Kelham Island Pale Rider

Brewed by Kelham Island
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Sheffield, England

A straw yellow coloured beer with little head but some effervescence. A distinctly fruity nose with a hint of floral hop and a slight sweetness towards the end. The taste is smooth and mellow, fruity hops with an underlying sweetness. The finish is light, smooth and fruity. (Draught - @ the Norwich Beer Festival 2004).

Initial whiff realises some pink grapefruit, which must obviously come from the North American hops. Some sweet malt gives it a toffee base. The aroma was quite tempting, before my nose gave in to the autumn allergens floating in the breeze. Fairly restrained flavour, typical of the English ales, but there was enough bitterness present to perk it up a little. In fact, it’s quite well balanced and rounded. There was some sweet fruitiness in the aftertaste, banana flavoured esters perhaps. This is a very enjoyable ale, one that could easily satisfy either as a one-off or as a session beer.

Tasted 24/02/2006. 500ml bottle from Rumble’s, Wellington (it says here bottle-conditioned but I’m not so sure that this one is). Pours bright, a gorgeous, rich, pure gold. Little visible carbonation and an airy just off-white head that collapses quickly and laces mildly. Big, perfumey, english pale malt aroma: sweet grains with a small hint of oranges and sea air. Some spiciness in there too and then some lovely banana esters as it warms. In the mouth there are more sweet grains up front, suggestions of barley sugars; dry and bitter fruit through the middle, without the "american hop flavour" I expected (mybe the journey to NZ dulled them?); then a long finish that is woody, spicy, and ever so slightly astringent. Medium weight, low carbonation balanced by a pinch of prickly hopping. I began this ale with trepidation, after my last two Kelham Island efforts, and it didn’t knock my socks off immediately. However, I ended it knowing that I’d just enjoyed a subtly world class ale.

Good looking appearance, hazy golden body with a medium size, almost lasting white head. Nose is not too full on but first of all I get doughy malt and then the citrus characters that feature in the taste. Body seems to be a tad thin but that works in a good way, flavour is watered down grapefruit and some sherbet, a little zesty and unfiltered yeast. Enjoyable!

Bottled.Started off thinking this could be a top class ale.Lots of inviting aroma and a lovely golden appearance.For some reason this soon faded.Slightly bitter taste with that bottled condition acidity that I find so depressing. Nearly but not quite a very good ale.

1. Cask Stillage at the Parr Hall, Warrington 12/10/2002 Golden coloured pale and fruity. Lasting hop finish. 2. Cask Stillage at the Victory Hall Mens Club, Mobberley 27/07/2003 Clear golden coloured and very fruity. Lasting malt and hop finish. 3. Cask Handpump at the Memorial Hall, Northwich 18/09/2009 Hoppy aroma. Golden coloured hoppy and smooth on the palate with a slightly dry malt finish. 4. Cask Handpump at the Dog & Duck, Beverley 05/12/2009 Hoppy aroma. Big white head. Clear golden coloured smooth on the palate and hoppy with a little dryness and bitterness in a crisp floral creamy and slightly peppery finish.

Quite pale, lots of pils malt (I think?) character throughout, with a slight touch of wheat malt perhaps, though I doubt I would’ve picked it if it weren’t written on the bottle. Some herbal noble hops, clean, refreshing, a nice touch of yeast and an assertively bitter finish. Really enjoyable - and not surprisingly bottle-conditioned.

Cask(gravity) : Fat Cat , Norwich. A very pale beer with loads of hops and and a fruity body, very ,very drinkable!