You can take the boy out of Edmonton, but you can’t take the Edmonton beer out of the boy’s beer fridge. Or something like that.
I may be leaving Edmonton for a sweet new gig in Calgary, but province-wide distribution means I won’t have to give up this classic E-town beer that’s just about tops on my list of all-time faves. It’s relatively easy to find in Alberta, a fact that should help ease me into my new hometown.
The Pitch: “Full Moon is a West Coast style pale ale that is both kettle hopped and dry hopped with Centennial and Cascades. The hops provide this ale with a nice citrus-like taste to balance out the caramel malts.” More info available here.
The Look: The beer pours a copper colour with a light head. The labels are of the pretty new-school Alley Kat design.
The Taste: The label claims it has moderate hop bitterness, but that sells its hop level short. To the vast majority of beer drinkers, this is one hell of a hoppy beer. If the a.b.v. was a percentage point higher, it would be verging on IPA territory. While the hops dominate, there’s a nice hint of sweetness and roasted grain. There’s a caramel/toffee sweetness in the aroma that doesn’t hint at the bitterness to come.
Pairs With: Nice on its own as a pre-dinner brew. Grilled burgers or pasta, or maybe some curry. It’s got a very strong, aggressive taste that will bury delicate dishes.
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RATINGS AND DETAILS
Cost: 13.99 for a six-pack of 341 mL bottles at Liquor Depot in Garneau.
Value for cash money: Good. Par for the course.
Availability: Alberta (check the Alley Kat website for an extensive list), but also, oddly, South Korea. (It’s a long story.) In Edmonton, look for it on tap at the Sugarbowl.
Nutrition?: It’s beer.
Beerish Power: 5% a.b.v.
The verdict: Amazing.