Coniston Bluebird Bitter (Bottle)

Okay, maybe it’s because I’ve had this on tap that I can only give it a perfect score. Of course, even the bottle conditioned version is right up there. If you see this being served up at your local pub, please don’t hesitate to give it a try. Just what an English Bitter should be.

I love this stuff. I keep tring new beers from supermarket but always come back to Coniston Bluebird Bitter. Never grow tired of it’s taste. Excellent with a curry. Wish I could find it in a local pub instead of the usual crap they serve.

Pours clear sparkling reddish-amber (maple syrup) with nearly no head, leaves no skim or lacing. Aroma is distinctive, notes of forest, juniper, pineapple mingle with the wonderfully floral and herbal hops. No trace of malt in the nose. Taste, again, is unique in my experience. Hops reign supreme with an initial bitterness that’s not at all unpleasant. It’s thin but complex. There are flavors -- marigold, pineapple, citrus, tar, even a bit of kerosene, forest mould, mushroom, chamomile, woodruff and bergamot (the flavoring of Earl Grey tea) -- that would be masked in maltier brews. The mouthfeel was thin, but seemed appropriate for the hoppy character. More fizzy and refreshing than watery.

Absolutely love the bottle-conditoned version of this. The hops come alive as this warms up. Nutty maris otter flavors and crisp yeastiness make this my favorite bottle-conditioned bitter

Interesting; the Northwestern US hop ethic exported to the UK! Challenger is much mellower than Cascade, lacking the citrusy punch, and this has quite well-defined floral/herbal notes with an extremely solid bitterness. I’d have pegged it for an IPA, if tasting blind. The maltiness is typically English, clean and slightly toffeelike and buttery. Overall there’s a touch of fruitiness as well, apricot as VENOM says, and maybe a little pomegranate. Amazing beer.