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Mrs P and I had a couple of nights break down in North Yorkshire a few weeks ago, and very nice it was too. But that's as never-no-mind. The only reason I'm mentioning it is because while there, I hunted down a few rare, and not-so-rare samples of the local produce, beer-wise, that is.
One of the less rare beers was Pale Rider, which I could've bought at my local store, but I didn't. I think the fact that traipsed nearly 200 miles to buy it (not specifically, of course) qualifies it as a 'hard-to-find'.

The Kelham Island Brewery of Sheffield began life in 1990 and was in fact, the first new independent brewery to be built in the city this century. Since then all of Sheffield's larger brewing concerns have closed down, which ironically (no pun intended) now also makes it Sheffield's largest brewery.
Using only the finest ingredients, "no flaked anything or torrefied anything", they brew a range of regular ales, including: K.I. Bitter, Easy Rider and this one, Pale Rider, as well as monthly seasonal offerings.


Pale Rider has been named Champion Beer of Britain 2004. It was first brewed as a special back in 1993, but was so successful, it became a regular. And yes, it IS named after the Clint Eastwood western.



THEY SAY:
"Pale Rider has won numerous awards for its slightly fruity, smooth yet hoppy flavour derived from the best English pale ale malt, hand-picked American hops and water from the foothills of the Pennines."

This beer pours a very pale, clear and bright, golden colour with a nice stream of tiny bubbles rising to a foamy, very creamy head which lasts forever and deposits large clumps of lace on the glass.
The aroma is quite floral and a little leafy, with traces of honey and lemon. there's a good malt character to the nose as well, mainly sweet, but a little fruity too.

It's light-to-medium bodied, with a pleasantly smooth mouthfeell. The taste is initially sweet, with plenty of fruity flavour - most noticeably citrus, but it turns a little more bitter and dry in the middle. There's a god caramel hint, and some more of that honey and lemon, and a faint spiciness hiding out back. The hops impart some grassy, leafy tones, and give it a good bite, but on the whole, it's fairly well balanced. It finishes mostly dry, fairly bitter and leaves a slightly citric aftertaste.


At 5.2% ABV, this is a beer that seems much lower in alcohol. It's deceptively easy-to-drink, and has more in common with a session ale than anything else. I'm not surprised this beer won the Champion beer of Britain, it's well-made, interesting, smooth and easy-to-drink, and very tasty...why, if it could cook, I'd marry it.
I drank this on its own, but I think it would grace any typical pub fare with ease, although, as I said, I feel it's more of a session ale and would probably go best with a bag of nuts and some good company (where I drink, sometimes nuts and company are synonymous).

This beer is widely available in supermarkets at around 1.50-60 for a 500ml bottle.

Would I drink it again? - As the preacher says, "Only after nine in the morning."*
* From the movie, Pale Rider

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