From the many very drinkable paler ales I have experenced recently, I have to start close to home with the ever-excellent
Franklins Brewery of East Sussex (
website) and their
Citra IPA (5.5%). Very hard to beat, this gorgeous pale golden bitter, single hopped, ie
Citra, has a big citrus fruity aroma, plenty of body, with a bitter orange, but mostly grapefruit, taste, dry and very bitter finish, I love it! But
Franklins also brew other great paler bitters (and more!), including their 5-hopped session ale
English Garden (3.8%),
Resurrection Pale (4.4%) with
Amarillo,
Galaxy,
Centennial and
Citra hops, and
North Shore IPA (5.5%) with its New Zealand hopped
Rakau!
I'm getting thirsty just writing about them!
Then, across into Kent and
Angels & Demons (
website) and their
Goldilocks is Dead (5.3%), indeed, enjoyed yesterday! This isn't the only ale of their's I've been drinking recently, but it is a very good beer from them (I won't use the phrase in my notes!). You've got it by now, pale golden dry and very bitter, big citrus aroma and taste, notably grapefruit, what more could I ask for?!?
Up to Buckinghamshire and
XT Brewing Company (
website), who also brew limited edition ales as
Animal Brewing Company, from which I recently loved this 'American Pale' ale,
Alligator (4.6%). Brewed with
Azacca hops, a very pale and very dry and bitter ale, with exotic fruit flavours, citrus, peach and mango, "lovely!!" I noted.
I won't insult anyone's intelligence and say where
North Yorkshire Brewery is based (
facebook - their
website is a work in progress it appears), and I deleted my photograph of the pumpclip, so thank you to Google and North Yorkshire for this image! Anyway,
North Yorkshire White Lady (4.7%) is apparently brewed with lager malt and German hops (
Huel Melon, which gives a melon and apricot aftertaste), effectively a real ale lager! Although it tastes pretty much like a pale bitter to me, indeed, it is very refreshing to drink, much enjoyed.
Whilst talking about great ales from Yorkshire, recently I also drank one brewed by
Bad Seed Brewery (
website), ie their 5.5%
Free Fall, an "American Pale Ale" that is "unfined and unfiltered." Indeed, a pale golden ale and, although not fined, surprisingly quite clear, which shows that finings aren't always necessary to ensure a clear beer! Hops used are
Azacca,
Ekuanot,
Simcoe and
Chinook, producing a tropical fruity aroma, although a more subtle fruity taste. Plenty of body and nice and dry and bitter, great stuff!
Also, of course, I've been drinking other more regular pale hoppy ales, with many thanks to the
Tower and the
Dolphin inns in Hastings, where all the above were enjoyed too. Notably, the excellent
Burning Sky (
website)
Aurora (5.6%), a "Strong Pale Ale" brewed using hops from the USA. A pale golden ale with plenty of body, tropical and citrus flavours, and a dry and bitter finish, too easy to drink! Plus the ever excellent
Hophead (3.8%) and
American Pale Ale (
APA 4.7%) from
Dark Star (
website), now owned by
Fullers, who appear to be letting them get on with their brewing, having problems it seems, trying to brew
Hophead at Chiswick.
And not to forget Dark Star Revelation (5.7%), with its massive use of Warrior, Cascade, Columbus, Crystal and Chinook hops, indeed, a revelation of an ale... and congratulations must go to the brewers as it has won the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) 2018 Gold Award in the category of "Strong Bitter." Quality, cheers!
