Alexander Keith's

[unkle bik]

Anybody ever here heard of Alexander Keith's?
As a member of a car forum, somebody mentioned this beer yesterday. Is it available in the States?

[steveh]

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/review/6994/

Some friends of friends brought some of the AK Honey Brown Ale with them from NS one time, it wasn't too bad. Nothing to really rave about (IMO), but certainly better than any U.S. macro swill.

S.

[mmmBeer...]

I drink it when there are no micros available. It isn't bad for a mega...IIRC they are owned by labatts.

It has to be one of least hopped IPAs I have ever had. YOu can get it jsut about anywhere in Canada...don't know about the US though.

[bigmf]

Keith's IPA is doesn't really fit in the IPA category. It is a lightly hopped blonde ale available all over Canada, and brewed in Nova Scotia. When I made my own IPA, I was unhappy that it drew unfavorable comparisons to Keith's by those who are not in the know. The beer is rather boring and my IPA was damn good if I must say so myself. Its just unfortunate that I had to explain the difference between an IPA and Keith's.

That being said Keith's is not a bad beer, just boring.

M.

[unkle bik]

Here I was under the impression they were something like Bell's (in size)
From what you guys are telling me, they are somewhat alike Sleeman's in size.

[mmmBeer...]

Sleemans is an independent brewery, the third largest in Canada, behind Molsons and Labatts. Labatts owns Keiths and it is considered a regional brand.

From the Labatts website:

Labatt later acquired Oland’s & Sons in 1971 and renamed it Oland Brewery. Introduced to the Ontario market in 1996, Keith’s IPA is now Canada’s fasting growing premium brand. In 2000, the original Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery was restored in its original location in downtown Halifax. The project included the recreation of a nineteenth-century general store, brew house and tavern.

[Hawg73]

I summer up in Nova Scotia. Alexander Keiths as already mentioned is owned by LaBatts. Not bad for a mega brew. I prefer Propeller Ale which is a micro out of Halifax, NS!

[secur8eguy]

Keith's is one of my favourite commercial beers. I disagree that it is boring; maybe not really an IPA, but a good summer thirst quencher. I am looking for a good extract clone recipe, anyone have any ideas?

[unkle bik]

Had my first taste of Keith's yesterday. ( I had purchased a 6 while in Canada last weekend)

I would have agree with the majority of the posters here: It's not a true IPA. I would say it is an IPA Lite. Something on the opposite end of the spectrum of say 90 minute Dogfish or HopDevil.

Very Light in colour & body for an IPA. Hop bitterness is probably somewhere in the neighborhood of about 30. ABV of 5% is a little low for a true IPA, also.

Don't get me wrong. This is a decent beer. On a hot summer day like yesterday while working in my pepper garden, I found it quite refreshing. With nothing that really overpowers the taste buds, this is better than any macro. (if their is such a thing)

I just find fault that they market it as an IPA and charge an premium price for it ($11.40 CDN plus deposit).

[Otis_The_Drunk]

How in the hell did we get these trolls on the board?

It never ceases to amaze me that every good discussion forum gets a troll or two to come in and screw things up....

BE GONE TROLLS!!!!!

[steveh]

Sheesh. :mad:

S.

[BrewDog]

Did I miss something here? (ie, was a post deleted or something?)

[fretlessman71]

Yes, three of them were. Thanks, steveh. And now, back to your regularly scheduled discussion about Alexander Keith IPA...

I also have had one in the past - it was certainly more like a kolsch than an IPA. Would have been better in my mind if it was labeled as such - ever mistakenly pick up someone else's drink and be shocked at the way it tastes, esp. when you're expecting to taste yours? That's kind of how I felt - "Hey, how'd this kolsch get inside this IPA bottle?"

[RST Moderator]

Heavens! I never meant to be mistaken for a troll. Just to talk about beer. I was ordered via another forum (RST) to BAN this Keith character. If I was out of line, please let me know. As a moderator I can moderate my behaviour.

So, to get back on topic, is Keith's IPA a real India Pale Ale or just a weak hopless alternative?

And how do I BAN him?

[steveh]

I don't know Mr. Moderator, carrying your spat over into our forums is just a bit left of center -- don't you think? And just what is this other forum that "ordered" you to invade here and ban at will? On a thread that hadn't had activity in quite some time, no less.

S.

[Otis_The_Drunk]

I know that there is a friendly atmosphere here, and disruptions such as this man makes the flow less than smooth.

thank you steve for jumping in here.

[RST Moderator]

Originally posted by steveh
I don't know Mr. Moderator, carrying your spat over into our forums is just a bit left of center -- don't you think? And just what is this other forum that "oredered" you to invade here and ban at will? On a thread that hadn't had activity in quite some time, no less.

S.

Nope, I can understand that, big Steve. Not meaning to disrupt the streaming tap-flow of philosophical excellence here one bit. The other forum is the Rising Sun-Times (http://www.risingsuntimes.com/forum/index.php#2) forum. We're a bunch of beer lovers caught in Japan, with a few hard knocks to our name. Quite understanding your position as moderator (being one myself) it might have been a bit obscure to start with the BANNING part. One of our members is a big fan of Keith's. Never had the stuff myself, more of a cheap whisky substitute alcoholic on weekdays, Dom Perignon on weekends kind of fella. BANNING someone is our mark of respect. Might sound rather perverse on a conventional forum. but I came over here with the intention of finding out about this brew, found the thread, forgot to note the age, and blundered in with my usual lack of courtesy. As a fellow drinker, I'm sure we see eye to eye on more points than not. No trolling intended. Thanks for the second chance there, BTW.

