You don’t hear the expression “up for a challenging read” much these days, but if you ever are David Foster Wallace delivers the goods. “The Pale King” is a light read as far as his novels go at 540 pages compared to “Infinite Jest” which weighs in at 1079. These weighty tomes do have some gems in them if you go mining. How about “If you are immune to boredom there is literally nothing you can’t accomplish.” Or “The truth will set you free. But not until it’s finished with you.” I get the feeling that DFW could have penned a few Flying Monkeys cans in his day.
But this brew was provided by beer of the month club, not book of the month club. So the question remains, is this Shillow American Pale Ale the pale king, or a princely pale, or just a plain old pal, or does it pale by comparison, or will it appall. I think that covers all the bases and a few of the fields too.
A bright tawny pour bordering on reddish. It has a funky fizzy aroma which reminded me of a sour. The taste is fizzy tropical fruity with a dry crisp slightly hoppy tart finish. The finish once again reminds of a sour, a session sour perhaps? Is it tangy or fruit crisp? A fruit punch tart finish. It is different and refreshing, easy drinking and tasty. As hazy and complex as an IRS form.*
I enjoyed it although I have to wonder if that is really what they were going for. Maybe not a king, but a prince of a pale ale.
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