Blackthorn Ale
Thornbridge Brewery

 

Tasted by a half-pint at the University Arms, Sheffield, an unintended tap for Thornbridge ales in Sheffield, as this freehouse is run by the Univ. of Sheffield but chooses to serve two Thornbridge Hall’s ales on top of two other guests all year round.

A: the dark yellowish straw hue comes with a cob-web like fluffy white foam and rather low carbonation – it doesn’t look as if a sparkler is fitted on the handpump.
S: sticky-sweet malty and aromatic hoppy – packing lots of honey-ish nectar, flowery hops, and sour-sweet citrusness, while the heavier sugary pale malts as well as buttery note come in abundance to provide something of a backbone; alas, the sweetness somehow disturbs the balance a little, but overall the aroma still reveals all the features for a citric hoppy Bitter.
T: elderflowery, limey, grapefruity and almost gingery taste of hops lead the way, mildly spritzy in texture; quickly ensued by a deepening lightly-toasted malt’s taste+aroma and its rather dryish-bitter edge… the almost zesty hop bitterness develops fast and overwhelms the palate at a lightning speed, causing a rather soothing and drying finishing touch… really bitter with lots of chewy mouthfeel to linger in the end.
M&D: like all pale ales by Thornbridge Hall that I’ve tasted, this one has an impressive depth of hoppyness and bitterness, while showing an indispensable element of malt aroma+flavour as a balancer or a healthy backbone. A light-medium bodied golden bitter well crafted, this is certainly a remarkable example for the newly-categorised Golden Bitter, as complexly-tasty as it is thirst-quenching! The taste is way better and more complex than the relatively understated aroma, mind you!