Beer Review: Wayfinder Beer – Unholy Crown Pale Ale
Location: Portland, OR
Style: West Coast Pale Ale
ABV: ~5.2% (Varies by batch)
Wayfinder is often hailed as the “Lager King” of the Pacific Northwest, but its approach to ales is just as surgical. Unholy Crown is a love letter to the era when Pale Ales were defined by their snap and their “C-hop” aromatics, rather than fruit puree or lactose. It is a beer of incredible discipline: clean, bright, and unapologetically bitter.
The Pour
This beer is a visual palette cleanser. It pours a deep, radiant gold—not quite copper, but with enough depth to suggest a solid malt backbone. It is crystal clear, a hallmark of Wayfinder’s meticulous cellar work, topped with a frothy, rocky head that leaves “shattered glass” lacing all the way down the glass.
The Aroma
The nose is a throwback in the best way possible. Instead of the tropical “juice box” profile, you get a punch of classic pine resin and ruby red grapefruit. There’s a beautiful floral note—think dried jasmine or wildflower honey—and a toasted cracker scent from the malt that lets you know this beer has structure.
The Flavor Profile
Unholy Crown is all about the “bite.”
Initial Impression: A quick flash of honey-soaked biscuit and toasted grain that disappears almost instantly.
The Hop Transition: The bitterness arrives early and stays late. It tastes like fresh citrus zest and crushed pine needles. There is a distinct “green” herbal quality that feels forest-fresh.
The Finish: Extremely dry. Wayfinder likely treats its water to ensure a crisp, mineral finish that brings out the hop oils. There is no lingering sweetness here, just a clean, resinous tingle.
The Verdict
In a world of “Hazy-this” and “Pastry-that,” Unholy Crown feels like a revolutionary act. It’s a beer for people who miss the classic West Coast Pale Ales of the early 2010s but want them executed with the precision of a 2026 master brewer. It is balanced, lean, and incredibly “crushable.”
Quick Take: This is a “brewer’s beer.” It’s technically perfect, refreshingly bitter, and reminds you why Pale Ale was the style that started the craft revolution in the first place.