#1yralbertabeer

My understanding of being sophisticated rather than boorish is that you tend to value quality over quantity.

I worry that quantity too often wins out for me. Like busting open a bag of greasy ripple chips. They’re no damn good, but their abundance brings out the animal in me that just does not care (recall, if you will, the Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger). Eat now. Who knows what tomorrow brings.

Luckily, this week’s beers spared me from having to face this ugly side of myself. Not only are they tall - 473 ml of genuine Alberta goodness - they are carefully crafted to appeal to, yes, the sophisticate’s palate. Oh, and mine too.

Enjoy these fine and generous specimens from Bench Creek Brewing and Blindman Brewing.

Naked Woodsman Bench Creek Brewing 5.2% ABV

Why is there so little beer in that glass despite it coming from such a large can, you ask? Because I had help tasting it from 2 certified beer judges. They helped me to see past the sheer volume of the beer and appreciate its finer points, which include

Aroma: pine with a little citrus; guava too, said one judge, his nose in the glass

Appearance: medium gold colour with a slight haze; a persistent, fine-beaded head, noted the other judge

Flavour: low to medium bread; toasty; moderate traditional American hop flavour, featuring some bitterness, said that same judge; other judge: a bit of banana; he’d also have liked more “malt complexity” but didn’t seem disappointed

Mouthfeel: smooth, creamy, medium carbonation; the judge who detected the banana believed more carbonation would be a good thing, to bring out more aroma

Overall impression: “a smooth, sessionable pale ale” said the other judge, who rated it 42 out of 50 possible points; judge who sought complexity: 34.5, so still pretty good

My thanks to both judges. I agree with all of it - and give the Naked Woodsman a couple more points just for the size of the can. Which sounds weird.

Blindman River Session Ale Blindman Brewing 4.4% ABV

Because of beers like this, I feel like my summer beer list will fall victim to my predilection for quantity, and be no use to anyone. Once they’re all good, after all, none of them are.

But hear me out. River has all the makings of a hot-day, sweat-busting, thirst-quenching brew. For one, it’s low on the ABV. Even a lightweight like me can put one or two down without reaching for the lampshade.

Its hop-forward character also helps, encouraging slow sipping to match the passage of time on idle summer afternoons. Like the beer’s saying, “Here’s how it’s done, buddy. Sit down. Stay awhile.” It makes you stop and listen. Mild carbonation, however, keeps the hops in check for easy drinking.

I could stand a tiny bit more malt, perhaps like one of our judges above. The rare and beautiful creatures that regularly read this blog may recall my sweet-tooth. I’d take a little more caramel, maybe toffee. But the dry finish is good too, and is probably the better match for a dry season to come.