Slightly sweet and easy flowing, satisfying novice tastes with simple mineral graining, subtle hop bitterness, and soft mocha finish. Too watery and unassuming to be truly distinct. Note: in or around 2002, Harpoon Brewery of Boston bought the Catamount factory. Brewery defunct: 2002.
CASTLE SPRINGS INDIA PALE ALE
Band-Aid-scented Brussels lace-laden IPA with initial hop-spiced ardor, brisk carbolic shimmy, and red-orange-fruits dancing on the tongue. Finish: questionable. Brewery defunct: 2002.
(CAMERON’S) CASTLE EDEN FUGGLES SPECIAL ALE
Crisp light ale with “100% Fuggles hops”” contains floating insert to preserve flavor, but lacks distinct English grain-malt character and creamy resilience, hurting chance to deliver knockout punch. Disappointingly un-Special, though pint can features snazzy elephant insignia.
(CAMERON’S) CASTLE EDEN ALE DRAUGHT
Softly textured ‘draught pasteurized’ premium ale with desolate barley-hopped malts supporting meager quince blitz and ester-y grape snip to bland creamy caramel finish. Watery texture similar to most British canned draughts, except this is an ale, not pilsner or lager.
CASTLE LAGER
Inexpressive clear golden smoothie stays bland as maize-fronted sugar-watered flow barely registers. Miserly lemony grapefruit speckle never rises above carbolic fizz, staying plain without being either bitter or sweet.
CASTELLO DOPPIO MALTO
Malt-sugared Imperial pilsner-styled pale lager affirms up-front lager yeast pungency with sweet barley-wheat enticement, but lean hops need better bite at moderate sour-fruited finish. Perfect as mainstream fodder.
CASTELLO BIRRA FRIULANA
Pungent grain aroma consumes pale-toned pilsner-styled Italian. Sharp hop bittering enhances corn-buttered malts and distant wheat chaff for assertive richness. But metallic shard lowers appeal.
(CASTELAIN) ST. AMAND FRENCH COUNTRY ALE
Dark auburn-hued flowery-scented ale in fancy bottle retains typical French wine essence. Creamy caramel-malted apricot-mango tropicalia, brisk orange zest, and cider-y barleywine symmetry receive exuberant carbolic gush rounded out by prune-raisin balm and herbal touch.
CASTELAIN KORMA BLONDE ALE
Unassertive puffy white-headed, Brussels-laced,crystal-malted blonde with dank-cellared grape souring, musty earthen farmhouse breech, and spicy clove continuance deepening buttery white wine palate. Peachy green apple tartness wavers.
(CASTELAIN) JADE FRENCH COUNTRY ALE
Lightly textured artesian-filtered pale ale with tiny foam bubbles consuming large blossoming head. Clay-hopped barley-wheat conflux and caramelized cereal graining encroach dry white wine silkiness. Snazzy fruit swirl dissipates as soapy, solvent-like finish disappointingly ascends.
CASTELAIN BLOND BIERE DE GARDE
Startlingly complex caramel-hued blonde with earthen-grained herbal-spiced grassy-hopped inception, subtle yellow-fruited honeyed malt sweetness, and pastry-like frosting will endear experienced drinkers. Floral white-peppered rosemary-thyme-sage seasoning informs ascending buttery Scotch creaming.
CASTEL LAGER
Prudent creamy malt opening and buttery caramel stipend washed out by slick soapy finish as alcohol-smitten sharpness abates.