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Casta
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Casta, Bruna (Mexico) 
Labeled as a "Pale Ale" on the neck collar, this pours a dark, ruby/tobacco colour with an off-white, quite thick head. On the nose there is an aroma of chestnuts and a dry, ashy note, with quite a pungent, herbal background. There's just a touch of chocolate too. On the palate it is quite sour, with a sour cherry and plum fruitiness, and a little less malt than I expected from the colour. It has a medium-body, and a little bit of very bitter dark chocolate, but no great hop character. Quite complex and enjoyable all the same. 5.5% ABV, 33cl, �1.29 - �1.49, Peckhams, , Surf4beer.  |  |
Casta, Dorada (Mexico)
The Casta range from Mexico is very smartly packaged, including this golden ale-style beer. The colour is a lovely, burnished barley-sugar gold, with a thick off-white head. The nose has a milky,
Horlicks character, lots of honey and a very refined hop quality - it is intriguing and inviting. On the palate this has a thick, creamy texture and full body, with more of that lush, honeyed, very
creamily-malted character and a good, dry pear fruit base. The hopping is excellent, with bite and acidity, but no harshness. A really top class beer. 5.4% ABV, 33cl, �1.39, Peckhams, Surf4beer. |  |
Casta, Milenia (Mexico)
This is a Belgian Abbey-style dark beer, showing the ambition of this craft brewery in Mexico. It pours a deep, hazy orange/amber with a high-rise off-white head that subsides to a lace. The nose is extremely fruity, with a definite banana aroma, orange and lots of sweet caramel. On the palate the caramel and Seville orange flavours continue, with lots of bitter orange-oil notes, spices and a nice, full texture. This does not have the depth of the best dark Abbey beers, but it is very good indeed and has lots of flavour. Almost sneaks a full four stars. Only 5,000 bottles made. 8.0% ABV, 33cl. |  |
Casta, Morena Dark Ale (Mexico)
Described by Casta as being in the tradition of a Scottish Ale, Morena pours a burnt umber colour with a thick, but quickly disippating cream-coloured head. The nose is immediately sweet and malty; a Horlicks aroma, with some darker, burnt brown sugar and raisin notes. Really quite attractive. On the palate it is smooth-textured and full, with an orangy tang and more of a crystal malt character than chocolate, but a nice burnished, dark flavour and pretty good bitterness and length. I really enjoyed this. 6.0% ABV, 33cl, �1.39, Peckhams, , Surf4beer. |  |
Casta, Triguera Wheat Ale (Mexico)
This beer has a light to medium golden colour and avery thin and quickly dissipating white head. The nose is immediately fruity, with banana and ripe pear joined by a hint of clove. On the palate it has low carbonation and a medium body, with lots of orange fruit and a clean, citrus acidity. There's a little hoppy crispness and a gentle warmth, with a background note of honey in the finish of this easy-drinking wheat beer that went well with spicy Chinese food. 5.4% ABV, 33cl, �1.39, Peckhams, Surf4beer. |  |
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