Coniston Old Man Ale

Old Man Ale is a cask-style English ale brewed by Coniston Brewing Co. in Cumbria and named after the Old Man of Coniston, the fell that rises above the village in the Lake District. No ABV or bitterness figures are listed for this bottling, so the notes below describe what ales in this tradition usually offer. Expect a malt-led beer in the English amber to brown range, with a biscuity, toasty or lightly caramelised backbone, a little dark fruit or toffee, and earthy, herbal hop character in place of the citrus and resin of newer-world pale ales. Bitterness in this style is typically moderate and firm, there to keep the malt from turning sweet rather than to dominate. Carbonation tends to be gentle, so the beer drinks smoothly and rounds out toward a dry finish. The malt and earthy hops suit the food of northern England. Try it with a Cumberland sausage and mash, a steak and ale pie, or a ploughman's with mature cheddar or Cheshire, where the beer's gentle bitterness cuts through the fat. Roast beef, gammon and slow-cooked lamb also work with its caramelised malt. Its restrained sweetness handles a bread-and-cheese supper as well as it does a hearty stew. Chutneys and onion relishes sit well alongside it. Serve it cool, not cold. Cask-style ales are traditionally poured at roughly 10 to 13°C, so take the bottle from the fridge about 20 minutes before opening. Over-chilling mutes the malt and hop aroma that make the style worth drinking. A nonic pint glass is the traditional choice and suits everyday drinking. A tulip or tulip-shaped tasting glass will concentrate the aroma better if you want to pick out the toasted grain and hop notes. Pour steadily and leave any yeast sediment in the bottle unless you want a hazier glass.