Ghost Ship - Adnams (4.5% ABV)

Ghost Ship is now part of Adnams' permanent range, having previously only been available as a seasonal brew. Finally came across this in the supermarket recently, so I made sure I grabbed a bottle!

Nice looking in the glass. Appears a burnished, golden tawny colour and produces a thick yeasty head with moderate retention and lacing. Lots of big bubbles in the glass too.

Lots of different aromas on the nose. Yeast and tons of complex citrus notes at the forefront, with delicate toasted pale and caramel malts offering up some sweetness. Maybe a whiff of tropical fruit in there too...?

On first taste, I have to say that the malts seem a tiny bit thin. Pale and caramel malts with a yeasty and bready note. Definitely has a woody feel to it, but it's still a tad subdued. Mid palate the citrus hops kick in and give a ton of flavour; really complex but I reckon there is lemon, grapefruit and oranges in there; also a delicate hint of tropical fruit. Finishes with a stale, stewed hop bitterness and a load of that citrus sticking around to give a bitter, dry and pithy finish.

Medium bodied but texture is slightly on the thin side. Carbonation levels were a little heavy at first, but seemed to settle down about halfway through. Balance wise, the malt base is just under par for me, and the finish is too 'puckering'

This brew is in the exact same vein as the Oakham Ales JHB, which I think does a better job than Adnams' offering. I was disappointed by a couple of minor things, but it is still a decent pale ale.