It’s the second Thursday in April of 2016, and that means a new glass at Taco Mac. This month, Foothills Brewing of Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the featured brewery, and I’m diving right into a foaming mug of Pilot Mountain Pale Ale, and American Pale Ale in style. This is a beer I’ve never had before, and it only took one sip to know I love it.
Sadly enough, Pilot Mountain Pale Ale is a seasonal brew from Foothills. I say sadly enough because this smooth and drinkable flavorful beauty is perfect for year-round imbibing. It’s a beer I could c0ome back to again and again and never get tired of, though that’s not as possible with the beer’s February through April release schedule.
From the brewery website:
Named for one of western North Carolina’s most iconic landmarks. A classic American style Pale Ale brewed with British Pale and Caramel Malts, and aggressively hopped with Cascade for superior aroma and flavor. In name and in taste, a landmark beer.
Foothills Pilot Mountain Pale Ale has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume with 52 IBUs. I paid $5.50 for a mug at Taco Mac and that with a free logo glass. It sells for about $9.99 a six-pack in stores.
My mug of Foothills Pilot Mountain Pale Ale was et before me deep amber in color with a moderate sized head of foam and pronounced citric grapefruit in the nose. Taking a sip, the beer has solid caramel malt up front commensurate with the style, then flowery piney resiny hops all the way through to a perfectly bitter finish. I really love the Cascades in this beer, it reminds me of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in many ways and I can't think of higher praise than that.
Foothills Pilot Mountain Pale Ale is, simply put, a beautiful beer. Balance is what its all about between malt and hop, yet both so well defined individually. I could rink this beer forever. Excuse me while I go stock up.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler