Sweetwater Brewing Company- 420 Extra Pale Ale: Cast A Line To Catch Me Another
Monday, August 16, 2010 at 10:34AM | by Jason 
Saturday August 14th - I am about to jump out my hotel window! I have just spent the last 13 hours and 15 minutes stuck in a minivan (thanks Tracy) with my three daughters and my lovely wife…and it is a wonder that I am still alive. We embarked on our first family vacation in almost 4 years and are heading to the heavenly outer banks of the beautiful state of North Carolina. Thank God it is so nice here because with the way these people drive around here; I may never come back. My first mission, once I got to the hotel in Winston-Salem, was go out and see if I could find some local or regional brews. The store that was referred to me closed at 6:00pm and we didn’t get here till 7:40. Hell, so I hopped in the minivan (again, thanks Tracy) and went to the nearest grocery store, seeing that all they have around here are ABC Stores. So I hit the local Food Lion and happened across some Sweetwater Brewing Company 420 Extra Pale Ale, which is brewed out of Atlanta, GA. You’ll have to wait to hear about the other brew I found in another review. It’s time to see what 420 Extra Pale Ale has in store for me.
Sweetwater Brewing Company classifies this brew as a West Coast Style Pale Ale and their website describes 420 Extra Pale Ale as, “Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale, our most popular brew, is a tasty West Coast Style Pale Ale with a stimulating hop character and a crisp finish. A favorite throughout the Southeast, locals love this award-winning brew.”
420 Extra Pale Ale pours a golden color with a 1” off-white head. The aroma is hoppy and you can realy smell the pale malts coming through and only a slight citrus aroma.
I believe that this is my first official Craft Beer from Georgia. Sweetwater’s motto is “Don’t Float The Mainstream”. I take this as they are a crew that goes with their own flow if you know what I mean? 420 Extra Pale Ale is not your typical Pale Ale either. It’s leans a little more on the hoppy side but also has a killer sweetness to it and is a hair over carbonated for me, but just a smidge. That being said, I dig this brew and would definitely cast a line out hoping to catch another one. My only problem is that I need about another dozen to erase the memories of a long 13 hour car ride. Only 4 more hours to go tomorrow and the ocean will be cleansing me of all other worldly frustrations!
ABV: 5.4%
Consumed: (Afraid To Admit) An 8 oz Plastic Hotel Cup
Verdict: Buy A Twelve Pack
