Theakston Best Bitter

Brewed by Theakston
Style: Bitter
Masham, England

Tap at The Central, St.Andrews. Amber Coloring. Small Head. Okay Bitter....One to blitz with I guess.

Cask at various times when no other beer on. A bland session beer lacking in flavour. Needs to be more bitter.

Although this is listed under the Theakstons Brewery in Masham, I believe it is made at Scotco’s Tyne brewery in Newcastle (which they are now shutting down). Wherever it’s from, it’s a poor drop. Standard amber colour. Quite arid malt with some bitterness but, overall thin and tinny, and none too fresh. Cask (handpump), Greencoat Boy (T&J Bernard), Victoria, London SW1. I have had this several times and been none too impressed (with the exception of the Falcon in Arncliffe, Yorkshire, where it is the only draught beer - and I mean the ONLY draught - they sell, jugged straight from the barrel). I only drunk this because I realised I had never rated it before and, frankly, it would have been better avoided. Let’s hope the Theakston family do a better job when they get their hands back on it.

JDW Faversham. Head to Head with Directors. Unfair perhaps to put this up against a beer a full 1.2% stronger. Anyway: On previous samples of this beer I had given it an average score of 2.1, and Directors had an average of 2.4. On this Head to Head the scores went up for both. The Theakson, being in the session bitter strength was dry. The flavour was cardboardy with a gentle hint of honeyed fruit. The colour was pale amber. It was in all respects lighter and drier and paler and less flavoursome than the Directors, but it did accompany food better than the slightly sweeter, fuller Directors. Winner: Directors.

Cask-conditioned. Faint malt and fruity hop aroma. Some sweetness with moderate bitterness. Watery but drinkable.

Cask, Trout Hotel, Cockermouth. Only a hint of malt and hops in the rather bland aroma. Apple and some cinnamon. A total lack of hops, it just tastes like apple pie. Disappointing beer!

Cask Conditioned. Thin malt flavour, more like an American Malt beer. Very little character at all. A poor imitation of the beer it was from the old Theakston Brewery, a bit of a disaster really, but it must sell!

On pull at the Central, St. Andrews. Middle of the road bitter. Not bad, not great. Pretty watery, a little grainy, but clean. Eh, there's worse out there.