Monday 26 July 2010
Little Ale Cart
One of the more pleasurable duties I have as CAMRA Branch Chairman is to present the odd award. Yesterday it was the big one- a Pub of the Year Award - to the Ashton Arms in Oldham.
It is not though this estimable pub I write about, but two of the beers on offer, both from Little Ale Cart in Sheffield. First up was a 4.3% pale and hoppy number called either Sir or Saint Gatian. (I should have taken a photo). This was beautifully pale, with delicate but firm hopping and a very floral, perfume aroma. This was so popular it was drank dry in no time at all, to be replaced, fortuitously as I arrived at the bar for a refill, by Tranquil at 4.1% from the same brewery. Again pale and hoppy, it had a more resinous, in your face kind of bitterness, a lovely firm body and a bitter, hoppy finish. Both were in the tip top condition you'd expect from a pub of the year, making the experience even better. These are what Gazza P would call Mid Atlantic Pale Ales.
For those that know about them, Little Ale Cart has been producing lovely hoppy beers for a while now. For those that don't, seek them out.
I've heard Sheffield is "England's premiere cask ale city". Little Ale Cart will have to be on the agenda during a future visit.
ReplyDeleteAnd these sound like fine TRANSatlantic Pale Ales. HTH.
Sheffield probably is. Possibly definitely is.
ReplyDeleteSheffield is the ticking capital of the UK, definitely. Whether it's "England's premiere cask ale city" depends on your criteria.
ReplyDeleteAle Cart beers vary, IMO, between good and superb. I must, however, declare an interest in that we brew Steel City in the LAC brewery... but let's say there's plenty of mutual admiration of each other's beers!
ReplyDelete