Avonmore Estate Pale Ale (14/20)
A complete surprise on the upside. I bought this at a local farmers and almost felt sorry for the owner (brewer?) given it was quiet and it looked, at first glance, like some contract job that was being sold purely on a heavy organic theme. Well there's no doubt this is a serious organic offering with strictly certified inputs but the flavour and structure is equally serious. Soft fruit sweetness on the nose, probably hop derived. The palate is lean, perhaps a touch elegant, but there is no doubting the quality hop structure (and associated bitterness) that the beer provides. It's firm with hop bitterness and resin, and a sweet / sourness (so to speak) kicks in late. All things relative this is impressive.