Kelham Island Brewery

Pale Rider (A Strong Pale Ale)

ABV 5.2% • Vol 500 ml • bottle • UK • Expensive • Flavour 7 • Bottle Conditioned
Other beers from Kelham Island Brewery
Other beers from UK

We found this bottle conditioned beer while drinking in our local CAMRA pub of the year (2000-01). Consequently (a) it was very expensive, and (b) we were already somewhat less than sober when we reviewed the bottles. Ah, the things we'll do for the Oxford Bottled Beer Database ...
It pours with a lovely, lively head, that lasts well down the glass. Attractive to look at, though it will pour cloudy if you shake the sediment - something that seems less common in bottle conditioned beers of late. It has a malty, slightly boiled hoppy nose, with what smell like American hops. In the mouth it is zesty, with oranges and lemons, spicy, with cumin and sweet spices, firm, tart, caramelly and malty. The hops seem to balance this confusion of flavours very well, making for a well-adjusted pint. Bitter hops and more orange zest dominate the aftertaste. Pale Rider is a malty pale ale with plenty of flavour. While it could have more aroma hop content, it is very drinkable, even after a heavy evening of beverage consumption.

OBBD reviewer: Sparks

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Review updated 09 April 2001

Comments

The draught version of Pale Rider is wonderful - one of my favourites of all time.
Nick Wallbank

A delightful brew. Full of orange sweetness and light. Firm in the mouth with pleasing alleyways and canals to explore. Yum.
Silk Tork

The draught version tastes somewhat like the oriental fruit "Lychees" - an extremely pleasant combination of fruitiness with hops and malt.
Stephen Muchow

The draught beer is worth travelling for. Absolutely gorgeous.
Russell Tolley

One of my top 10 all time fav beers. Try it sat in the beer garden of the Fat Cat in Sheffield- superb! EASY RIDER (4.3%) slightly better in bottled form.
Doug N

haven't been able to track this down yet. draught version is the 2004 camra champion beer of britain
brew_crew

I lived in Carmel, Ca and was a manager at the Hogs Breath Inn. I remember when THE PALE RIDER was first introduced. Celis Brewery out of Austin, Texas was the maker. They went out of business in 1997. Does anyone currently produce this? Or has anyone tried to get the rights to brew? I would love to know and want to also purchase some of it is under brewing permit currently. I thank you.
Rene Gagnon

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. BB date Oct. 08. ABV is 5.2%. When opening, the beer started gushing out of the bottle. Deep golden to amber colour, slightly hazy, big white head. Nice hoppy aroma, citrus and floral notes, a hint of toffee. The flavour is distinctly hoppy and grapefruity throughout, but never too bitter. The hoppy fruitiness also has a sufficient malty base, and my bottle had a hint of brettanomyces. Long aftertaste of hoppy bitterness. Good stuff! Score: 8
Sigmund

If you like Pale Rider, particularly the draft version, you will love Thornbridge Jaipur IPA.
Howard Young

Agreed Howard, Thornbridge Jaipur is the finest beer I've ever tasted, it's just a shame it's not included on here.
Richard Craine

To agree with Doug N : 'Easy rider' is in my opinion even better - a serious beer for enjoying in pints. Pale Rider is I feel a touch 'serious'. In the UK its available from waitrose (or direct from the brewery!)
Tim - nice not dim

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