Day 225: Stranger Pale Ale

Name: Stranger Pale Ale

Brewer: Left Hand Brewing Co. (Longmont, CO)

Classification: American Pale Ale

Alcohol: 5%

Thoughts: The Left Hand website asks a question of this beer. Is this "stranger" a friend or foe? I intend to find out the answer to that question. This Pale Ale pours a brassy-copper color with little lucidity and a tiny head. The aroma is gentle and calm with whiffs of piney hops and fruity malts. It did have a freshness to it, which I was surprised by since this is a West Coast brewery. The taste was also mild, which in a flavor is not a good thing. I have stated many times how beer should taste exciting or at least interesting. This was neither. The hops were slightly bitter, but not enough. The malts were sweet and fruity, but nothing special. The feel of this beer is crisp, but I've had crisper beer. This is a friend to the beer world, but the type of friend you see every couple of years and you ask yourself the whole time you are with them, "Why am I friends with this guy again?"

Rating: 80/100