Ottos Arthurs Centennial Pale Ale

Brewed by Ottos Pub & Brewery
Style: American Pale Ale
State College, Pennsylvania USA

Enjoyed on handpump at Otto’s - fairly hoppy and not really my thing, but I liked how it was served warmer. Pretty dry. Herbal.

On cask at the brewpub. Aroma is a mangled earth and citrus. Woodgrain, cane sugar, and sweetgrass fume from the nose. Blend this with some mexican oregano, pacific yew, and mineral rich soda water and you’ve got a profile. Pours a brilliant hazed orange, glowing and varied. Head is pillowy falling soap of opalescent white. Flavor carries palm oil, more herbaceous qualities and ringing citrus. A good balance between hop flavor, light honey-inflected sweetness, and fresh yeast. Lies light on the palate, with mild bitterness and perfect cask conditions. It does play a little too nice and the grubby Centennial shows its dirty side. I think maybe the yeast overpowers the beer in spots, when a refined hop character should be more eminent.

Cask pint at the brewery. Perfect lumpy white head atop a cloudy light amber-orange body. Very fresh and grassy nose with a pungent hop note, presenting the centennial very well but sort of muddying it all up with some very prominent doughy yeast, resulting in a bit of a cheese funk emanating from this beer. Flavorwise it’s similar, with a cheesy-funk yeast flavor coating the otherwise fresh, nutty and twiggy hops (I just used twiggy in a rating). Good, and well crafted, but not near the Amarillo IPA.

Cask @ Otto’s. Pours a hazy, yellow-orange color; off-white head with patchy lacing. Pleasant aroma showing soft orange and resiny citrus hops; some tropical fruits and yeast. Very soft, creamy mouthfeel: orange and tropical hoppiness; pleasant, resiny hops coupled with a soft, sugary malt core; very drinkable. Medium, orange and doughy finish; ends a bit dry.