Most people in Nova Scotia drink Alexander Keith's, and some of them are fanatical about it--I know a guy who has a Keith's tattoo on his ass and the same Keith's tattoo on his shoulder. I think this is because Keith's marketers have tapped into a strong current of Nova Scotian (pseudo) Scottish sub-nationalism. In reality, Keith's tastes much like every other mass produced Canadian beer, e.g. Labatt's, Oland's, Molson, or Moosehead, which all taste similar to American Budweiser.If a Nova Scotian tries to make you drink a bottle of Keith's, it won't kill you to humour him or her because it really isn't terrible--just kind of bland and watery. Real IPA's, like the ones made by Live Oak, Dogfish Head, and Nova Scotia's own Propeller (whose IPA won a gold medal at the World Beer Championships in Chicago), are bold, hoppy, complex and strong, and are among the best beers in the world. In conclusion, every single other IPA I've ever tried has been better than Keith's.
RATING: 50% for old time's sake (that's a pass in Nova Scotia). I've probably put down 1000 bottles of the stuff since I was 16, and there's alcohol in it, after all.
(Image from www.unitedforce.com.)
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I'm a fan of IPAs, although I really have to be in a particular mood for them. Once I drank this in-restaurant brewed IPA at this place here in Houston, and it was really the hoppiest thing I'd ever had. It was like drinking orange juice with hops instead of oranges. I doubt much fermentation had taken place, but I guess that's why it's dollar Wednesday's at Two Rose.
Yeah, I think an IPA either has to be subtle or just crazy. I like my beer fermented, though. I'm old school like that.
I've got try Propeller someday. I've read good things. Is it imported anywhere in America?
And I still remember that IPA at Two Rows. It changed me in a very real, but not good, way.
I think Molson Canadian and Moosehead are among the better mass-produced lagers in Canada.
Moosehead is OK. Molson is piss, but Molson Export isn't bad, except we can't get it where I'm from. If you like those, you'd probably like Keith's, but you wouldn't believe for a second that it was an IPA.
I wrote to Propeller about their IPA and I got an email back:
John,
Thanks for the very kind compliments about our IPA. I don't know Live Oak, but have tried 90 minute and 60 minute IPA's from Dogfish Head. Pretty
extreme beers. We focused more on balance with ours, with a citrusy flavor and a very characteristic aroma thanks to Amarillo hops. I am glad you like
it. It is certainly the favourite here at Propeller, and has sold extremely well since release in 6 packs one year ago.
Hope things are going well for you in Dallas. These are interesting economic times.
Regards,
John Allen
Propeller Brewing
I don't really find it that citrous, especially not compared to Stone IPA. But probably compared to Propellor Bitter or Pale Ale it is.
Did he have any clue as to why he isn't selling it here? That's what I want to hear. It sounds good, and I like that little slap about Dogfish Head. Balance, eh?
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