The Kitsap Peninsula lies west of Seattle across the Puget Sound, separated from the rest of the Olympica Peninsula by the Hood Canal and now set apart for its sprouting beer scene. With the old familiars of Hood Canal Brewery, 7 Seas, Silver City and Der Blokken steadfastly holding their own on the map, a few newbies have joined the strip like Valholl, Slippery Pig and the three-year-old, seasonal-sporting, Belgian-style suds of Poulsbo, Wash.’s, Sound Brewery. Founded and fermented by homebrewers Brad Ginn and Mark Hood, the Belgian-style theme was locked in and focused on quality ingredients, rather than the specific and sometimes obsessive use of hops or an excessively complex mash bill. The proof is in the pudding, or beer, in this case with the Koperen Ketel Belgian-style Pale Ale. True to its Northwest roots (and ingredients), the hops are noticeable with citrus but the yeast aromas are most prevalent with notes of cream of wheat, toffee and biscuit, backed by candied citrus, carrot juice and apple. Full and robust, the palate is a mouthful of biscuit, orange rind, toffee and spice, cleaning up in the finish with submissive bitterness and a pleasing malts.
