Updated notes: 07/14/2022

Fresher and in the bottle, this beer blows away the keg version that one usually finds in the USA (see notes below).

The malt biscuitness is irresistible, and the beer breaks over the tongue time and time again with beautifully balanced malt notes. Light hops slightly dry things out in the back end, a classic English bitter, even if I’m not supping from the cask. Lace remains great in the glass, and the drinakbility is impossible to ignore.

Original notes: 09/09/06. Beer pictured from 07/14/2022.

On tap, Taco Mac, East West connector, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Mmm, bizarre that after drinking a gazillion pints of this in the past I have never formally reviewed this. Also bizarre that the first time I am reviewing it I am drinking it in the USA! Funny how things work out sometimes. Anyway……

Served too cold (as usual I had to intercept the frosted glass that this was about to be poured into! Can you believe it?) and with a criminal neglect of creating a decent head this makes a mockery of what this beer can (and should) look like. Allowing it to come up to the correct temperature solves half of that problem.

Outside of the appearance and lack of general care, this beer still manages to impart at least some of the characteristics I would expect to find closer to the source. A pronounced dry biscuit maltiness and a stronger than expected hop finish. Caramel overtones too – a classic, lower ABV sessionable (even if NOT a Session Beer) English Bitter.

This review in NO way reflects my real love of this beer in its “real” format in England, but it does give a small reminder of how great beer in general (and this beer in particular) can be. A pint in Chiswick would probably be close to all fives, but for now this will have to do.