All the preparation for vacation left me little time for blogging, so I never ended up finished writing about my week of DC beers.  Wednesday of DC Beer Week 2013 was a fairly slow workday. With the Congressional recess in full swing, most Capitol Hill staffers were off on their own vacations, as were many of my office colleagues.  That meant I had plenty of time to catch up on the desk work that piled in June and July, but it also meant that there wasn’t the urgency to get everything finished by the end of the day.  Admittedly, I relished the slower pace.  By the time I got home from work, I was ready to just relax on the couch with my book and a beer.

The Port City Brewing Company Essential Pale Ale (brewery) is an American Pale Ale that is brewed in Alexandria, Virginia.  The beer was a brownish yellow with a bit of cloudiness.  On the nose, there were grapefruits and oranges with hints of flowers and grass.   In the mouth, there were some malt balls and pine needles mixed with orange rinds and lemons.  The beer was medium bodied with a bit of a sudsy finish.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable beer.  At $2.47 for a 12oz bottle, this beer was not what I was hoping for, as it had surprising citrus, flowers, and mild hops, and I expect a bit more from my Pale Ales.  At the same time, it was a solid choice that was definitely drinkable after a busy day at work.  All in all, while I wouldn’t shy away from drinking the Essential Pale Ale when I see it on draft at a bar or restaurant, it’s probably not a beer that I will keep regularly in my fridge either.

Question of the Day:  Are you Pale Ale drinker?  Do you have a favorite type (ex. Amber Ale, American Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, etc.)?

Price: $2.47 for a 12oz. bottle
Purchased at Grateful Red Wine Shop
Overall: 3 Corks