Ska Brewing Co. Euphoria Pale Ale

Two-toned and tasty

by Matt Farley

Metromix

It's an easy mistake to make: letting the coolness of a brand get in the way of giving it a fair review. Sure, Nike might have some sweet ads, but does that mean the Air Force 1 can really add inches to your vertical leap? Probably not.

This is an issue when considering Ska Brewing Co. beers because the Durango-based company is, admittedly, freaking awesome. From Ska's rude boy-tastic Web site complete with a soundtrack by The Toasters to the outfit's sense of style and humor (Modus Hoperandi indeed), you can't help but love them. And that's where the impartial observer runs into problems.

So, we carefully tasted Euphoria Pale Ale, Ska's winter seasonal, over a period of days and in a variety of situations and boring, non-Operation Ivy-themed beer glasses. In each case, the brew poured a hazy amber and came on strong with the hops and citrus. The beer sits a bit heavier and bites a bit harder than one would expect from looking at it, too.

Sound familiar? It should. The above descriptions could also apply to Ska's own Modus and Special E.S.B. brews. If you already like these, or other easy-drinking but quietly fierce beers in the old Sierra Nevada Pale Ale vein, you will enjoy Euphoria (a whole lot, in our case). Just don't expect anything that will flip your porkpie hat or make your checkered tie curl.

Ska Brewing Co.'s Euphoria Pale Ale is available in cans at liquor stores throughout Colorado and in several other states.