B.B. King Bitter
Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery & General Store

I visit Franklin's on an infrequent basis, mostly because it's not too terribly close, or metro accessible. But it's always a good time. Last time I was there, the general store was closed for remodeling, and the bartender was surly. This time, the general store (and beer store!) was open and the bartender was quite nice.

I decided on the B.B. King Bitter, mainly because I'd never seen it there before, and it was on the firkin. Turns out, it's a relatively new beer at Franklin's. And new to BA as well, as this is the first review. Brought by the bartender, it was a dirty orange/brown color, kinda like ice tea, with little-to-no-head. There were also some oily-looking swirls on top of the beer that I dared not ask about. The nose was dull; not much there. Some faint floral fruitiness, and some faint hops as well, but otherwise a muted aroma. The taste was nice and mellow. Lightly fruity and herbal, with a pleasant fruity bitterness in the finish and the aftertaste. Mouthfeel was smooth, soft, and comfortable.

At first sip, I wasn't overly impressed by the B.B. King Bitter. But it grew on me over time, and in the end, I was convinced that it was a totally drinkable session beer. I meant to ask the bartender what the ABV was before I left the bar, but it slipped my mind. Still, this didn't strike me as a boozy beer. Very sessionable. Not sure how long it will last at Franklin's, so get there and give it a try if you can.