Oskar Blues, USA - Dale’s Pale Ale (£3.15, 6.5 per cent)

We've actually had the Oskar Blues cans in for longer than the Founders I reviewed, so I feel a bit mean not giving them any attention.

So here we are: Dale's Pale Ale is a 6.5 per cent hoppy American Pale credited with helping to establish craft beer in a can as 'a thing'. Not only are the cans smaller and more efficient for distribution, cutting down on greenhouse emissions as a result of their smaller size, but they also have several benefits regarding beer flavour.

Unlike bottles, there is no potential for light damage, especially perilous for a hop-forward ale like this one, but they are also much more resistant to oxygen ingress – where bottles can go stale over time, especially at room temperature, cans will not. Awesome stuff indeed.

Pouring brassy orange, the initial aroma is of tangerines, with rose overtones, and a more earthy pine and dried apple scent becoming apparent as it settles and opens up. The flavour is led by a punchy bergamot and lemon zest hit, backed up by a fragrant almond note and a very clean, refreshing malt bill.

Only a touch of caramel sweetness shows through this beer before being overcome by a well-balanced, nutty bitterness that throws out some grapefruit and orange zest before an ultra-refreshing clean finish.

A fantastic pale ale that hides its strength well; be cautious with this one, it might well lure you in before you know it.

Recommended by Michael Bates, Trembling Madness, 48 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS @tremblingmad