Une letter d’amour from the brewer. Cardinal tell us that this brew is a love letter to l’houblon Cascade. You know you’re a serious beer lover when you are writing (or brewing as the case may be) love letters to hops. But not just any hop. Cascade hops * started the American Pale Ale trend with Anchor’s American Liberty Ale. Cardinal describes their Quebec take on these Pacific Northwest stylings as “exceedingly quaffable”.
I popped the top and cascade it did, with a bit of froth before the quaff. A not at all pale golden pour, clear, with an off-white head-on top. Tropical citrus aroma with some malt in there and you can sense the hops in waiting. The taste is a tropical juice with a middlin’ malt funk and a grapefruit bitter finish and aftertaste. A good tribute to the classic APA. First quaff was a bit disjointed but I found I grew accustomed to it quickly. I was thirsty and it was beer so it was all working. Balanced and the fruit body was consistent and full flavoured but never over the top. The bitter had just enough bite to make things interesting. Not sure about the “exceedingly”, how about “definitely quaffable”.
A love letter may be a touch too much for me. I think this review is an “I like It just fine” letter.
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