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Old Bob
T.D.Ridley & Sons Limited
- From:
- T.D.Ridley & Sons Limited
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #82 - ABV:
- 5.1%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #22,812 - Avg:
- 3.67 | pDev: 10.63%
- Reviews:
- 25
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 08, 2023
- Added:
- Sep 17, 2003
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 6
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jazzyjeff13:
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England
3.17/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.17/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A 500ml clear glass bottle with a BB of Nov 2012. This brand is now owned and produced by Greene King.
Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. A clear marmalade-orange hue with plentiful carbonation. Forms a small off-white head of foam that lasts for a minute or two before subsiding. Aroma of fruity malt with notes of yeast esters, dried fruit, a hint of brown sugar, faint roasted grain and stewed hops. Slightly sweet, with a whiff of booze and a subtle cardboard staleness in the background.
Tastes of fruity aged malt with a complex character and a dry finish. Notes of caramel, dried fruit, yeast esters, brown sugar, a hint of roasted malt and stewed leaves. Faintly sweet. Background hints of solventy booze, banana and stale cardboard/sherry. A mild bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly, but a bit insubstantial. I'm surprised the carbonation isn't more spritzy. Rather astringent, with an aftertaste of fruity malt and cooked leaves.
Not so great - I'm not impressed. A not entirely pleasant mélange of flavours with too much harshness/oxidation/alcohol. Smells OKish, but the taste is poorer - too many lurking off-notes. Body is alright. A 'Greene King' yeast aroma permeates the beer. This is a rather unlovely example of an ESB - I would personally recommend spending your money on something better.
Oct 12, 2012Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. A clear marmalade-orange hue with plentiful carbonation. Forms a small off-white head of foam that lasts for a minute or two before subsiding. Aroma of fruity malt with notes of yeast esters, dried fruit, a hint of brown sugar, faint roasted grain and stewed hops. Slightly sweet, with a whiff of booze and a subtle cardboard staleness in the background.
Tastes of fruity aged malt with a complex character and a dry finish. Notes of caramel, dried fruit, yeast esters, brown sugar, a hint of roasted malt and stewed leaves. Faintly sweet. Background hints of solventy booze, banana and stale cardboard/sherry. A mild bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly, but a bit insubstantial. I'm surprised the carbonation isn't more spritzy. Rather astringent, with an aftertaste of fruity malt and cooked leaves.
Not so great - I'm not impressed. A not entirely pleasant mélange of flavours with too much harshness/oxidation/alcohol. Smells OKish, but the taste is poorer - too many lurking off-notes. Body is alright. A 'Greene King' yeast aroma permeates the beer. This is a rather unlovely example of an ESB - I would personally recommend spending your money on something better.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by piped3 from Texas
4.68/5 rDev +27.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +27.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
A very Plesant surprise at the Three Magpies just outside Heathrow. A refreshing bitter especially after missing our flight home. Don't know if it was the atmosphere or the brew but Old Bobs hit the spot. Nice rich dark amber color, fruity malty nose, not overly cloyingly sweet. (to me, at that time, perfect.), a bit thin but not a deal breaker. All in all, worth the 4.75 rating.
Sep 08, 2023Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L- Mid chestnut brown, pours clear with a 2mm white head.
S- Malty.
T- Malty indeed, highly, into a somewhat hoppy-dry finish.
F- A clear malty richness balanced by a moderate hop finish.
O- Reminds me of pale ale, though overall notably malty, trad and sessionable by the keen.
5.1% 500ml bottle. Bought from The Grog Shop in Jericho, Oxford. Lable says the BB is at the neck, but I didn't find it.
Oct 01, 2021S- Malty.
T- Malty indeed, highly, into a somewhat hoppy-dry finish.
F- A clear malty richness balanced by a moderate hop finish.
O- Reminds me of pale ale, though overall notably malty, trad and sessionable by the keen.
5.1% 500ml bottle. Bought from The Grog Shop in Jericho, Oxford. Lable says the BB is at the neck, but I didn't find it.
Rated by Sharpee1937 from England
4.03/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.03/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Strong tasting dark ale. Very enjoyable.
