Taking its name from a wave so small it’s hard to surf, or an ankle-buster, as it is known to surfers, this beer was a creation of the entire Pelican brewing team. It started with a general concept for an exciting new summer beer, and then everyone in the brewery contributed to the design of the beer’s characteristics: color, flavor profile, aroma, alcoholic strength, malt character, and hop character. The end result is a beer that carves out new flavor territory for the Pelican Pub & Brewery.

 

The core of Ankle-Buster is a rich, golden-colored Pale Ale with a rounded malt profile from Golden Promise and caramel malts. The robust malt backbone plus an herbal hop character gives this Pale Ale a bit of an English influence. The unusual twist for Ankle-Buster, however, is using our Belgian yeast strain to ferment this beer. It adds a spiciness and more pronounced fruitiness to the aroma, as well as a bit of spicy tartness in the finish.

 

Ankle-Buster Ale starts with an herbal hop aroma highlighted by fruity and spicy notes from the Belgian yeast. The flavor transitions into a rounded malty middle with caramel and toasty, biscuit-like flavors. The finish combines a snappy hop character with some light background tartness and an overall dry character. Ankle-Buster Ale is a beer that defies easy categorization with its unique combination of balanced flavors, yeast influence, and refreshing drinkability.