It may seem like I would have reviewed this beer years ago, but I actually have never written a word about Brewsters’ Rig Pig Pale Ale. Not because it wasn’t worth a review. The main hurdle was its limited availability – having for years only been available at the various Brewsters locations around the province.

The limited availability made it less of a priority in terms of choosing which beer to review – there are always more candidates than those selected. However, that all changed a few months ago when Brewsters, taking advantage of new AGLC rules permitting retail sales by brewpubs, launched their core brands in six-packs in select beer stores around the province. Suddenly, anyone can get Brewsters beer, meaning a trip to one of their pubs is unnecessary. Which meant a review was more practical – and thus it is my latest Vue Weekly column (read here).

So I had a few Brewsters beer to choose from. Why Rig Pig? Well, in part – as I say in the review – it was the very first beer I ever tried at Brewsters. Also, I really like that a beer that most breweries would have named their pale lager or light beer was an unapologetic pale ale. Keep in mind at the time – more than a decade ago – pale ales were a boundary-pushing style in this part of the world (for confirmation see Full Moon, Alley Kat). I have always respected that they both designed their anchor beer (reputation-wise – their fruit beer are the best-selling beer) as a pale ale and then named it after oil workers, a crew known for their affinity for basic corporate lager.

How is the beer? Well, you can read the article for a full review, but it is an appealing, accessible, drinkable ale. What I like about it is its interesting mixture of British and American characteristics. The malt has a British toffee note and it has a noted fruitiness, but the hops are more American in their grassy character.

It may be a bit more conservative on the IBUs than some of the best pale ales around, but it still offers a well-balanced and flavourful interpretation. The more hophead-y among us will likely criticize it for not being assertive enough. Fair enough. My point is that it isn’t meant to be the most out-there pale ale. Keep in mind the original design (I am certain there have been tweaks) was created at a time when pale ales were odd entities in this market. That doesn’t necessarily justify its current incarnation, but I personally feel a pale ale doesn’t have to push the lupulin boundary – that is what IPAs are for.

It is interesting to see Brewsters take a stab at the retail market. They have long been a mainstay of the Alberta beer world, but one bounded by its brewpub status, meaning only a sliver of beer drinkers could experience their beer. With the inclusion of retail sales in liquor stores, I will be curious to see how consumers respond.