Saint Botolph's Town
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

Saint Botolph's TownSaint Botolph's Town
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From:
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
English Brown Ale
ABV:
5.9%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.09 | pDev: 10.02%
Reviews:
302
Ratings:
631
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 27, 2018
Added:
Feb 12, 2009
Wants:
  91
Gots:
  86
SBT is fermented with two yeast strains for a unique rustic finish. But it’s in the yeast strains where this beer really departs from the typical: one is a German ale strain, the other is a common English strain. Why? Because it’s about the flavour, not just ticking the “style” boxes.

In the end we have an ale of 5.9% abv with a big malty, almost smokey Black Malt character, a bitter attack from Fuggle hops, a rich barleymalt finish, some dried coconut hints and an old ale acidity around the edges. We’ve even timed its tan head, standing proud for ten minutes!

The name “Saint Botolph’s Town” is in tribute to our great home in America: Boston. The original Boston in Lincolnshire, England is an abbreviation of “Botolph’s Town” or “Botolph’s Stone”. When we were back in Yorkshire recently, we found a churchyard where St. Botolph spoke in the year 675; a ‘stump’ (broken old cross) marks the spot. Saint Botolph is a 7th century saint from England whose feast day is June 17th. Perhaps a great day to save a bottle or two for!

38 IBU
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Ratings by Cabadrin:
Photo of Cabadrin
Reviewed by Cabadrin from Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
I had this from the third batch, bottled August 2009. Picked it up at Whole Foods near work, in Westwood, MA. This was the first time I had seen this brewery, so I'm checking it out to see if it'll be come a regular. Poured out of a bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: This is a dark beer. No light shines through except right near the edge, where it becomes just slightly dark. The head rises to about a finger's height, then drops down to a thin coating across the top. The foam provides a nice lace as it drops down the glass.

Smell: A nice malty smell, but not very strong except for the first sniff. This contributes to the drinkability later on - you don't get a nose of alcohol like some other, stronger ales.

Taste: malt, some molasses, and a bit of vanilla. Definitely something roasted here. Aftertaste is dark and roasted.

Mouth: Nice and bitter, but it doesn't hurt your tastebuds. Great and easy to drink.

Drinkability: Fantastic ale to drink, definitely felt a little of it after the whole bottle, but it went down real smooth. I think the lower alcohol content contributes to this being really easy to drink.

It'd recommend this with darker meat and root veggies, this is definitely a good dinner beer.

Overall, I'm impressed with this ale. Definitely looking forward to picking up a few more bottles next time I head to Whole Foods for lunch.
Dec 12, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of Ciocanelu
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear dark brown color with creamy tan head. Aroma has caramelised dark fruits, brown sugar and sweet, dark malts. Taste starts sweet and sugary but not cloying. It balances out towards the finish with some roasted malt notes. Light to medium bodied with medium to low carbonation. Overall it’s a really tasty, well balanced brown ale.
Dec 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by thumperskibum from Indiana

Jan 30, 2016
Photo of tbryan5
Reviewed by tbryan5 from Louisiana

4.39/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A- A dark brown ruby with minimal off white head
S- Sweet milk chocolate and roasted malts.
T- Almost tastes like eating a fresh baked brownie.
M- Medium carbonation and pleasant mouthfeel.
D- A very nice almost flawless brown ale. Sad that they are closing their doors...
Jan 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.28 by Vylo from New Jersey

Dec 28, 2015
Photo of ManapuaMan
Reviewed by ManapuaMan from Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Not a fan of brown ales until this beer. Outstanding. Whereas most beers garner praise for masking a high ABV, Saint B's gets a lot of kudos for tasting like a bigger beer and integrating a little heat to up the taste profile. Maroon, dark brown pour with a nice nutty, earthy aroma. Taste of nuts, wheat, earth, hops, wood and heavy malt. Thick, almost warm, mouthfeel that leaves a nice bittersweet coating on your palette. Shit, Pretty Things - won't you stay a while longer and let this gem hang out in a barrel for a few months and then take over the world with it?
Dec 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Nov 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.03 by LoudRed from Massachusetts

Nov 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by maz from Illinois

Nov 21, 2015
Photo of rand
Reviewed by rand from California

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
From 22 oz bomber to Weihenstephan stein

A: Stained wood color; a small wispy head quickly dissipates leaving moderate lacing.

S: Subtle, malty nose. Notes of honeyed squaw bread, mixed dried grains.

T: Malt-forward on the palate, with a rich caramelly note that turns molasses-like midsip. Maple tones as well. Crackery but not yeasty, while a touch of bittering hops yields eminent drinkability. With a medium-to-light complexion and moderate carbonation, the brew finishes fairly quickly, leaving the palate dry and refreshed between sips.

What a great beer. I kept this at the back of my fridge for awhile, mostly because I've never clamoured over the style (I always think Newcastle).
Nov 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.14 by Maznoc from Massachusetts

Nov 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by nathanmiller from New York

Nov 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.71 by Thomas_Picton from Florida

Nov 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.59 by BIN29 from Michigan

Oct 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.05 by Jakl15 from North Carolina

Oct 30, 2015
Photo of maputnam25
Reviewed by maputnam25 from California

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Solid beer. Aroma contains hints of fall leaves, oak bark, and burnt sugar. Think syrupy mouthfeel withs notes of chocolate, molasses, winter squash, oak. Slight astringency at the end. Currently on tap at Clover in Harvard Sq - will be returning for more!
Sep 30, 2015
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed from the 22 oz bomber in a snifter. This most excellent brown pours a muddy mahogany color with a mixed sized bubbled head of light tan foam that settles to a thick ring, pooling thin layer, and excellent lacing. Nose of brown sugars, nutty roasted malt aromas, and a touch of chocolate and coffee. Flavors far exceed the nose with rich nutty malts the front and sides lightly glazed with brown sugars. The middle to back has light coffee and chocolate flavors that fade to lightly creamy moderately roasted malt character that is pleasant for the style. An interpretation to be emulated with a great mouth feel and medium high carbonation finishing with slightly bitter malts and a touch of hops. Excellent.

Becoming more and more a fan of this brewery.

Cheers
Sep 22, 2015
Photo of Benish
Reviewed by Benish from Utah

3.71/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown in color and translucent while pouring. An inch tannish head built which dissipated quickly. Aromas of malt and milk chocolate; very sweet, maybe a bit of honey. Taste wise - sweet with roasted malt character and a touch of vanilla. The flavors go away pretty quickly so you'll be ready for another sip before you put the glass down. The beer is medium-bodied and almost like drinking sweet nectar. It's tasty for a brown ale. I find it very sweet with roasted character. I have not tried many brown ales so there is not many to compare it to. But if it's ever distributed your way, pick it up.
Aug 23, 2015
Photo of stephens101
Reviewed by stephens101 from Oklahoma

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Magnificent light tan froth that loses its vigor in good time. Wide swaths of lacing are left behind.

Malty with deep roast to the nose.

Creamy with a hefty dose of caramel up front. A hint of roasted nuts, a bit of grain, persimmon and taffy to end.

Slightly sweeter than I prefer, but a flavorful brown that is definitely hitting the spot.
Aug 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by darcange from Massachusetts

Aug 02, 2015
Saint Botolph's Town from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 631 ratings