Best Bitter
Picaroons Traditional Ales

Best BitterBest Bitter
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Picaroons Traditional Ales
 
New Brunswick, Canada
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #79
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
84
Ranked #23,231
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 11.14%
Reviews:
42
Ratings:
86
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 31, 2023
Added:
Nov 10, 2003
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  11
This full-flavoured pale ale provides a complex taste experience beginning with notes of nuts and toffee and ending in lingering hop bitterness.

37 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MattCampbell:
Photo of MattCampbell
Rated by MattCampbell from Canada (ON)

3.99/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Apr 09, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of WunderLlama
Reviewed by WunderLlama from Massachusetts

3.61/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A full flavoured Best Bitter providing a complex taste experience, beginning with notes of nuts and toffee, and ending in lingering hop bitterness.

A 500ml bottle purchased in St Stephen , New Brunswick

Clear copper liquid, taupe cap

Aroma is malty

Taste is malty, sweet toffee, bitter hops

Hop bite

Nice beer
Jul 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by Vylo from New Jersey

Aug 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.23 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Jul 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by deg from New Hampshire

Sep 04, 2017
Photo of ewpass
Rated by ewpass from Canada (PE)

3.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very pleasant well-balanced bitter. Malty start and nose. Medium body, prickly carbonation, bitter finish. Great beer!
Mar 09, 2017
 
Rated: 2.99 by Grogsky from Canada ()

Oct 11, 2016
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.74/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 500 ml bottle purchased and consumed in Nova Scotia.

This is a good looking and well crafted ESB, with plenty of malt flavor and just the right amount of mild bitterness. The red-brown body has excellent clarity and is topped by a large, bone-colored head. Good malty aroma with spicy hops. Smooth, medium-full body; Proper, soft carbonation.
May 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.69 by StephenPerr from Canada (NB)

May 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.69 by Mousel from Canada (ON)

Mar 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.65 by Mlkluther from Canada (AB)

Dec 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.55 by Vold from Canada (NB)

Nov 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by mistahmojoryan from Canada (SK)

Oct 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by razorsdescent from Pennsylvania

Aug 14, 2015
Photo of Bunman3
Reviewed by Bunman3 from Canada (AB)

3.81/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I quite like the complicated things that unfurl in this beer. The sweet, syrupy, spicy smell and flavour help set this apart from many beers I have consumed recently. Tea, caramel, toffee and fruitcake flavours all blend together in a very happy way. My first Picaroons, but it won't be my last.
Jul 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Slongie from Canada (AB)

Jun 10, 2015
Photo of PorterPro125
Reviewed by PorterPro125 from Canada (NB)

3.59/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Serving Type: 500 mL Bottle

A- Dark Brown/Amber topped by a thick 2 1/2 finger off-white had that has excellent retention. Lots of lacing on the glass.

S- Bready malts, sweet caramel/toffee sweetness, dark ripe fruit, and an earthy hop bitterness.

T- Taste follows the aroma pretty well except for an odd metallic note that drops in around the finish. Not off-putting in any way, just odd. Definitely more hops than a standard ESB.

M- Smooth Medium but little carbonation to speak of.

O- Another solid beer by Picaroons. Easy drinking and pretty tasteful. Like I said above, this beer has quite a bit more Hop bitterness than a standard ESB and would probably do better without. With that being said, it's not bad at all and gives a little bit of zing to this ESB.
Mar 28, 2015
Photo of Shadman
Reviewed by Shadman from Canada (AB)

3.49/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Looks and smells awesome. Sadly taste just doesn't match...needs a bit more on the malt end to balance out the bitterness in order to move up into the upper ESB tier
Mar 14, 2015
Photo of souvenirs
Reviewed by souvenirs from Canada (BC)

3.28/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
I'd heard good things about Picaroon's so when I went looking for craft beer at the local NSLC while visiting my parents, giving it a go was an easy decision.

The label describes it as pale, but it's definitely not. It's actually fairly dark, more of a brown/dark amber. Aroma and flavour of toffee sweetness. Medium-bodied.
Jan 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.76 by mcormier79

Dec 08, 2014
Best Bitter from Picaroons Traditional Ales
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 86 ratings