Pike Brewing - "Heirloom Amber" Pale Ale

Creamy Smoke.

Another one from Pike Brewing, this time a Pale Ale. The "Heirloom Amber" tastes as redolent of character as its evocative name suggests. This brew pours a ruby amber with just a tad of lacy foam. The first flavor to assault the tongue is rich, smokey malt that's neither too sweet nor overbearing. This maltyness is balanced by the merest hint of rosemary provided by the idiosyncratic blend of Magnum, Willamette and East Kent Goldings hops. The finish is all cream with just a touch of burnt vanilla and hazelnut. Certainly not a run-of-the-mill amber but unique and very flavorful! I'd pair this up with mom's chicken and dumplings and some steamed, buttered broccoli.

Morland Brewing - Hen's Tooth Pale Ale

Bottle-brewed Beauty.

Morland Brewery in Suffolk are the authors of this fine bottle-fermented English Pale Ale. This pours copper-orange in the glass with just a bit of lacing at the top and a touch of sediment on the bottom, this brew is a delight to the eyes as well as presenting a pleasant yeast-and-honey nose. On the tongue it's nicely hoppy with flavors of grapefruit and unripe pears. Malty caramel-like overtones dissipate into a robust bitter finish of lemon rind and dates. Maybe just a tad "skunked" from the clear bottle, this one's still very smooth and refreshing. I'm curious now about its sibling "Old Speckled Hen" and will see about an assignation in the future. I'd have a pint of this with toasted Cheddar on a heavy Rye with crisp pickled carrots on the side.

Deschutes Brewery - Hop Trip Pale Ale

The Lighter Side of Hops...

Deschutes Brewery makes their seasonal Hop Trip Pale Ale as part of their specialty "Bond Street" series, their brewmasters' homage to their roots. Golden tan with a pleasant malty nose and just a finger of foam, this brew is a surprising change from all the hop-heavy beers I've grown used to here in the Pacific Northwest! If you're a big Hop-Head or even someone who shys away from the magic herb, you owe it to yourself to try this one. Brewed with freshly harvested hops instead of the more usual compressed pellets or dried flakes, the flavor of this Pale Ale is different to anything I've had before! The taste is almonds and grape leaves with just a hint of molasses smoke at the back of the tongue. The finish is a light floral herbalness with just a hint of lemon resolving to a subtle burnt carmel. Look for this one in the Fall, just after the hops are harvested - well worth seeking out. This would go well with a home-made lamb and potato stew with lots of garlic, tomatoes, sage and onions.

Samuel Smith's - Old Brewery Pale Ale

Ale's the thing...

Samuel Smith's brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire was established in 1758 and still brews beer the old way, though it would be nice if they gave the 21st century the nod with a website. Today I'm drinking their Old Brewery Pale Ale, a clear coppery amber with a thin, ephemeral head. The nose has notes of caramel and banana with just a hint of floral hops. On the tongue this beer is a refreshing, medium-bitter tang with lots of strong biscuity malt and a nice, tactile carbonation. The finish is only very mildly bitter and fades to a pleasant malty tartness rather quickly. This one is a great easy-drinking English-style Pale Ale with enough unique character to make it an attractive choice when the mood for something less astringent than an IPA but bolder than a Pilsner strikes. I'd drink this with sweet sausage, garlic-mashed potatoes and red cabbage slaw.