Bathams Best Bitter

Today's is another substitution as I can't get their Mild in bottles however this in my opinion is the best bitter available and it is another black country beer

 

 

 

Appearance:

Almost lager colour being very light gold with a good white lasting head

Aroma:

A smell of vinous fruit backed with light roast malt and hops

Taste:

Starts sweet but briefly as the bitter hops come through but a lovely citrus flavour lurks in the background which means the bitterness is not over powering. The finish is dry and bitter with nice malt overtones mixed with hops and it is very moreish.

Overall:

I love this beer it flavours are schizophrenic being light and intense and very easy drinking bitter that I wish I could get more often. If your in the black country or west midlands find this and enjoy.
 
9.5/10

Holden's Black Country Mild

Today's is a Holden's which fits into what I said yesterday not knowing I had this one.....

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark chestnut with lasting off white tan head

Aroma:

Dark treacle underpinned by malt

Taste:

Dark treacle coats the most with roasted almost coffee malt coming through followed by just enough bitter hops to keep it all balanced. The finish is not so strong but surprisingly lasts with roasted dark malt with a hint of treacle.

Overall:

I do like a mild me and this is a nice example, however that said I think I will still drink more Banks as it more available although this maybe slightly nicer.

8.0/10

Holden's Golden Special Bitter

Today's as a few day absence as I was drinking warm Bush Ambree from cans in a music festival in France todays offering is a Black Country bitter not recommended in the book but it is a substitute as the one in the book is draft only.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Quite fittingly old gold (think wolves football strip) good white lasting head.

Aroma:

Aroma is juicy malt with a hint of  bitter hops

Taste:

Malts starts and a surprising sweetness and then a firm bitterness comes through. The finish is bitter sweet with lovely juicy malt overtones

Overall:

A surprising sweet bitter if that is not an oxymoron makes me want to try more Holden's beers.

7.5/10

St Austell Clouded Yellow

Today's offering is a German style wheat beer made in Cornwall and named after a butterfly

 

 

 

Appearance:

Pale cloudy gold with large lasting head

Aroma:

Aroma is banana underpinned by caramel and vanilla with a faint soapy coriander smell

Taste:

Very sweet and full of vanilla at first and then some malt comes through and a lemon like sharpness. The finish strong dry and bitter but with a hint of banana's vanilla a touch of spice and a really earthy hoppiness.

Overall:

Not sure on this one, in some ways it is like a watery German wheat beer and in some ways it is much more complex than a German wheat beer. I think I will have to try some more to really work out if I like it. It is original if slightly over carbonated in my eyes. It is a summer beer for sure

7.0/10

Burton Bridge Empire Pale Ale

Today's offering is an IPA quite a strong one

 

 

 

Appearance:

Pale and cloudy large head with slight off white colour

Aroma:

Aroma is like a Belgium wheat beer with an orange note (probably as my decanting skills were poor)

Taste:

Ripe fruit with a acidic tang with a maltness which is crunchy is the only word I can think of, coming latter followed by the spicy hops with a touch of floral hops for good measure. The finish is dominated by the tangy granny smith acidity which is slightly vinegary for me, backed up by bitter hops and a warmth (7.5% abv) but has a footnote of malt to remain a balance.

Overall:

I like the story of this beer more than the beer itself, I find the vinegary and the bitter hops doesn't work for me, an interesting historical IPA just not my cup of tea.

7.0/10

Batemans XXXB

Today's offering is for my yellow belly mother, she is from Lincolnshire, not far away from the Batemans brewery.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Chestnut with small head that hangs around

Aroma:

Vinous fruits come across first with biscuity malt and a touch of hops and acidity.

Taste:

Ripe vinous fruit at firsts, the malt then comes through followed by a soft pepperiness and slight bitterness. The finish is long alternates between bitter, vinous fruits, malt and earthy hops.

Overall:

A really unusual bitter that shows the variety you can get in British beers it has mean taste characteristics of a trappist double but without the warmth of the alcohol and has that earthiness  which is very nice in my opinion.

8.5/10

Oakham JHB (Jeffery Hudson Bitter)

Now I am over my cold I can again review beer, today offering is called a bitter by the brewery and  a golden ale  by the book and is named after a midget.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very golden almost looks like a lager nice lasting head

Aroma:

Citrus with some creamy malt all underpinned by floral but slightly earth hops.

Taste:

The taste starts citrus and creamy malt but the bitter fades in and grows, but never overpowers the citrus and malt. The finish is dry and earth bitter hops underpinned by the creamy malt
.
Overall:

A nice bitter for the summer, nice freshness from the citrus and a nice earthiness. The bottled version is 4.2% is stronger than the draft which according to book is 3.8%.

7.5/10