Cranky Reviews

Smile and Wave*

NE Pale Ale

Beer Type

15 to 20

15 to 20

Super Suds

Rating

Smile and Wave*

Wave

Signal Brewing Co.

6.1% Alcohol

Signal, Skeleton Park, Spearhead, a triumvirate of K-Town (and area) taps that maintain their brands under common ownership. ** We have sampled Skeleton’s Sol Juice and a couple of Spearhead’s collaborations with The Society of Beer Drinking Ladies. As far as signals go, we took a Left Turn at Cold Break and quaffed a St. John’s in the shadow of Signal Hill NF and ranted about the no signal Nellies and the late signal Larrys, but this is our first official Signal brew tasting.

When it comes to waves, we survived a Death Wave, seemed right at home with Lazy Waves and saw the seashore from a Coastal Wave.  We even cheered on the Hog Town boys of summer with a Blue Wave. After an intro more link laden than the PGA tour, it’s finally time to do the Wave. ***

A pretty pour to start this quaff off. Hazy muted OJ with a one finger bright white topper. Pictured among the pines which seemed apropos and foreshadowing as well. An aroma of tropical juice and pine, this East Coast smells West Coast. A slick sweet juicy first quaff goes immediately to pine bitters, with a bitter aftertaste. Stone fruit citrus tropical, the scurvy fighting mix of juices now blends with the bitters. The bitters abate a bit and a tangy fruit salad remains. The juice fades and the bitters come back again. The bitters seem to be coming in waves!

A juice lover’s pale ale, Juicy with the juice on it’s own and nicely balanced when the bitters show up.

*Editor’s Comment: Smile and Wave seems like a fitting title for a Kingston and area based brew review since it’s the name of the third studio album, and a song on the album, by Kingston band The Headstones. The album and song were released in 1997.

**Editor’s Comment: In 2023 Skelton Park Brewery acquired Spearhead and Signal Breweries under a new umbrella company Spearhead Brewing Inc. The three breweries maintain their brands and locations. Signal operates out of Belleville Ontario.

*** Editor’s Comment: The Professional Golf Association (PGA) has 36 regular season events, four major championships, three FedEx Cup playoffs and some additional special events as well.

Final Rating: A Waving and Smiling Super Suds 15 out of 20

NE Pale Ale

Beer Type

15 to 20

15 to 20

Super Suds

Rating

Other Info

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