Bicycale - ABV: 4.0%
Rudgate Brewery at Tockwith near York has been brewing ales for 22 years at their site at RAF Marston Moor (Rudgate being the name of the old Roman road running through the airfield); and most of their beers are best known for being named after York's Viking heritage, such as 'Yorvik Blonde', 'Battle Axe' and 'Viking Bitter', all of which are great beers.
Bicycale is a pale ale brewed in commemoration of the 101st Tour de France's 'Grand Départ' weekend in Yorkshire (that's 'York-sher', NOT 'York-sh-eye-er' or 'York-sheer'...) and is a light, refreshing pale ale brewed to be perfect either after going out cycling, or to enjoy whilst watching others doing the hard work. Sounds good to me!
Bicycale pours okay, with a decent, though lively head and lots of carbonation.
The aroma is fairly bland, but gives hints of fresh citrus fruit.
The initial flavour is hugely refreshing, with a light sweetness and lots of tangerine and grapefruit, but then hits you at the end with a long lasting bitterness that largely spoils the experience. That, coupled with the excessive carbonation leaves a bottled beer that I can't really recommend.
If this was/is available in cask rather than bottle, I reckon my judgment would be somewhat more positive.
Verdict: 2.5/5