Livery Malcolm’s Best Bitter

Brewed by The Livery
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Benton Harbor, Michigan USA

Draft at The Livery. Poured hazy copper color with an average frothy white head that lasted with excellent lacing. Moderate tart citrus and toasted sweet aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium bitter flavor with a medium spicy bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Solid drinkable beer.

On tap at the Livery. Subdued smell with typical English bitter funkiness. Pleasant caramel flavours, but nothing dominates making this a superb session pint. Using the correct style of hops turned this into one of the best examples of the English Bitter style I have ever had. Good stuff from the Livery.

English floral/herbal hops predominate the nose, the caramel/toffee sweetness lying underneath that subdued. Flavors seem to flip positions, with the biscuit and caramel malt bottom moving upfront, and the light grassy hops kicking in in the aftertaste. Decent easy-drinker.

Firkin at brewery, pint glass: Slightly hazy golden hue with a small frothy head. Grassy and herbal British hops and biscuity malt nose with some dusty yeast esters as well. The taste has a nice crisp bitterness balanced by pale and caramel malt. Dry mineral and earthy finish. The mouth feel is smooth and soft, medium-bodied. An okay pub session beer.

On tap at the brewery. This dark yellow beer poured from a hand pull tap with a decent off-white head. It tastes quite like a British bitter, but with more malt flavor which is very thick at the finish.

Handpull (presumably) @ the Livery. Pours a dulled, slightly hazy golden-orange color; minimal head formation. Solid toasty malts, earthy bitterness (light), and fruity notes in the aroma; somewhat resigned. Medium mouthfeel: toasty malts and light crackers, light honey, earthiness and sweet fruit notes; very light carbonation; drinkable and filled-out, but light and flabby overall; a touch underdeveloped. Medium finish: toasty malts, honey, and fruitiness; soft.