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John Smith's Bitter
John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)
- From:
- John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Bitter
Ranked #138 - ABV:
- 3.6%
- Score:
- 73
Ranked #27,677 - Avg:
- 3.01 | pDev: 25.91%
- Reviews:
- 20
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 28, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 18, 2002
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 2
John Smith’s bitter, which is still going strong, is a malty, bitter sweet ale with a slight fruitiness and a bitter aftertaste – we probably took the words right out of your mouth. John Smith’s Original can be enjoyed in cans at home (3.6% ABV), plus there’s the Cask Ale available on the bar (3.8% ABV).
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Boto:
Reviewed by Boto from Connecticut
2.5/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.5/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This beer poured more of a dark golden color with a hint of ruby to it. It had a Guinness-like cascade to the head. Similarly to Guinness, the head adheared to the sides of the glass all the way down. The aroma was pretty non-descipt: inhale deeply enough and you got a twinge of malts and hops. The taste wasn't much better. Somewhat bitter, but not too much malt at all. No malt sweetness either. Of my week in England, this was the worst one that I had.
Jun 08, 2003More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.42/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.42/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
August 2003: Cask, in England. More or less like the Extra Smooth - but without the nitrogen................... Still drinkable when the cask is well kept. Been years since I had it now, my cask ale priorities are different.
May 28, 2023Rated by Archibald_N from Wales
1/5 rDev -66.8%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1/5 rDev -66.8%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Not sure why anybody would choose this over another beer, it's awful!
Apr 26, 2018Reviewed by BeckHardy from California
2.3/5 rDev -23.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
2.3/5 rDev -23.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
I got the can on a train from London to Edinburgh. Poured it into a plastic cup. The look was amber and the smell was very faint. It tasted very smooth with a creamy head. Some decent lacing was left clinging to the sides of the plastic glass. The mouth feel was slightly slick but not bad at all. Another good product from John Smith.
Feb 17, 2017Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.69/5 rDev +22.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev +22.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Enjoyed on tap at The King’s Head. Silky, creamy head coated the glass the entire way down. Medium brown color, with smooth, mellow taste. A great pub drink...
Jan 19, 2016Reviewed by JohnSmithsFC from England
4.95/5 rDev +64.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.95/5 rDev +64.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
John Smith's Bitter (JSB) is undoubtedly the most supreme of all beers. Some say that God drinks it. I'll tell you why. JSB has smooth, creamy feel with of course that 'taste of Yorkshire' praised by the great Winston Churchill himself. Its delightful golden colour can be likened to piss although its taste is the exact opposite (not shit - see review on Guiness). The alcohol percentage of 3.8% is ideal and complements the taste like no other alcohol percentage. All in all, JSB is the Pint of Champions. We fucking love John Smith's Bitter. Long live the king.
Nov 14, 2013Reviewed by M_C_Hampton from Georgia
3.07/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
3.07/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
A: poured from a 440 mL can into a glass, amber brown with a loose white head that lingers leaving little lacing, clear
S: heavily malty, earthy grain, caramel
T: flavor a bit on the uninteresting side, slight malt, little hops, slight mineral water
M: thinner higher carbonation
O: nothing exciting, low alcohol content, refreshing served cold
Aug 07, 2013S: heavily malty, earthy grain, caramel
T: flavor a bit on the uninteresting side, slight malt, little hops, slight mineral water
M: thinner higher carbonation
O: nothing exciting, low alcohol content, refreshing served cold
John Smith's Bitter from John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)
Beer rating:
73 out of
100 with
37 ratings
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