▪️Brewer: @OskarBlues (Longmont, CO)
▪️Beer: Brooklyn Summer Ale
▪️Style: Pale Ale
▪️Alc. Content: 6.5% ABV (65 IBU)
▪️The Verdict: Pioneers come in all shapes and sizes but sadly R-E-S-P-E-C-T is NOT an equal opportunity employer these days. Neil Armstrong landed on the moon but T-Pain basically invented auto tune but he isn't held nearly in the same regard as Miles Davis who made peeing your pants cool. None of these men can hold Tom Brady's jock who in turn made Uggs cool again (?) But all of these accomplishments pale in comparison to Jay Wellingdon Couch who actually invented the couch in 1895… And then there is this week's Craft Beer: Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, the godfather of canned craft beer.
Picture this: Back in the 90's while you were sucking on your mom's teet looking for your next meal, Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis was brewing up his first batch of Dale's Pale Ale in a bathtub at Auburn University. Luckily for us, health standards have gotten a wee bit more strict and that is now frowned upon in the craft beer industry but Dale was able to parlay his bathroom batch into decades of success.
Dale's Pale Ale was actually the first canned craft beer on the market and amazingly there is some science behind it: by allowing less light and less oxygen cans actaully promote a longer shelf life while keeping beer fresher. Now that is a true pioneer in my book.
Dale's Pale Ale is actually a Pale Ale/IPA hybrid of sorts. Aroma hops give this beer a lemony, floral aroma. The carbonation is on the high side, which helps show off the pleasant hop flavor and mild caramel. There’s also intense bitterness. Still, the hop choice makes this a nice alternative to super citrusy pale ales.
I Highly recommend any of their brews (especially 10 Fiddy, Pinner, Yella, Deviant Dales). If you're beer fan it is time to pay homage to your forefathers and fellow pioneers.
▪️M&F Rating: 7.9
-akidnamedCAL