Landlord
Timothy Taylor's Brewery

LandlordLandlord
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From:
Timothy Taylor's Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Pale Ale
Ranked #1
ABV:
4.3%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,622
Avg:
4.09 | pDev: 10.27%
Reviews:
256
Ratings:
569
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 13, 2024
Added:
Aug 18, 2002
Wants:
  139
Gots:
  77
The drinkers’ favourite, a 4.3% classic pale ale with a complex citrus and hoppy aroma. A recent survey revealed that Landlord has the highest proportion of drinkers who call it their favourite ale. And it has won more awards than any other beer, winning both CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry Challenge Cup four times. The ABV in bottle is 4.1%.
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Ratings by biboergosum:
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

4.14/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
500ml bottle, with one ruddy looking fellow on the label. Everything about this just screams out 'English', and 'public house'. That, and calling a 4.1% ABV offering, um, 'strong'.

This beer pours a crystal clear, medium bronzed amber colour, with two fingers of puffy, cushiony, and mildly bubbly off-white head, which leaves some decent dripping paint splatter lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells of punchy grainy, biscuity pale malt, a touch of bready caramel, a subtle drupe fruitiness, and crackling herbal, leafy hops. Very ESB-like, thus far. The taste is more biscuity, grainy pale malt, with a certain warming spiciness, almost rye-like in character, a hint of fresh tobacco, warm lemon juice, and earthy, floral, and herbal hops.

The bubbles are a tad frisky, but generally easy enough to get along with, the body on the good side of medium-light weight, and smooth amongst a low-key tackiness. It finishes off-dry, barely as that spicy, biscuity character just seems to carry on and on, to the overall delight of this crowd.

A heck of an enjoyable version of the style, the peppiness of the decidedly un-American hops taking this thing all the way through, complex flavours abounding. And with the rather low ABV, this is obviously the definition of a session-worthy brew, the kind you hope to keep seeing reappear on the well-kept bar in front of you. Sigh.
Sep 16, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.09 by BurtonRed from England

Mar 13, 2024
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at The Old Cross Tavern in Hertford.

Crystal clear pale amber body with a persistent small head. Light lacing. Slightly musty aroma. Taste is nicely balanced, good hop presence, solid malt base. Finish a lasting light bitterness. Great pint.
Feb 05, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by Dethark from England

Jan 15, 2024
Photo of LukeGude
Rated by LukeGude from Iowa

2.99/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
On tap at New Moon pub in Leadenhall Market, enjoyed in basement. Herby low-grade bitter.
Jan 08, 2024
 
Rated: 4.17 by WeeJiggies

Dec 23, 2023
Photo of BrisLoganite
Reviewed by BrisLoganite from Australia

2.75/5  rDev -32.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Difficult to get get in Oz, so disappointing. Ordinary, what is so special about this? Whilst Aussie beers are poor this ranks down there too. Probably more disappointed that it was supposed to be good
Dec 09, 2023
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500mL bottle stamped L2306 poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp 4.1% ABV per label. The beer pours opaque brownish copper with light khaki head. The head recedes to a thin ring and island. Minimal lacing. The aroma is mild with sweet malt and tea like hops. The taste is semisweet pale malt with notable orchard fruit yeast influence and black tea like hop flavor on the moderately bitter finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with just less that average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good. This bottle was purchased at room temperature yesterday and is presumably 13 months old. I would jump at the chance to sample fresh as all the ingredients seem to be there.
Nov 26, 2023
Photo of Spike
Reviewed by Spike from England

4.19/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On draught at the historic Bell pub next to Cannon St station in the City of London. Served in a dimple pint mug.
L: Perfectly clear. Dark copper colour. Clouds of bubbles rising to two fingers of creamy head. Walls of white lacing. Looks splendid.
S: Rich, malty, toffee nose. Clean with no off notes.
T: Light malt base is sweet and biscuity. Hops are floral & honey.
F: Incredibly smooth & silky. Semi-sweet then bitter. Slick mouthfeel. Short, lightly bitter finish. Slides down oh so easily.
O: A classic English bitter. One of the best in the style. Super refreshing. At just 4.3%, it’s very quaffable. Not one to nurse and savour but intended to be drunk by the pint, in big gulps, with friends, smiles & laughter.

