nothing quite like the feeling of loving the taste of a new beer from the first swig. This beer dances on your palate and is surprisingly sweet. Not that it tastes like fruit juice, but it certainly doesn’t taste like your typical mass-market beer by any means. From the instant it graces your palate you know this is a true craft beer. It’s reminiscent of Sam Adams Boston Ale or even the Boston Lager because it’s got such a strong hoppiness factor. It might be a bit overwhelming for the everyday drinker, but I think the taste is unique enough to make it truly enjoyable.
The carbonation factor might be a tad high as there definitely is a constant tingling of the tongue and lips throughout the drink. However, American Pale Ale finishes surprisingly clean, certainly much more so than the Honey Brown Lager. I wanted another one immediately!
BODY
Ales tend to be heavier in body and this is certainly true of American Pale Ale. Usually, beers this full-bodied are only good for the occasional bottle, but because this particular brew is so tasty you could easily go through many of them at a time. Lightweights and novices should at least be able to get through a bottle or pint much quicker than they might assume.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’ve been told I’m actually scientifically or mathematically incorrect to call this type of beer sweet, but I think it’s appropriate because I find it so darn appealing. Maybe that’s because I’m a bit more appreciative of the craft of brewing than the average beer drinker, but by no means am I an expert. I could understand why some might find this too strong, but there’s really no reason to feel that way. It’s tasty as can be and, essentially, isn’t that what really matters?
OTHER PALE ALES:
Magic Hat #9 (5)
Otter Creek Pale Ale (4)
Samuel Adams Pale Ale (3)
Saranac Pale Ale (3)
OTHER JW DUNDEE BEERS:
JW Dundee's Amber Lager (3)
JW Dundee's Hefeweizen (3)
JW Dundee's Honey Brown Lager (3)
JW Dundee's India Pale Ale (5)
JW Dundee's Pale Bock (2)
JW Dundee's Porter (2)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Chad9976
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Member: Chad Polenz
Location: Albany, New York
Reviews written: 657
Trusted by: 147 members
About Me:Check out Chad'z Beer Reviews on YouTube
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