Day 22: Tap It's American Standard Ale

(Subtitled as a "Session Pale Ale")

Okay, so Tap It's IPA was one of my least favourite beers. Just way, way too hoppy without any accompanying flavour to justify the extreme. The American Standard Ale is also pretty strongly hopped, but at very tolerable levels.

In case you're wondering what a "session ale" is, good luck getting an authoritative definition. It usually refers to a beer that is low enough in alcohol and mild enough in taste that several can be enjoyed over a brief period of time without the drinker sinking into a deep state of inebriation.

If you're comparing this to their IPA, this is definitely the "session" version of that beer. But if I'm thinking about other beers commonly available, this one would still rather solidly be an IPA. Just a hint too bitter for me this deep into winter, I'd probably love this in the heat of the summer. The hops are bright and floral and full of citrus and certainly add a crispness to this beer that would go well with hot weather. I'd rate it higher if it weren't for a strange after taste. Just as you're about to say, "that beer has a fairly clean finish to it", it hits you. Like the bitterness of the hops have just been lying in wait, holding back the bulk of their forces to hit you on the way out. I guess some people may like that. I wish it wasn't there, because without it I was really liking this beer.

Three tankards! (a six pack if it's summer)