Alexander Keith's IPA - what the hell?
 

I was in Niagara Falls (on the Ontario side) with the wife and kids a couple of weeks ago. When we checked into the hotel after a 6 hour drive, I decided to saunter down to the hotel bar to treat myself to a beer. For some reason, I'd never heard of Alexander Keith's, but apparently the "IPA" is a big seller across the border, so I got a pint of it.

Bleecchhh! I've had alot of IPA's that stretch the boundaries of what an IPA can be, but this beer tasted (to me...and my wife for that matter) like BMC. It poured clear (I think Bud light has more color), with no discernible aroma - maybe some feshly mown hay if anything. No hop presence whatsoever, no malt, nothing.

How in the world can this beer be classified as an IPA?

I've been sharing your pain for 6 months.

This ought to gall you... http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/6994/264/

The only people who like this beer either seem to be hired guns trying to get "free advertising" for the company, or they're more into drinking lots of beer at once. I love the guy who says "drink it quite cold"; obviously this beer is better if you can't taste it... :rolleyes:

Here's a good article:
http://ratebeer.com/Beer-News/Article-454.htm

Make sure to check the date on it. ;)

Re: Alexander Keith's IPA - what the hell?
 

I agree. Must be no truth in advertising North of the border.
I had a Canadien friend reccommend that to me, as he knew I was an IPA fan. I came away with the same conclusion:

"I CAN'T TASTE MY BEER!!"

Save the stuff for some unknowing soul at a party or for lawn mower beer.

I know I had read some promotional pieces on this beer. Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like it is worth avoiding it.

Re: Alexander Keith's IPA - what the hell?
 

Yup, it sells well due to the advertising behind it. Just like Molson Canadian and Labatt Blue. It's really just another macro aimed at the masses.

If you're back in Canada again, look for Tree's Hophead IPA, or Wild Rose's IPA. These are both made in Western Canada. I'm not sure what to suggest in Eastern/Central Canada.

Re: Re: Alexander Keith's IPA - what the hell?
 

Unibroue is from Quebec.

Upper Canda Rebellion from Ontario is good. There's the Granite brewpubs in Halifax and Toronto.

As mentioned above Unibroue from QUE is excllent as is MacAulsons.

Big Rock from Alberta is top notch.

I've read tons of good things about Dieu du Ciel in Montreal, but have yet to try them.

I would echo all of Meridian's recommendations above. Last October I was in Montreal and I visited a decent brewpub that had a very passable IPA and I took a sip of the Hemp Ale too. The place was a hangout for college kids and was packed. We sat outside and watched them pile in.

Unibroque makes an IPA?
I always thought they were into that Belgian stuff.

Just as long as you avoid their Grasshopper wheat ale, which tastes intriguingly like grass (so not really false advertising, other than the fact that they have hidden the 'wheat' component atonishingly well).

Don't be put off by Keiths (great article, btw: starts off subtle and slowly degenerates into a rout), as there are actually, as mentioned above, some very good IPAs in Canada. I've found that the best ones seem to come in upwards of 500ml bottles, if that's any help when you go to a liquor store (generally speaking, don't go for a carton of 330ml bottles).

Also, don't expect much from British IPAs. Although we may have invented the style (I'm not actually sure on this), you clever Americans have developed and improved it in a very tasty way.

Stronk-

Ya back in England or still in BC? If still in BC, when ya gonna come down to Seattle?

Still in BC, but I'm leaving in about a week, so I'm going to have to put Seattle on hold until I return (and to think it didn't occur to me to go with a friend a few months ago when he visited his parents in Seattle). It may be a couple of years, though.