Ossett Santiam
Ossett Brewing Company

Presentation: The first pint of the afternoon during a crawl of the Calder Valley with a handful of friends was at the Shepherds Rest in Sowerby Bridge, a Pub recently acquired by the Ossett Brewery. So what better way to start than with one of the four Ossett brews on sale; the ‘Santiam’ was listed on the chalkboard at 4.3% and £1.95 Pint.

Appearance: Pale straw color with a medium gold body when backlit. Bleached white head is tight, dense and creamy. Superb conditioning and pulled through a Beer Engine with a tight sparkler.

Nose: Sharp citric quality, lemon hops and bright pale malts with a hint of grain. Some herbal qualities.

Taste: Hoppy start with a long dry finish that has a lot of bitterness on the lengthy lingering palate. Scorched dryness with some citric lemon in turn balanced by a delicate herbal quality. A solid performer, one of the new breed of pale golden ales that has a firm bitterness and drinks like a fish.

Mouthfeel: Had a very creamy body, fine carbonation raises the lightness to aid quaffability.

Drinkability: Incredibly refreshing, crisp, clean and with a tight bitterness that has some balance until you get to the finish when it lets loose with an astringent bite - just how I like it. Shockingly drinkable, I could easily manage the evening on this one.

Overall: Tends to head towards the bitter end of the pale ale market, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Recommended.

Pale yellow. Pretty easy to drink, simple grainy malts, malts are also slightly caramelly, with a medium bitter lightly hoppy finish, some zesty tangyness from the hops aswell,smooth and simple session ale, uncomplex, and easy to drink . (Cask KentBF 03')