Nowhereman Crate Digger Pale Ale

Long before curious fingers flick through the crates of markets, secondhand stores and retailers, recorded music makes its way through a number of steps onto pressed polyvinyl chloride pellets. And although consistency is key, variation often becomes sought after: like rare pressings from Japan, Brazil or Turkey which may subtly change the tone, or even sequence of recordings.

Indeed, just as recorded music may not be as static as we think, nor is beer as evidenced by the music-loving team at Nowhereman’s Crate Digger. The master for this pale ale was a bold, Citra and Cascade-driven template with a complex malt base; however, it's evolved over the past eight years into a more lithe APA. Here, caramel malt tones welcome candied orange peel and grapefruit notes with a subtle piney rhythm playing a restrained supporting role which maximises drinkability in what's a modern extension of the original beer.

Guy Southern