Inveralmond Ossian Ale (Cask)

Pint poured at the Halfway House in Edinburgh. Slightly cloudy orange/straw colour, no head. Aroma was a good mix of hops and swet malt. Spicy hops come through in the flavour, which combined well with the smoothness on the palate with an excellent bitter aftertaste. Clearly kept well at this fine pub.

1. Cask Handpump at the Star Inn, Huddersfield 26/07/2003 Golden coloured with a fruit aroma. Slightly dry creamy hop finish. 2. Cask Handpump at the Penny Black, Northwich (JDW) 03/02/2005 Golden coloured hoppy and pale with some citrus aroma. Slightly creamy biiter dry finish.

Bronze/amber in colour. Assertively hoppy on the nose. Hops and bitterness continue on the palate, but quite full bodied and not overaggressive. Some malt too. Very well balanced, with some complexity. Finishes clean with some hints of sweetness. Refreshing and easy-drinking. An excellent beer. Handpump, The Speaker, London SW1, April 2003

Cask Conditioned at The Anchor, Birmingham. A golden beer with a healthy head. Lightly fragrant initially malty beer, spicy, hay, hoppy notes leading to a floral hop finish. A well balanced delicious Pale Ale (English?) with plenty of body.

Any first impressions?
-A tight head of foam creates wondrous lacing atop the clear golden hues.
-Crunchy, wheaty cereals rise along with fruity aromatic hops.
-Rich cereals and citrusy hops combine for a flavorful and satisfying gulp.
-The perfectly low, supporting carbonation leaves a lot of room for the wealthy mouthfeel to be exposed.

What if you dig deeper?
-The flavors are quite intense for such a low gravity brew, and still manage to remain balanced.
-The muscular wooden hop bitterness (for the style) also brings along some dryness.
-A great ale which showcases more than sufficient malt to chew on, and plenty of boastful hoppiness for the hopheads to be quenched.

On cask at the Halfway House, Edinburgh.