Hedgerow Bitter
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

Hedgerow BitterHedgerow Bitter
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From:
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.74 | pDev: 13.9%
Reviews:
111
Ratings:
161
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 20, 2015
Added:
Sep 01, 2010
Wants:
  18
Gots:
  11
“Hops are bitter weeds of spite, That blunt the sugars, try to bite…”

We wanted a beer that was dry and bitter, and that’s what we got. 5.4% abv with all UK grown hedgerow variety hops: Pioneer, Boadicea and Sovereign. No American hops are used in the making of this beer.

You know what? If you think you like hoppy beers, this might surprise you. It’s a different kind of bitterness to US hops. These hops are leafy weeds, very bitter and less aromatic. The overall impression left is a slightly-roasty, special bitter with an aggressive and quite “wild” bitterness with a substantial dryness that lends to its drinkability. A pint glass beer, good for dry throats after long days of work.

58 IBU
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AgentMunky:
Photo of AgentMunky
Reviewed by AgentMunky from New York

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a brandy snifter. Bottled July 2011, so I'm rather late to the game on this one...

A: Almost two fingers of fluffy white head. The beer is honey-clear. Clinging lace.

S: Hugely malty-sweet, with a touch of port (sticky, purple grapes). Some bitterness straddling the fence between hoppy and metallic.

T: It's...good. Tastes like an English bitter. Malty backbone, some earthy English hops, and a lingering, bitter endtaste. I never knew until now (reading the BA description) that EPAs were characterized by hard water, but that fits with the metallic nature of some beers (like this one). A bit of sweet fig in the maintaste. Not bad.

M: Meh. A carbonated session ale that reminds me too much of mediocre British ales.

O: Style points, but not really my thing. Won't have again. Pretty Things is still an excellent brewery in my mind.
Sep 16, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.91 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Oct 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by trxxpaxxs from New York

Sep 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by zestar from California

Aug 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by GRG1313 from California

Jul 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by yourefragile from District of Columbia

Sep 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Apr 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by drewone from California

Apr 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by hopandbarley28 from Pennsylvania

Jan 25, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by ferrettman687 from Massachusetts

Nov 25, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by anewlanguage from Massachusetts

Oct 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Aug 18, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Aug 07, 2012
Photo of RblWthACoz
Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Eh. I think this one is too earthy bitter with a tangy thing going on. Unusual muddled hop spices with a lot of malts on there. This is just meerely "okay'. I mean, sure, it works. But there is nothing to it that's blowing me away or impressing me.
Jul 30, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by Stockfan42 from Massachusetts

Jun 12, 2012
Photo of sinstaineddemon
Reviewed by sinstaineddemon from Connecticut

3.27/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - this pale ale pours a dark tan or light brown, the pour wells up a half finger of pure white head kept aloft by plenty of carbonation

S - a crisp aroma that hearkens to tea or tea solids, this sits above a rather decent hop/malt profile

T - malts up front, then the bitter hops kick in big time, musty tea like bitterness adds to the hops, but no typical citine/pine/floral hop profile, almost a medicinal aspirin like bitter

M&D - a strange bitterness, a complex flavor that wasnt perfectly blended.
Jun 01, 2012
Photo of ngeunit1
Reviewed by ngeunit1 from Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A - Pours a cloudy golden-orange color with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some thick lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet bready and caramel malts, some apricot and grapefruit hops, and a hint of pine hop.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet caramel and brady malts with some fruity esters and a bit of tropical fruit hops. Through the middle, a touch of bitterness comes through alongside some pine hop flavor with a bit more fruity English yeast esters. The finish is a mix of sweet malts, fruity esters, and a bit of bitterness.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and estery finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really nicely balanced English Pale Ale. Good mix of hops, malt, and yeast character.
May 30, 2012
Photo of plaid75
Reviewed by plaid75 from New York

4.35/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured a light copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured waves of herbal and grassy hops, apricot-like esters and a grainy doughiness.

The taste consisted of full on herbal hops with a taste of metal and a lingering ester. The malt was grainy and crisp.

The mouthfeel was crisp with a lingering bitterness and vigorous carbonation.

Overall a very quaffable hop forward refresher.
May 23, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by mendvicdog from Maryland

May 19, 2012
Photo of BostonHops
Reviewed by BostonHops from Massachusetts

3.62/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle served in oversized wineglass. bottled aug 2010 (1st batch).

pours a murky copper/amber tone with a finger of white head. moderate retention, lacing.

nose is predominantly earthy/herbal/citrus hoppy with notes of caramel malt. pretty nice aroma, and is substantiated by the flavor profile which packs a wealth of character and more subdued malt... definitely bitter, but not overwhelmingly so. bitterness persists through the finish. tasty and pleasant, something i might be inclined to session, but it doesn't knock my socks off; i've had better from pretty things. medium-bodied on the palate with medium carbonation.

original review on: 09-22-2010
May 14, 2012
Hedgerow Bitter from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 161 ratings