Brewster's Pale (Santiam)
Freewheel Brewing Company

Cask conditioned at Mikkeller Bar San Francisco. Served at 55º F in a cylindrical pint glass.
A: Pours a dark golden/light amber -- almost bronze -- with haze evident only below the head, but clearing to crystal clear over a couple of minutes. Head is one half inch and a light wheat color with excellent retention, but somewhat more modest lacing on this glass.
S: Tangy, somewhat lacto scent upfront, but very light nose consisting of grasses, grain, and maybe a cherry note. A little more doughy/bready as warms.
T: Very early on, tart, evolving to a very bready flavor with butterscotch core and a cocoa note. Very light, slightly white peppery bitterness. Improves as warms into a very balanced flavor.
M: Medium bodied with light effervescence evident. That said, very well carbonated based on swirl test.
O: This seems more like a mild, than a pale ale (although I recognize this is somewhat a matter of semantics). Very excited to see an American producer of cask ales. That said, these brews are very dependent on how they are managed; found the gestalt a little less than I had hoped for.