Adnams The Bitter (Southwold Bitter)

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

A murky amber in color with a small, two finger sudsy textured head rising briefly above. There's a thick film running a finger or two up the glass and thick ringlet/cap atop the beer. A light malt, more hoppy presence in the subtle nose. The beer in tasting is all about grassy hops. Bitter enough with some sweet malt in the aftertaste. full bodied and smooth-creamy. I am sure on tap this would make a dynamite session beer.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Stumbled across this in a remote location.....haven't seen Adnams in oHIo in about 6 years give or take. Chestnut body that is clear, thin head and spotty lacing. A succinct sharp bitterness with a drawn out sweetness that creates a great feel. Lightly toasted bread, herbal and chewy with a pleasing softness on the palate. Minor hint of butter, tea, flowers and toffee round out a surprisingly depth of flavors and aromas in this fine Bitter.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Strong, malty aroma has a fruity overtone, mainly pear and grape. It pours a clear, dark coppery amber bordering on mahogany with a nice light tan head that leaves some generous lacing. Malty flavor is rather bitter, but not fiercely so, with subtle notes of fruit, wood and caramel and a touch of smoke. Smooth texture has average body and a fair amount of fizz.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

The beer pours a clear golden brown in colour with a this white head. The aroma is surprisingly hoppy with a small amount of malt in the back. The flavour is mainly hops as well, but it is balanced with a dark malt flavour that makes this a wonderful beer.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Gravity Dispense cask@The Horseshoe. Amber colour, mediumsized beige head. Aroma is bigtime caramel, wood and some fruity hops. Flavour is hops, woody and some slight grassy notes can also be found. Aftertaste is flowery hops and wooden hints mostly.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

Probably my favourite pint for session drinking. Rich colouring which is fast becoming unfashionable in blighty. If drawn from handpump without a sparkler/swan neck, head can look a little wan. However this beer is brewed to be served without swan neck/sparkler. Intense hop aroma due to late hopping just prior to leaving brewery. Nicely balanced hop palette and use of pale& crystal malts. Biggest surprise to me was that brewing sugars are used to make this stupendous beer. Have to agree with Des about trying in Adnams pub - if possible try it in Southwold itself. It is a notoriously poor traveller and needs an experienced cellarman to serve in tip top condition. Truly a world classic. I shall stop proselytising now!

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Clear dark golden, topped with a white sheet. Vague sourish aroma of apple-skins and sulphur. Mineraly watery flavour of orange-peels and grains. Almost no body. Quite bitter aftertaste of apple-skins and oranges. Gloomy bitter

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

A brilliant session bitter, very hoppy, with a kind of trademark seaweed taste. The only hops used are traditional english varieties, and if this was a wine it would be Pouilly fume' - believe me it is DRY. It's also very moreish. It's widely available outside the breweries trading area, but rarely hits the heights detailed above outside of an Adnams pub unfortunately. On song, it's probably one of the 'top three' english bitters.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Cask conditioned at the Courtfield, Earls Court, London. Low head, some carbonation. Colour is amber to brown, I think (the pub was not well lighted). Modest aroma. Flavour is very much a "standard bitter", which is not necessarily a bad thing, but not very exciting either. Lacks a "fresh" touch. Reasonably bitter aftertaste.