Blue Collar Pale Ale

Blue Collar Pale Ale is born, appropriately, in Hamilton, Ontario. It's a 5.5% ale brewed by The Hamilton Brewery, though it is actually constructed in the facilities of Railway City Brewing Co., in St. Thomas, ON. Sold in 473mL cans, this tidy offering pours hazy and ruddy, with a fluffy off-white head.

Blue Collar has a portly nose, with notes that showcase caramel malts, breadiness, and some sweetness. The flavour doesn't quite track exactly--there are hefty caramel notes, but built with a crunchy hops backbone.

Far more malty than a typical pale ale, and with more caramel sweetness than I expected, Blue Collar still managed to be an enjoyable little ale. It has decent strength and a very full body, making for a pretty square ale. I'd have liked a bit sharper bitter kick, but otherwise, this stuff was quite appealing. I'll be giving The Hamilton Brewery more of my money in the years to come.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.