Theakston Best Bitter

Cask at GBBF 2009. The number of standard British beers I’d not rated sometimes frightened me. Clear gold with slightly yeasty aroma. Touch of tingly hop on end. a little dusty. Not too much malt, some caramel. Fine if erring on the bland side.

On handpull at GBBF ’09, a golden amber with an off-white head. A generous floral malt aroma. The malty palate is quite earthy, dominating any hop flavour.

Handpump at the Howard Arms, Carlisle. Perfectly clean gold with a long lasting thick white head. Good balanced palate and finish.

Clear amber, thin white head. Aroma of pine and malt. Bitter throughout, especially in the finish. Average.

A Mes rate. Cask at the Bree Louise. Golden brown. No head. Bland appley aroma. Similar flavour with a mineral note in the finish and some late bitterness. Boring below par bitter rather than best bitter if you ask me.

(draught, at The Varsity, Aberystwyth) clear golden colour with a creamy white head. light aroma of banana, pale malts, bread dough and herbal hops. surprisingly dominant flavour of piney, floral hops, along with white bread, notes of banana and grainy pale malts. light to medium body with smooth carbonation and a light bitter finish.

A golden amber ale with a thick off white head. A pleasant caramel malt aroma. In mouth, a light bodied ale with nice British hops, however, lacks in body and malt. Light resinous hops do come out later. On tap at JD Wetherspoon, Heathrow, Mid Nov. 2006. 2.69 pounds.

Cask@GBBF.
Appearance: Clear dark golden. Little bit of white head. Aroma: Hops and slightly lemony. Some fruit. Taste: Quite bitter. Some malt and fruit. Standard stuff. Dry. Info: 1/3 pint, 8/8-2008, 181/300