Witness Mark
Steeplejack Brewing Company

Cask at steeplejack in Portland. 3.4 %. Amber gold. Full Off white head. Aroma fruity caramelized grain and toast. Taste nicely balanced. Light Caramelized toast sweetness with light zesty woody hop bitterness. Lively feel. Excellent English bitter. Tastes and feels like I’m in England. Reminiscent of Young’s Special bitter but lighter.

Probably the best cask ale of the several I had around town during our trip in July 2023.

my first from these guys, done with wayfinder and obelisk, had it at the latter on tap. really a great beer, awesome ingredients on display in a beer where simplicity done right is the name of the game, i was pumped on this, and on obelisk more generally, have to check out steeplejack next time in portland! nice rich honey bronze color to this and immaculate clarity from the tap, puffy white head on it dense as shaving cream and lasting, lots of carbonation joining it, nice look. the nose and taste hit like toasted pop tart, dry cereals and granola, something deeply harvest timey about this, agricultural and earthy, with only light sweetness in the middle, an old world fermentation profile, and some nuttiness running through it, seems protein rich and kind of healthy, especially at this low abv, really like that about this. its slightly hoppy in the nose, more dried herbal and tea-like, more intensely hoppy in the flavor, bitter at the end, grassy and almost crisp for a grain forward beer, excellent balance, traditional but super fresh which rules, faintly floral as it warms, amazing carbonation, forever drinkable, and a great introduction to these guys for me. id love to see a resurgence in the low alcohol english styles domestically here, this really hits!

On draft at brewery, in pint glass

Clear copper color, great head retetwntion and lacing. Light bready, tea, honey flavors. Earthy hops, good balance, easy drinking. Thin to medium bodied.

Poured from 16oz can into a dimpled mug. Canned 4/23/22.

Appearance: medium golden-amber hue with a dash of haze and a finger of pillowy ivory foam with a good lace left on the glass. I like it.

Smell: quite malty with a toasty character, and a very floral hop component. Light and sweet; I think it's quite enticing.

Taste: toasty, bready malt; a little biscuity but not overly so. Hops are floral and perhaps a bit earthy. Bitterness is moderate but enough to know you're drinking a beer. I like it.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a really good level of carbonation and creaminess.

Overall: this is a rock-solid bitter. I am enjoying the heck out of it.