Liberal Cup Backhouse Bitter

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

First of two 20-oz glasses of beer, sampled from the brewpub itself, on a wet and ugly Monday evening.

While I was fairly impressed with the Liberal Cup IPA pint that I had at The Great Lost Bear, it seemed a bit confused, style-wise. This beer, on the other, has very definitive notions of what it sets out to do, and how it wants to get there. Or, to put it another way, this is a Bitter that surely can be served no better way than fresh off the hand-pump.

Thin-but-frothy head of foam, atop an appealing coppery body. Inviting aroma -- yes, some hops in the nose, don't you fret now, but nothing that would repulse most folks. Ditto for the flavor profile. Nicely balanced presentation of both the malt body and hop-profile (tending towards the later, but not in any sort of heavy-handed way).

Easily poundable -- the very definition of a simple good-drinking Session Bitter. Interesting and enjoyable, even if it may not be the most complex of the Liberal Cup beers. Recommended for any Real Ale lover, or someone who would like to be... ;^)
//TB