Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale
Review Date
Atlanta can get
hot. Very hot. I found this out on a recent trip to the city. The city is
often called Hotlanta, and there's a good reason why. In this weather, light
and refreshing beers can really hit the spot, yet a little flavor doesn't
hurt either. Fortunately, Atlanta's Sweet Water Brewery has met the need for
this type of beer with their 420 Extra Pale Ale.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
Also From This Brewery
At this point, you're more than likely wondering about the name. What
exactly does the 420 stand for? Nobody I have come across seems to know.
Sweet Water is not the only brewery to have such a beer. At least one brewer
on the West Coast has an IPA thusly named, and Maine's Stone Coast also has
a 420 IPA. The number seems to have a connection with marijuana; it seems a
420 is a police code for a pot offense. Hops are related to cannabis, so
perhaps that is the nature. Stone Coast claims they brew their beer in
batches of 420 barrels (presumably they meant gallons). Perhaps this is the
nature of the term. Atlanta's sweetwater appears to use a 15 barrel system
too.
420 Extra Pale is light golden in color with a buttery, slightly fruity
nose. The palate is crisp and malty with subtle notes of fruit and buttery
diacetyl. There's a balancing to slightly bitter hop finish that is more
pronounced as the beer warms. Served ice cold, this beer would lose a good
deal of it's character since it is rather delicate.
Do you want to know more? You can visit the brewery for tours Mondays at
(you guessed it) 4:20 PM. 
