Strata Pale Ale by Odd Company Brewing

Odd Company operates two taphouses in Edmonton, the original one centrally located in Oliver not too far from my home and the other, newer location situated in the Ritchie neighbourhood on the southside of our city.

I had a half hour of free time south of the river this afternoon so I took it upon myself to stop into the Ritchie taphouse and try this beer.

Odd Company's menu advises that Strate is "juicy and crushable." It purports to have "a citrus backbone with strawberry aromas." Does the brewery's description hold up? Let's find out.

Appearance: Odd Company has a nice logo and I like the shape of their glassware. The beer itself is slightly hazy. The head settles quickly but leaves heavy lacing.

Aroma: There's a slightly husky, grainy smell to this beer and a very, very subtle hint of rubber or BAND-AID that is often characteristic of chlorophenols. These undesirable phenolic compounds typically occur in beer when water with chlorine or chloramine is used in the brewing process.

Taste: Is it juicy? Sort of. I struggle to pinpoint specific fruit flavours but the hop profile is certainly fresh and tasty. Unfortunately the phenolic characteristics I identified in the nose present themselves here as well. I have no doubt that Odd Company understands water chemistry better than I do and treats their water appropriately but regardless, this common off flavour is slightly present, at least to my palate. That said, it's not a deal breaker.

Mouthfeel: It's a little thin for my taste but that's to be expected for a lighter beer at just 4.5% ABV. Carbonation is medium, which is where I like it to be for this style.

Overall: This is a good, refreshing beer with some minor flaws that keep it from being great. I feel like this beer would turn out better with a grain bill targeting 5.0% or 5.5% ABV for some extra heft plus some additional water treatment to address what I perceive as phenols.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

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