Craft Beer in Cans (Part 2)

The Bay Shore is glorious this morning; clear blue skies, rain-washed fresh air, gulls wheeling in aerial waltzes. This natural beauty always reminds me why we moved here in the first instance. What a perfect day, shame I had to spoil it by gong to work. Alas, good beer is not free, so in order to support my habit it’s off to work I must go…

It seems that a new good beer is arriving in the local stores each week this spring. Most of it is packaged in the traditional brown glass bottles. This is great, but it does limit the discriminating drinker’s options when attending venues where glass is just not appropriate. Weep and gnash your teeth no more -just in time for beach, pool and boating season we have some great new choices in unbreakable packaging. While you could always pick up inexpensive national brands in cans, as well as some of the mainstream imports, craft brews in cans have been virtually non-existent. This changed last fall with the arrival on our shores of The Oskar Blues Brewery’s “Dale’s Pale Ale” and “Old Chub” (a delightfully malty Scotch Style Ale). Now in cans and new in the local stores are two brews from Sly Fox Brewing of Royersford, Pennsylvania, “Phoenix Pale Ale” and “Pikeland Pils.”

I have taken it upon myself to sample these two examples of the brewer’s art and can say without question that these beers are both first rate. You do not have to trust me; just ask Rich Young my neighbor. Rich is often the victim of my boring monologues on beer and this past weekend was no exception. Rich is a Dale’s Pale Ale fanatic so I knew he would bite when I offered up the competition. In a side by side tasting Rich concluded that while the Phoenix Pale Ale was indeed spectacular, Dale’s was still his preferred beer. Both brews are generously hopped with West Coast Hops (lots of citrus and pine flavor), though we both found the Dale’s to have a more aggressive profile. Personally I liked the strong malt presence in the Phoenix and will definitely stock up on this brew. The preceding notwithstanding, Dale’s is a great restorative glass after a grueling day of home maintenance.

For Dan Kilduff, and, those that prefer a subtler and less aggressive brews, the Pikeland Pils, a German-Style Pilsner, may be just the ticket. The Pikeland compares favorably with Troeg’s “Sunshine Pils” and Victory’s “Prima Pils” but in a convenient unbreakable package…a blind taste test may follow. Initial comments-pours a clear sunshine yellow with a generous pillow of white head. Aroma of wet grass, green leaves and faint, bready-malts. Taste is, initially, a touch sweet but a firm but not overpowering hop presence is there to balance things out. Dan this is a great beer in a can that won’t break if you drop it while cleaning that beautiful pool of yours.

The Sly Fox brews are packaged in 12 pack corrugated cardboard cartons and available at Spirits Unlimited on Newman Springs Road in Red Bank. The Oskar Blues products are available in our town at the Copper Basket on First Avenue.

Now the only dilemma facing Atlantic Highlands is how we get good craft beer served at the Shore Casino…sigh.

Until next time…