Galactic Pale Ale

A member of the old guard of Toronto’s craft brewing fellowship, I’m told that Granite Brewery has been a staple of the scene since 1991–when I was not yet eight. However, it is only recently that I’ve started seeing their offerings popping up in Ontario liquor stores—historically, I’ve had to visit the mid-town brewery for my fix of their cask ales. I recently spotted a 473mL can of Granite’s Galactic Pale Ale at my local vendor, so I needed to cart it home and write it up.

Galactic is a 5% ale, brewed using Azacca and Cascade hops. Uncanned, the beer is clear and gold, with a very sudsy eggshell head. Clearly (in my opinion, at least) an English-style IPA, the aroma moves malt to hops, with initial caramel and subsequent citrus and evergreen notes. The flavour is a bit unusual for an Ontario pale ale—there is a bit of bread and toffee up front and a bit of citrus out the back, but the majority of the flavour profile is confined to a grainy, perfumed, coppery and resinous hop cast. Initially too thin, the the mouthfeel gained yardage as it rumbled down the field, ending in a dry, bitter, and unusually metallic finish.

With my first sip, I had low expectations for Galactic Pale Ale—I found it too thin. However, as both the beer and the Stout Man hit their strides, things started to click a bit more. By the end, I didn’t love this ale, exactly, but I certainly had learned a more healthy respect for it. It is notable that I can guarantee that despite the modest rating, I will definitely snap up a few cans of this flavourful and low-ish alcohol ale the next time I see it. Through long experience, Granite has created and chosen to can something awkward but enjoyable.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.