Feb 21, 2015Reviewed by IchLiebeBier from Virginia
3.75/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Amber; medium head; good lacing
Aroma: Malty; biscuity; fairly hoppy; slight dried fruit
Taste: Malty and hoppy on the start; nutty mid with semi-sweet, slight fruit finish; excellent balance
Remarks: Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores
Jun 15, 2013Aroma: Malty; biscuity; fairly hoppy; slight dried fruit
Taste: Malty and hoppy on the start; nutty mid with semi-sweet, slight fruit finish; excellent balance
Remarks: Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores
Reviewed by dansmcd from Australia
3.78/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.78/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
A - Ruby red and clear as glass, two fingers of soft foamy head followed by thick chunky lacing.
S - Light aromas of malt, barley and cream.
T - Again, not overpowering but pleasant deep toasty mat flavour, caramel and cream.
M - Smooth thin body with low carbonation. Seems fairly typical for the style.
O - Pretty good, certainly better than I expected for anything from a clear glass bottle.
Mar 31, 2012S - Light aromas of malt, barley and cream.
T - Again, not overpowering but pleasant deep toasty mat flavour, caramel and cream.
M - Smooth thin body with low carbonation. Seems fairly typical for the style.
O - Pretty good, certainly better than I expected for anything from a clear glass bottle.
Reviewed by BeerResearcher from Massachusetts
3.23/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.23/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
500 ml clear glass bottle. No freshness date noticed.
Served in a 12oz tumbler.
It pours a dark amber color with a very fast-fading off-white head and a smattering of patchy lacing.
A smell of crushed biscuits rises out at first pour. A slightly fruity citrus smell sneaks in and fades.
Tastes of biscuity malt and tart pear-like fruit bind together in even measure. A slightly astringent resinous hop bite is noticed in the background. There's a bit of an off-putting alcoholic taste in the finish. Not a bad beer, but certainly nothing special.
Oct 14, 2011Served in a 12oz tumbler.
It pours a dark amber color with a very fast-fading off-white head and a smattering of patchy lacing.
A smell of crushed biscuits rises out at first pour. A slightly fruity citrus smell sneaks in and fades.
Tastes of biscuity malt and tart pear-like fruit bind together in even measure. A slightly astringent resinous hop bite is noticed in the background. There's a bit of an off-putting alcoholic taste in the finish. Not a bad beer, but certainly nothing special.
Reviewed by shearer292 from Scotland
3.7/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.7/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Poured a dark red/brown colour, off white head which vanished very quickly, a lot of carbonation which also quickly stopped.
Smell - quite a fruity smell with quite a bit of sweetness behind it, just a hint of spice like described on the bottle but not worth mentioning to be honest.
Taste - nice sweetness and floral notes and a good malt taste, little bitterness on the finish and a bit of spice feeling on the back of the throat.
Mouthfeel - not as smooth as i would expect, medium carbonation, aftertaste doesn't last very long, would easily quench your thirst.
overall - This is a good beer, not exceptional but i would buy this again if looking for something not too complicated.
Jun 20, 2011Smell - quite a fruity smell with quite a bit of sweetness behind it, just a hint of spice like described on the bottle but not worth mentioning to be honest.
Taste - nice sweetness and floral notes and a good malt taste, little bitterness on the finish and a bit of spice feeling on the back of the throat.
Mouthfeel - not as smooth as i would expect, medium carbonation, aftertaste doesn't last very long, would easily quench your thirst.
overall - This is a good beer, not exceptional but i would buy this again if looking for something not too complicated.
Reviewed by fullsweep from England
3.62/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
500 mL clear bottle poured into a pint glass.
A: copper- and reddish-coloured transparent ale. Lots of head to begin with, but dissipates quickly leaving little to no lacing.
S: sweet and rich, malty
T: this beer reminds me of what is great about ESBs--very drinkable and flavourful; sweet but with a bitter punch, very malty
M: moderate to heavy body, very little carbonation or bite, sits nice on the tongue
O: very nice ESB!
May 09, 2011A: copper- and reddish-coloured transparent ale. Lots of head to begin with, but dissipates quickly leaving little to no lacing.
S: sweet and rich, malty
T: this beer reminds me of what is great about ESBs--very drinkable and flavourful; sweet but with a bitter punch, very malty
M: moderate to heavy body, very little carbonation or bite, sits nice on the tongue
O: very nice ESB!
Old Bob from T.D.Ridley & Sons Limited
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
37 ratings
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