Samuel Smiths Sovereign Best Bitter

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Bitter
Tadcaster, England

No no no no, this is not a good beer at all. Would place it at the bottom of the Samuel Smiths offerings these days - only saving grace is that it comes up a bit cooler than the others so is quenching in summer. Silly metallic flavour. Nitro’d to death of course.

Keg in the 78. The nitro killed this for me. No aroma. Taste is pale biscuity malts with a fruity note, but had through nitro at like 0 degree’s so just another beer thats been killed by nitro.

Cask at Captain Kidd, Wapping. Pours a pale golden coloured beer with a frothy white head. Aroma of hops, grass and citrus. Taste is earthy with malts and hops quite well balanced. Very much a lager/pils rather than a bitter. Still a pleasant session beer.

Cask @ Chandos, London. Amber colour with nitro head. Earthy aroma with some malts and pleasant hoppyness. Taste is slightly hoppy, citrus notes, metallic, some caramel. A little too lager like for me. Dry bitter finish.

On tap at the John Snow, Soho, 4th Feb 2008. Clear amber appearance with slight hoppy aroma. Tasty enough malt & hops, but not much to it. Light and quaffable palate with a decent bitter finish.

Draught at the Earl of Lonsdale, London - came dark copper with a thick off-white head. Probably a nitro pour. Citrusy hoppy aroma. Juicy and floral. Flavour is very fresh, citrusy, light malt, with a mild bitterness in the finish. Ultimately, very, very drinkable bitter. The hopping reminded me of American beers somewhat (though not nearly as heavy). Delicate and soft pint. Quite good.

Keg at the Horse and Groom, Great Portland Street. Amber with a thick nitro-style head; smooth malty flavour with some citrus; gentle bitter finish. Much btter than the average keg bitter.

On tap at Horse and Groom, Great Portland Street. Amber with a thick creamy offwhite head. Fudge and citrus hops aroma. Earthy flavours blending with citrus. Good bitterness. Nice.