Wellington Special Pale Ale or SPA. At the Beer Store for $10.50. From Guelph, Ontario. Can't say there are bad tastes in this brew. Then again, I can't say there is much taste at all. Not thin, no, it's got a medium-light body and the colour of light maple syrup and...that is about it on first encounter.

I am going to have to think a bit more about this one.

Later: the Brewery calls it a summer ale full of flavour at 4.5% but assures, as the taste confirms that it is a real ale without preservatives. Full of flavour. It is not at the point one elementary school pal was who considered bologna spicy, but "full" is not really the word.

One beer advocate writes:

Taste is alright, nothing special. Some sweetness to start. Some nuts. Middle is slightly metallic, and end is moderately bitter. It's a light and crisp beer, with lager like qualities. A bit doughy and biscuity. This pale ale isn't really anything special. Lady at the brewery told me it was their best seller in and around Guelph. However, it's not one of their better beers.

I can live with that. A tepid assertion of the style, not geared for beer excellence so much as attracting a more moderate palate, the general market. Anyone who bought this ale regularly might be set off course by an English real pale ale or an American one. After the glass has sat around, there is the key that makes it Canadian pale ale, that rough grainy pepper thing with a bit of fruit way back. The brewer says it is two row Canadian barley they use which is better than six row, the work horse of cheap bad tasting beer - and that's not just me, it's the science. It is the quality of the grain that makes that fruit flavour a good pale ale should have and it is good that what is there is there.

A session beer? I don't know if I would look forward to many of these. Maybe it's a beer to have around at a party when you can't bring yourself to buy Labatts Blue but you know your pals will gag on a real, real pale ale. Not beautiful and not ugly. The crown of National pale ale champion is not yet at danger of falling from the cap of McAuslan's St. Ambrose Pale Ale.