Aldi’s beers have a very up and down rating with their offerings. I have not seen this Great Pines American IPA before, so let’s give it a try and see how it fares.

Brewed by  ABW Virginia Beach LLC, Great Pines is a contract brew exclusive to Aldis. Other than it being 6% abv, I can find little other info on either the beer or the brewery. But we don’t need all that to drink it do we?

Pours a beautiful almost crystal clear bright yellow body with a very strong looking white head that is being supported by moderate carbonation streams. Very good looking beer here. Just pouring I am already getting hit in the nose by the hops. 

As the name implies there is great, resinous pine right up at ya with grapefruit coming in right behind and a decent Pilsner like malty/graininess holding things together. The very classic, but kind of recently missing American IPA profile. 

First taste impression is again all of that very predominant piney, maybe cedary resiny hopping, with more orange now, but still has grapefruit there along with a light caramel malt. All big flavors, but not overboard. This kind of reminds me of Bells Two Heared, but maybe even more piney. 

Medium body with middle of the road carbonation. Moderate bitterness. I’d say in the Pale ale range.  I was expecting a bit more to be honest, but it is absolutely fine where it is. There is a bit of sweetness here, but it still has a powdery dry hoppy finish.

Ok yea. This Great Pines American IPA is definitely one of the up beers for Aldis. A very classic, but maybe just ever so slightly muted American IPA. The style of IPA that has been making a comeback over the feeble New England style, and I am very glad for that.

If this beer stays in stock I think this will probably be a regular at the house. Its just what it claims to be, and just about 100% what I wanted my IPA to be. Gotta go a 4.5 out of 5 here. If you are an old school IPA fan, this one is for you.