A classic straight amber pour with a light off-white head that resumes to cover swiftly. Bready nose doesn’t reveal much in terms of rye character, but shows gently extracted and precise maltiness, supported by soft earthy, woodsy and spicy hops. In mouth, there is a medium thickness that could indeed suggest rye use, but it remains ultimately a well malted, approachable soft pale ale with no defaults, nor particular qualities. I would have to declare this one as my favorite pint at Benelux for now, but I’m anticipating more excitement from future more marginal offerings.

<i>Second batch tasted:</i><br /> -They obviously dry-hopped this one this time around, and it helps the aroma quite a bit, as you can imagine. Herbal, floral, orangey hops are announced, while never being too loud. The flavor is also emboldened, yet remains balanced, just at a higher level of intensity. This is becoming my favorite offering of theirs, no doubt. We have a solid A.P.A. now. 3.4/5<br /> <br /> <i>First impressions of the first batch?</i><br /> -A veil of foam covers the clear, pale copper.<br /> -Earthy cereal and oranges fail to excite the nostrils.<br /> -Rye is healthy, but never overwhelms, providing clean cereal flavors, alongside the mild hoppy fruitiness.<br /> -Prickly carbonation runs through the well-built maltiness.<br /> <br /> <i>What if you dig deeper?</i><br /> -Earthy, herbal hop bitterness is pleasant enough.<br /> -Caramel touches are found within the expressive cereal.<br /> -This is very approachable, and cleanly brewed, but I feel this is the happy hour version of something which could be much crunchier and more vivacious. 3/5.<br /> <br /> <b>On tap at the brewpub.</b>

Draught pint shared at the brewpub with tiggmtl during the Mondial, 2006. Good thick lacing and a small but creamy and lasting white head top the coppery-clear body....grapefruit, lavender and a lovely earthy pungency tickle the nose....body is very full, juicy with a big rye-sourdough character and lots of citric bitterness from midpalate on to the long finish....resinous character, lovely balance, one of the spicier pale ales I’ve had recently.

Spicy rye plays well with citrus hops along with some earthy, herbal notes in the nose. Clear copper coloured body is topped by a decent white head that recedes to a lasting coverwith excellent lacing. Very dry malt forward flavour shows off the spicy rye character nicely and plays well against the assertive bitterness. Herbal, earthy, citrus hop flavours come into play toward the finish. Medium light body is quite dry with lively carbonation that engages the tongue. Sampled on tap at the brewpub.

Reddish amber ale with a thin white head. Nice hoppy malt, lightly fruity. In mouth, a fresh nice pale ale, sweet biscuitty malt and floral hops, quaffable and pleasant. Medium bodied.