Beer of the Week
Click here to view previous beers. We feature a new beer every week - This week's beer:
Hell's Gate Pale Ale -
Hell's Gate Brewing Company, Vancouver, B.C.
Price: $8.95 for 6 x 355 ml bottle (5% alcohol)
|
 |
Best Features: good price, light pale ale
Hell's Gate Pale Ale from Hell's Gate Brewing Company is an easy drinking pale ale with good versatility. New beer companies often try to offer beer that is completely unique or something that will have wide-spread appeal. Hell's Gate Pale Ale will attract a good following for two reasons; the price point ($8.95 for a six pack) and the fact that the beer is very palatable.
The pour creates an light amber colour beer with a light head - many microbrewed pale ales will have a much fuller head and be a lot darker in the glass. The lighter colours generally would indicate less flavour and aroma but Hell's Gate Pale Ale does have a very nice aroma of slightly roasted and sweet malts. There is also a very feint hint of citrus and earthiness - probably produced by the hops. On the tongue, the beer is light but the roasted flavours and a slight citrus tang do linger on the tongue. The mid-range carbonation makes this beer very consumable. Stronger pale ales will have more roasted and bitter flavours that will linger for a considerable amount of time. Hell's Gate Pale Ale is a good introductory to mid-range Pale Ale that combines a light body with hints of roasted malty undertones.
Try Hell's Gate Pale Ale with hot and spicy food, lightly smoked cheeses, and red pasta sauce. This beer should be very versatile and will pair nicely with pizza, BBQ sauce and grilled chicken or steak.
Beer Fact: It is almost impossible to find information about this beer and this brewery (despite several emails and phone calls). HOWEVER Hell's Gate Brewing is a product of the Mark Anthony Group who also distributes Corona in B.C.
|
|
|
|
Best Features: average taste - in a good way!
Hells Gate Brewing Pale Ale is one of two beers offered by the newest member of the craft brewers of B.C. We sampled it from a 355 ml can adorned with a white water waves crashing on the rocks that the Hells Gate area is famous for. When I poured this in a glass, the beer was a clear dark honey colour, topped with a nice tight, rich head with low to average levels of carbonation. The nose was distinctly sweet with hints of roasted malts and hops. I found the mouthfeel to be light with a subtly bitter flavour which lingered gently on the back of my tongue. This beer finished less bitter than your traditional pale ales, but is a good offering for a new brewery.
Beer Fact: Beer styles (like pale ales) will have a huge range in flavour profile from light to strong. Most light pales ales come from larger brands and strong pales ales come from the smallest breweries.
|
|
*Unless otherwise stated, this is the BC Government Liquor Store price quoted.
*Our rating scale is based on a five point system (1 being least enjoyable, 5 being excellent) We rate the beer using the following criteria; overall taste, appearance, mouthfeel, freshness, body, aroma, finish, availability, and price.
|
