Friday 25 January 2013

[CASK REVIEW] Dark Star - American Pale Ale



Outstanding beer from Sussex.

Dark Star are a brewery from Sussex who have made a reputation for themselves as one of the country's best. Not only do their beers come in the utmost quality, but they also come in a enviably wide range of styles. 

Their American Pale Ale picked up Overall Bronze at this year's Great British Beer Festival (not its first award), and is a perfect example of why Dark Star are a great brewery. Getting hold of a pint yourself, it is easy to see what the fuss is all about. At 4.7%, the beer pours a nice mellow brass colour, with a lovely gentle head. On the nose you get hop spice, with citrus and toffee coming through too. The aroma is very deep and floral, a beer that you can smell without lifting to your nose, and that is so enticing that you find yourself smelling it as much as you drink it. To taste, you get a honey-sweet rich malt body that is silky smooth and soft. This is punctuated by a sharp hop bitterness. The complete experience of the beer attributes to a delicious pineapple-bitter experience, that simply floats down with the greatest of ease. I found this in great condition at Ye Olde Mitre in Farringdon.

This APA is a perfect demonstration of hop flavours brewed in perfect balance with the body of the beer, and is one of the finest APAs you can find in the UK. Sublime.