Deep Cove Brewing – Mandarin Oat Pale Ale

Deep Cove Brewing – Mandarin Oat Pale Ale Review

As part of our recent North Vancouver brew tour, the BeerSeekers stopped in at venerable Deep Cove Brewing. Tucked away in suburbia (on the way to Deep Cove, not actually in the eponymous hamlet), Deep Cove is located a short taxi or bus ride from Bridge Brewing and Wildeye Brewing. Their sizeable facility would dwarf the members of the Shipyards Brewery District were it to suddenly materialize amongst the young operations on Esplanade.

While at the Cove we sampled a rack of their latest wares, then chose the easy-drinking Mandarin Oat Pale Ale as our take-away homework. We’ll start by saying that for what is nominally a Pale Ale, this is a somewhat delicate and urbane beer.

The unfiltered brew pours a slightly cloudy orangey gold, with a head that dissipates quickly.

On the nose this interesting Pale comes across as vinous; reminiscent of white wine, but accompanied by a sharp hop aroma.

Despite the name, the mandarin aspect is subtle here. Don’t expect a sweet, malty orange punch. The Oat Pale is dry on the palate, with a mildly bracing astringency. Not what you would normally associate with a Pale Ale, but definitely cohesive and on point with the overall theme.

For a subtle beer, the hops add a distinct presence. There’s a slighly oily palate experience. This is one of those beers that defies classification, qualifying as a Pale Ale on the basis of its colour and yeast type, but not so much as a traditional English or Northwest pale. Definitely worth a try if you find it at Deep Cove, and even if you don’t, you won’t regret stopping in during your North Shore beer trek.