It’s beer like this that explains English pub culture. Rounds: a group of 4 mates = 4 pints each. 4 pints of 4.3% EPA and the world is alright. In contrast, in a US bar, 4 pints (keeping in mind an English pint is 20oz!) of 6.5% AIPA and those same 4 mates would not be in such good shape at the end of the evening…
Nov 13, 2023
Photo of BillyNoonan
Reviewed by BillyNoonan from Ireland

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lovely ale, classic packaging. Poured from bottle. Deliciously malty with toffee and hops on the nose. Taste follows with delicious ale like features. Depth, complexity and nostalgia for an old school London pub. What more could you ask for?
Oct 31, 2023
Photo of TheHammer
Reviewed by TheHammer from Canada (ON)

2.77/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Appearance: Poured with a thumb of head that quickly disappeared and did not lace. The body is a mostly clear amber, reminiscent of Newcastle Brown ale but at least shows a lot of carbonation.

Smell: Mostly absent, I think I am getting a bit of malt and some dry herbal hopes that oddly reminds me of Pechaud's bitters. Warming didn't really help it come out.

Taste: Slight caramel malt start, but it's mild and I think there's a psychosomatic effect going on here with brown ale, because it's very mild and then the caramel turns more into a stale bread and herbal note. It's not anise but it's similar as it's dry and builds with an earth hop end that I just can't get behind.

Mouthfeel: It's really dry in the aftertaste...way too dry and it focuses the stale bread note with a slight hint of the hops. The carbonation is fine, but the transitioning, well it does pass onto different parts of the beer fine, but it's passing along a downward spiral.

Drinkability: The dry note kills a lot of drinkability of this beer, as it's not refreshing and it's way to potent to make you want to keep drinking. On the lighter side of medium body, which is a bit of a saving grace here, but it's not doing it for me.

Final Thoughts: As of the writing of this review, this is apparently the top English Pale Ale and that flabbergasts me. This is a rare time I'd be fine if this was hoppier or more bitter, but instead it's dry. I don't think I've ever had a beer this dry, which makes this undesirable to drink. If you like dry wine, maybe this is your thing, but this is a hard pass for me.
Oct 25, 2023
Photo of Pickngrin
Rated by Pickngrin from Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Enjoying on cask in London. I'm spoiled for my return home to the US
Aug 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.69 by Kgharv from Sweden

Aug 18, 2023
 
Rated: 3.73 by Ushouldbeworkinh from England

Aug 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by Eman17 from Illinois

Aug 13, 2023
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
A pint pulled by hand from the cask at The Queens Larder in London. Very excited for this. Been waiting a long time to try a beer from Timothy Taylor’s. From first sip it’s obvious why this is the number one English Pale. Quite hoppy for the English. Any more than this and it’s APA territory. Perfect temp, great flavor, so smooth, easy drinking. Could have pint after pint of this.

And in fact I did. Likely 10-15 pints of this at various pubs throughout the five day trip to London. Not bad. Even bought a bottle to take home but it’s a bit disappointing considering from cask it’s so delicious.
Aug 09, 2023
Photo of JohRvs
Reviewed by JohRvs from England

3.23/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Look: Golden amber ale.
Smell: Fruity and Hoppy.
Taste: Fruity tang with citrus smoothness.
Feel: Hoppy tang on the tongue.
Overall: Acceptable, drinkable ale.
Jul 29, 2023
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Copper golden with fine bubbles, carbonation three fingers of white head. The smell is of apple juice and dried hops. A bit of caramel too. Taste follows the nose. Light and crisp feel. Got at LCBO in Guelph, drank in New Hamburg July 20, 2023.
Jul 21, 2023
Photo of VanTyne
Rated by VanTyne from Maine

4.79/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Had on cask several times on trip to London & Oxford. Beer heaven.

Great taste. Great mouthfeel. Very smooth and sessional.
Jun 01, 2023
Photo of NCSapiens
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana

4.02/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pretty good cask pale ale is session-able but still has underlying citrus and bitter hops.
May 30, 2023
Landlord from Timothy Taylor's Brewery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 569 ratings