Dubious. That's pretty much my frame of mind when I try the big brewers' attempts at craft-style beer.
However, last week I introduced a cheaper alternative with Mac's Three Wolves, so I'm sticking to the budget again this week.
I picked up a 500ml bottle of Stoke Recognition Double PaleAle for $5 at the supermarket to see what they were doing to combat the smaller brewers.
It does not live up to the "big, bold hop aromas" it claims to produce on the side of the bottle, but nonetheless it does have some tangible hoppiness. What I did get was a huge hit of malt, on the nose and the tongue, and plenty of bitterness in aftertaste.
Yes, it does have a "hint of pine" and is overall quite drinkable and rather tasty.
As a "double pale ale" it would compete favourably with a quality craft brewed pale ale and is well worth the $5 I spent.
It's not at all overpowering, which is standard for the big brewers who don't want to alienate their drinkers, but it could have done with a bit more flavour, as it is marketed as a double pale ale.
But, I'd definitely not turn one down. It's good, but not great.
