Church Key West Coast Pale Ale

cratez · Post by **cratez** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 3:02 pm

Not sure when this was announced, or how long it's been available, but I see that Church Key's West Coast Pale Ale is now on LCBO shelves in several cities across the province (Toronto, Ottawa, London, Kingston, Peterborough) and a few smaller communities as well. No stock showing in Mississauga, Hamilton, and K-W yet; hopefully that's just temporary. I've enjoyed this beer on tap a few times and if the bottled version is anything like the draft then it's certainly worth a purchase. Cheers

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 3:15 pm

$13.75 / 6er seems kinda pricey

ill give it a shot if i see it but it'll have to be outstanding for me to repeat purchase at that price

andrewrg · Post by **andrewrg** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 3:30 pm

I'm pretty wary of Church Key stuff, but if it's generally appreciated by BT folks maybe I'll give this one a shot.

phat matt · Post by **phat matt** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 3:37 pm

I had some this summer from the brewery and it was full of dms. I really hope for there sake these bottles are good, because this seems to be their first big push into new markets. I look forward to trying it again. I have been satisfied with there north humberland ale. It was excellent on the dock at my cottage.

RayOhm · Post by **RayOhm** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:26 pm

andrewrg wrote:I'm pretty wary of Church Key stuff

+1, I've had a lot of their stuff, I think ive only actually enjoyed one beer from them.

velovampire · Post by **velovampire** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:57 pm

cratez wrote:Not sure when this was announced, or how long it's been available, but I see that Church Key's West Coast Pale Ale is now on LCBO shelves in several cities across the province (Toronto, Ottawa, London, Kingston, Peterborough) and a few smaller communities as well. No stock showing in Mississauga, Hamilton, and K-W yet; hopefully that's just temporary. I've enjoyed this beer on tap a few times and if the bottled version is anything like the draft then it's certainly worth a purchase. Cheers

It's been out for about a month/6 weeks. The sixer I got about a month ago was decent enough, but I seemed to recall liking it more in earlier incarnations. Worth an try if you've not had it before, but ultimately no reason to buy this/seek it out with far superior/more consistent/cheaper Crazy Canuck available.

sprague11 · Post by **sprague11** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:36 pm

I liked it when I've gotten it at the brewery. Agree about Crazy Canuck being superior.

cratez · Post by **cratez** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:49 pm

velovampire wrote: The sixer I got about a month ago was decent enough, but I seemed to recall liking it more in earlier incarnations...ultimately no reason to buy this/seek it out with...Crazy Canuck available.

Drinking a West Coast now and I agree that the Canuck is a more aromatic, flavourful, and accurate interpretation of the APA style, and cheaper to boot. But this Church Key brew is no slouch either. It's got a nice grainy and biscuity pale malt character with fruity-citric hops (apricot, grapefruit), a bold astringent bitterness, and bone dry finish. You can tell they used Chinook, as the IBUs seem pretty high. Some folks might even say acrid, but I personally enjoy the higher-than-usual bitterness.

JesseM · Post by **JesseM** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:26 pm

cratez wrote:...No stock showing in Mississauga, Hamilton, and K-W yet; hopefully that's just temporary...

Nah, you can have whatever KW might get.

cratez · Post by **cratez** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 12:49 pm

JesseM wrote: Nah, you can have whatever KW might get.

As in you don't like the beer, or K-W gets crappy releases? I don't get it.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:02 pm

Amazingly, the CK facility produced my first tried & only version of Scotch Irish Sgt Majors IPA I ever liked. VERY funky beautiful hop aroma, was so original and delicious!

Then they crank out these questionable 'hello we're Ontario pretending to be California' beers. You can't underestimate the hand of the brew master (in this case, SI founder Perry Mason who made decent beers with Church Key and even 1 or 2 with Heritage that were not complete fails.) Be great if CK hired Mason to do something with a real stamp of authenticity. He's selling Acuras.

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:08 pm

Belgian wrote:Mason ......... He's selling Acuras.

just goes to show that it takes more then brewing good beer to make money in the industry

keep in mind that his IPA and IRS recipes are currently owned by a brewery who isnt doing anything with them

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:23 pm

... as well as the province's best Session Bitter and Plain Porter...

notdan · Post by **notdan** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 2:42 pm

The Manx pretty much always has this beer on tap and it's consistently been in good form. I hope the bottled version does well.

cratez · Post by **cratez** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:59 am

Well so much for my initial positive review. Last night's bottle was loaded with DMS and diacetyl. I wreaked of buttered vegetables and popcorn after taking a few sips, and for some reason the bitterness had completely faded as well. Buyer beware.

The Bar Towel

Church Key West Coast Pale Ale

Church Key West Coast Pale Ale

Re: Church Key West Coast Pale Ale

Re: Church Key West Coast Pale Ale

Re: Church Key West Coast Pale Ale

Re: Church Key West Coast Pale Ale