Review
Posted in: Beer > Ales
13 / 05 / 2008
When you think of the McLaren Vale region of Australia what do you immediately think of? Wine and lots of it. All that is set to change with the McLaren Vale Brewing Company’s latest release called “Vale Ale”.
Before you even crack the lid off the bottle you have to sit back and admire the branding on the bottle. The Vale Ale is positioned as a premium pale ale and the look and feel of the bottle certainly reinforces that. A company which has gone to this much effort on the outside of the bottle either has a crap beer they need to flog off or are brewing perfectionists in for the long haul. I have a sneaking suspicion they are perfectionists.
Like most bottle conditioned pale ales there was a little yeast sediment in the bottle, but nowhere near as much as other boutique pale ales on the market. The initial flavour could best be described as malty with a mild citrus note, then a release of fruity aromas in the after palate. Although there are strong malty flavours on the initial palate, I wouldn’t call the Vale Ale a full flavoured ale, instead I think it’s best described as a lighter styled pale ale. Given the low alcohol rate of 4.5%, I think the Vale Ale will appeal to women as well as even non-beer drinkers.
Matching the Vale Ale with food will be a breeze. I can easily imagine having the Vale Ale with a char-grilled steak or an Asian noodle dish or spicy chicken salad. Given the citrus and fruit notes of the ale, it’ll also pair perfectly with grilled fish or shellfish.
Everyone is different, but the Vale Ale is my sort of beer. It’s surprisingly well balanced for a first brew from a brand new brewery. I think given the quality of the Vale Ale inside the bottle and together with the quality branding on the outside of the bottle, the team from the McLaren Vale Brewing Company are on a winner.
For more information visit www.valeale.com