[markaberrant]

Keith's really bothers me for 3 reasons:

1. The horrible TV commercials.

2. It's not anywhere near an IPA. Maybe a really dull cream ale at best. This pisses me off more than anything because it gives newbies the wrong impression about a style of beer they are not familiar with.

3. The average swillers think they are drinking something really special now that they order an overpriced "premium" beer like Keiths.

If you like the beer, all the power to you because hey, taste is objective. But the above items just make me think even less of Labatts.

[stronk]

Keith's is not a premium beer anywhere that I have had it. It costs exactly the same as the local standard beer (which, in fact, is often Keith's in BC).

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by stronk
Keith's is not a premium beer anywhere that I have had it. It costs exactly the same as the local standard beer (which, in fact, is often Keith's in BC).

In Saskatchewan it is priced higher than the regular Labatt/Molson products. It's usually the same as Big Rock/Sleemans.

[stronk]

I agree with you about the 'IPA' label, though. That used to really piss me off. I actually came across someone in a bar once who was complaining vociferously to the bartender that he'd asked for an IPA and had been served fizzy water. I recommended a pale ale that was at least twice as hoppy.

Shouldn't it be false advertising if the beer is named as a style which it is nothing like? I can see people in the future cashing in on the Oktoberfest style with pissy beers, as well.

[steveh]

It's a fine line bewteen style and subjectivity; there are a few English IPAs (Fuller's included) that probably don't match the current expectations for a highly-hopped, more robust brew. I've often wondered what the original IPAs tasted like - once they completed their long journey around the horn of Africa. Had the hops (liberally used for preservation purposes) mellowed in their bitterness over the time? Had the alcohol (brewed as high ABV for the same preservation purposes) also mellowed or rendered the beer more dry in character? I don't know.

Maybe Fullers has matched that "final" flavor? Maybe some brews ended up more like Keith's when finished. Maybe some brews ended up as Bass used to taste a few years ago...when it still carried the I.P.A. stamp on its label.

S.

http://www.bjcp.org/styles04/Category14.html#style14A -- According to BA, Keith's IPA falls into this category.

[stronk]

I'm not convinced that Keith's has a 'moderately high' hop flavour or aroma, personally.

Another 'IPA' that irritates me is Greene King IPA. It tastes like a mild and is 3.6%. The only hint of hops you get in GK IPA that you wouldn't get in Stella or Carling is a (very) slight floral nose.

[Pooka]

I agree with an above posting regarding Propeller brewery in Halifax, it is the best brew in Halifax presently. The new IPA that the put on the market this winter is fantastic, good color and with a nice ammount of bitterness. Also the porter that Propeller produces is fantastic. I do recomend that anybody visting Nova Scotia to check the place out if they are in Halifax.I am not a big fan of kieths and for a big name brewery I would rather drink Oland's export or Ten Penny an ale produced by Moosehead. Garrison is another local micro brew that is good and thier Jalepeno brew is intresting I think that they use a lager as a base for it..not too hot and would be good for a bbq or with nachoes.

[Hog's Breath]

I've read threw this old thread and it seems many don't care for the beer either!! I had a big glass of it on the long weekend at a Pub, it was on tap, and I really liked it and I was excited to get back and read what the thoughts were on this beer, but I guess I suck at picking out a "good" beer. :confused:

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by Hog's Breath
I've read threw this old thread and it seems many don't care for the beer either!! I had a big glass of it on the long weekend at a Pub, it was on tap, and I really liked it and I was excited to get back and read what the thoughts were on this beer, but I guess I suck at picking out a "good" beer. :confused:

Drink what you like to drink, and approach anything new with an open mind.

I completely trash Keith's, but in a pinch it's often the best there is. I had 3 pints of it 2 weeks ago at a staff party in a Chinese restaurant lounge... certainly better than the other 3 choices; Coors Light, Molson Canadian and Molson Pilsner.

[Pooka]

The odd thing is that Kieth's from outside from Nova Scotia, where it is produced, taste different that Kieth's that is shipped elsewhere in Canada. I was told this by people that are from Ontario and I also was told by person who operates an independent beer/wine store that Kieth's does produce a different product that what is available locally. I was able to get ahold of a can of Kieth's from Ontario and I did find a taste difference, it was more to what I like in an IPA than what is sold on the local market. I do find this to be unfortunate.
Still. anybody that post on here has a chance to visit Halifax NS, they need to try products from Garrison and Propeller, both produce wonderful beers. That and go to the Seahorse, Propeller has a brew that they only produce for the pub called Horsepower SS, it a wicked ale sorta akin to a British old stock ale, nice and hoppy and malty.

[Hog's Breath]

I heard the guy from the commercials(the guy with the beard) was charged as being a pedofile? Is this true?

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by Hog's Breath
I heard the guy from the commercials(the guy with the beard) was charged as being a pedofile? Is this true?

If it means I will no longer be exposed to those garish commercials, then I sure hope it is true.

[Pooka]

Yes, unfortunately the man that played that annoying Scotsman was charged for possessing and distributing child porn. The upside of this was those asinine ads have been taken off the air. Even though I do not drink Kieth's I am happy that it did not damage the image of the brewery.