John Smiths Bitter / Extra Smooth

Brewed by John Smiths (S&N, Heineken)
Style: Bitter
Tadcaster, England

Can. High creamy off-white and lasting head. Clear dark brown body. Mild nutty caramel aroma. Watery nutty caramel flavor with some bitterness. Low carbonation. Short bitter aftertaste.

Draught. A pale amber colour with a creamy, thin and white head. The aroma has some malty caramel and...well really nothing more. Thin. The flavour has some tart notes - no carbonation whatsoever - a hint of bitterness with a very thin taste. Watery and boring.

On tap on Malta. Clear amber colour, creamy head. Aroma of nitrogen, some malts, little caramel, water. Flavour is much the same, with a touch of bitterness. Smoothness and creamy texture make up for the lack of flavours. Nice.

[Keg at Letchworth Hall Hotel, Letchworth] Well, I had to rate this at some point. I remembered it from a long time back as being fairly dire, but given that the only other bitter on tap at my mate’s wedding reception was the dismal Courage Best, I thought I’d give it a try. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all? But no, my memories were correct. There’s the tiniest hint of sweet malt, a very faint tang of dusty hops, but mainly the taste is of water - it’s as weak as you like. Any further possible taste (and I doubt there is any) is wiped out by the huge metallic bitterness in the aftertaste. And there’s not even the smooth creaminess that you expect from a nitrokeg beer. Y’know - everyone loves to slate Bud, but I do feel that Bud is much closer to the decent lagers than this muck is to the decent bitters. It’s simply dreadful - I’m not convinced it should be classed as a bitter, or even a beer. It’s as good an advert as any why bitter should be live casked and not pasteurised kegged!

can. almost no aroma, brown supersmooth head. looks great, nice sweet flavor, watery but great mouthfeel, and well composed

From COOP, Auchterader, Scotland. Canned, 250708. Light brown with smalle head. Aroma of malt. Flavor of caramel and some hop notes

From a can. Toffee coloured. Thick and creamy with an off white head nice sweet hoppy smell. Smooth.

No 427
Rated: 10.06.2008
Can - nitro with floating widget, 500 ml
Appearance: Amber - bright, low effervescence, slightly orangy - brown, reminding breakfast, light tea, head is rather mediocre, minimal, slightly beige but lasting for a long time, body is very clear and transparent, lacing is rather non- existant.
Aroma: Herbal, spicy, a bit sweet from crystalized malted barley, a distinguishable earthy - hoppy character but of a mild slightly alcoholic when warmer, clean character, inviting and interesting.
Flavour: Low caramelly character at front, gentle hoppy - earthy background, herbal retronasal aroma, not to bitter anyway, focused and essential Premium Bitter/ESB, smooth, mild, soft, clean, easy going, drinkable, some watered down yeastyness, neutral in the aftertaste with slightly herbal nose, finish duration is short.
Palate: Body is light, texture is smooth, carbonation on palate is mild, finish feel is slightly astringent and rather neutral in terms of alcohol.