White Rat by Ossett Brewery

Our first Beer of the Day for Cask Ale Week 2024 is White Rat by Ossett Brewery and has been chosen by Cask Marque Marque Assessor, Martin Hilton.

Martin Says: “I think it’s a great beer, a white hazy pale cask ale that based upon my assessments over the year seems to be really consistent in flavour, really respected by landlords and really cherished by pub goers”.

Ossett’s Head Brewer has shared some interesting facts about White Rat

• This very pale, hoppy ale is made from low colour malt. A combination of Cascade, Columbus and Amarillo hops produce an intensely aromatic and resinous finish.
• White Rat was first brewed in September 2011. After a test brew (Lab Rat), White Rat was the first beer brewed at the Rat Brewery in Huddersfield, and was designed specifically to match the drinking preferences of the regulars in the pub.
• Originally the beer was brewed with Cascade and Amarillo, and a smidgen of Admiral for bitterness, but in 2012 when the it was just starting to build a reputation there was a shortage of some US varieties – including Amarillo! To flesh out what Amarillo we had, we substituted in some Columbus and the recipe has remained the same to this day.
• It was brewed as a tribute to some of the classic American pales, with it’s high bitterness and intense citrus aroma, and for some it was seen as a little extreme back in the day. However, as tastes have evolved it has become a firm favourite.
• Originally one brew of twenty casks was brewed each week, but as its popularity grew that became two and soon four. To meet demand, production moved to the larger brewery at Ossett and became an Ossett branded beer in 2020.