Beer of the Week

Brass Castle, Malton – Sunshine (5.7 %, £2.99)

Having started out on a tiny one barrel brew kit (producing only four casks of ale per brew), Brass Castle made a name for themselves in the local area with their rich, sweet vanilla porter Bad Kitty, and this beer, their India Pale Ale Sunshine.

Last year saw the brewery take the top prize at CAMRA’s York Beer Festival and SIBA’s North East regional competition with Sunshine. Part of this is almost certainly due to the fact that all its ales are vegan friendly – not fining or filtering the cask beer means the ale remains slightly hazy with flavourful hop particles, although of course some fantastic brewing probably does most of the legwork. Pouring copper with brass highlights, gentle carbonation creating only a slight head. The aroma is bready yeast, nettle tea, pine, and parma violets. Lemon and lime accents provide some bright notes, underlined by earthy tea and bergamot.

Peppery malt, with a medium sweetness and rich caramel that develops into a warming lemon and honey. Tangerines come to the fore, followed by a spicy blend of pine and grass, with a touch of peach drying out the palate. No wonder it’s has people coming back for more.

Recommended by Michael Bates, Trembling Madness, 48 Stonegate, York

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