Hop Mason IPA

G.M. Gillman · Post by **G.M. Gillman** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:09 pm

I learned about this from Jordan St. John in a recent blog entry. I tried it at a Fionn MacCool this evening and was shocked how good it was. The tent ads on the counter claim 50 IBUs and I don't doubt it, plus they are evidently Fuggles or some fine English variety. On top of that is a fine, seemingly all-malt body of amber hue.

It was like drinking a top-class real ale in London from a trad brewery except colder and fizzy. I understand it is a Labatt (so AB InBev) product, and credit must be given where due. This is the true English taste and it is welcome to see it in a town where we have great APAs but not too many really first-class English-style beers.

Gary

G.M. Gillman · Post by **G.M. Gillman** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:15 am

It appears I'm wrong about the hops being English in that a couple of reports on the web state that it is Centennial and Cascade. I certainly accept that but nonetheless the taste struck me as very English.

Gary

G.M. Gillman · Post by **G.M. Gillman** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:12 pm

Tried it again and this time I got much more hop nose and I can see the Cascade now, or in that pint anyway. It reminded me more this time of, say, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, or Budweiser American Ale which may be a more apt comparison given the corporate connection. Anyway, setting aside the beers from Six Pints, this beer is surely the most craft-like ever produced in Canada by a large brewer in modern times.

Gary

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:17 pm

Thanks Gary - I've been meaning to get down to my local Fionn Mccools to try this...maybe next leaf game.

Jordon also noted that the single hop beers they did were pretty good as well. Nothing earth shattering, but quite good.

G.M. Gillman · Post by **G.M. Gillman** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:29 am

Thanks Jeff for that reminder, that was mentioned as well and I look forward to trying those too.

One of the interesting things remarked by a number of tasters on the Hop Mason is its relatively light body. I agree with that, it is not as dry as some IPAs (Wells Young's is the driest I know available here), but not as full in body as many pale ales and IPAs are today, however, that is just another side of IPA (and historically was accurate in fact).

Gary

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:52 pm

I'm trying the two (canned) single hop Keith's beers just now and I can't find much to like, to be honest. They are OK. Easy drinking and "sessionable", I guess, though that label should never be applied to a beer over 5% abv, in my estimation. I think, of the two, I liked the Hallertau a bit better (which I didn't expect). They just don't seem to know what to do with the C-hops.

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:26 pm

Finally tried it at Fionn Macool's while watching the leafs. Quite nice - not earth shattering, but a nice pale ale with good hop flavour. Think I'm going to pass on trying the others though.

mintjellie · Post by **mintjellie** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:37 pm

Alexander Keith's Hallertauer Hop Ale

3.29/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Pale copper colour, poorly-retained off-white head and no lace. Mild herbal, floral, and lemon zest aromatics. Toasted bread, lemon, and woody flavours, then a spicy finish. Mild but noticeable bitterness. Fairly light in body with surprisingly restrained carbonation. Quenching and light without being watery or prickly - I actually like the mouthfeel of this beer. Although it's a very tame beer, the hop aromas and flavours are easy to notice and do manage to take centre stage. There are certainly craft options that surpass it, but by macro standards I think this hits the ball out of the park. Not a great beer, but it does deliver the advertised goods.

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 01:33:46

Alexander Keith's Cascade Hop Ale

2.19/5 rDev -30.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Pale copper colour, large off-white head. Mediocre retention, no lace. Mild grapefruit and floral aromatics. Light toasty malt character, very faint citrus flavour in the finish. Low bitterness that still comes across harsh on the palate. Light-bodied with restrained carbonation. Feels thin and a little watery, especially when taken in concert with it's anemic flavour. Where the Hallertau Hop Ale at least manages to deliver an easily perceived hop character, this Cascade Hop version almost completely fails.

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 02:27:00

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 11:58 am

Spot on. It is odd how they can make a decent enough beer with the Hallertau but so completely miss the mark with the Cascade.

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 12:59 pm

Where are people getting the cans? TBS?

PeenSteen · Post by **PeenSteen** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:02 pm

They are both terrible with the Cascade being just a bit more interesting

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:02 pm

No, LCBO (at least mine). Queen's Quay IIRC.

saints_gambit · Post by **saints_gambit** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 4:42 pm

PeenSteen wrote:They are both terrible with the Cascade being just a bit more interesting

Terrible might be harsh. I will agree with you that the Cascade is the most interesting of the offerings.

I'll also say this: I have claimed in the past that the big guys probably have the capability to do things like this. I didn't really allow for the fact that there might be a more substantial learning curve on a larger scale. They're probably going to get better at it with subsequent iterations.

Not that that's good news or bad news or even news news. It's just likely what will develop.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 5:49 pm

Terrible is definitely too harsh. I judge them by imagining I am in some Haligonian hell where only the Keith's brands are being served. Would I order this, or the regular "IPA"? The Hallertau yes, the Cascade no.

saints_gambit · Post by **saints_gambit** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 12:19 pm

midlife crisis wrote:Terrible is definitely too harsh. I judge them by imagining I am in some Haligonian hell where only the Keith's brands are being served. Would I order this, or the regular "IPA"? The Hallertau yes, the Cascade no.

In a Haligonian version of hell, all of the bars are uphill.