Undercurrent - ABV: 4.5%
Siren Craft Brew from Finchampstead in Berkshire is a brewery that as yet has passed me by, so I was intrigued to see what sort of impression my first of their ales would have.
Undercurrent is a pale ale brewed using part pale, part oats and part caramel barley and hopped using Cascade and Palisade hops, which is unusual and one of the main reasons I was drawn to the bottle.
Pouring well, with a thick though not long lasting head and only a little sediment, the first thing that struck me was how dark this was for a supposedly 'pale' ale.
The flavour, however, was true to form for a well hopped pale ale with bags of grassy citrus, backed with a lovely nuttiness from the combination of malts used.
There's not a lot of effervescence, which would be my only criticism of what is otherwise a fantastic pale ale.
An unusual, yet great combination of maltiness, with floral, citrusy dryness to finish - what's not to like.?
This may be my first foray into the ales created by Siren Craft Brew, but I can assure you it won't be my last...
Verdict: 4/5