Breaking Bitter
Beyond the Pale Brewing Company
- From:
- Beyond the Pale Brewing Company
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- English Bitter
Ranked #74 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #27,962 - Avg:
- 3.74 | pDev: 8.82%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 17, 2025
- Added:
- Oct 12, 2013
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 17 2025
Feb 17, 2025
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.59/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Sep 11 2024 and served barely chilled. Neat label - hopefully there isn't any actual bromine or bismuth in this beer.
Pours a clear golden-amber colour, supporting one finger of frothy, foamy white head that lasts for two or three minutes' time. A collar of creamy suds is left surrounding a filmy cap, with a modest ring of lace clinging to the glass - looks good so far. The nose is comprised of toasted, biscuity malts, caramelized sugars and earthy, dirty hops, with suggestions of sultana raisin, honey and orange peel.
Decent stuff; drinks more like an ESB than an American pale ale. Malt-forward at first, with toasted biscuit, grains and burnt sugar giving way to caramel and leafy, earthy hops. Rather bitter on the back end, with bitter orange peel and leafy hop spiciness fading into a sweet & earthy aftertaste that persists. Medium in body, with relatively low carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel. Drinkability is OK, but one can per night is plenty for this guy.
Final Grade: 3.59, a B grade. Breaking Bitter is not bad for a North American take on a special English bitter, an unusual hybrid that doesn't work very well IMO. Very hop forward, like many American pale ales, but the heavy dosage of EKG leaves something to be desired - the end result is imbalanced, making for an increasingly off-putting session. It's ok I guess, but if I really wanted an English bitter, this would not be near the top of my list.
Sep 27, 2024Pours a clear golden-amber colour, supporting one finger of frothy, foamy white head that lasts for two or three minutes' time. A collar of creamy suds is left surrounding a filmy cap, with a modest ring of lace clinging to the glass - looks good so far. The nose is comprised of toasted, biscuity malts, caramelized sugars and earthy, dirty hops, with suggestions of sultana raisin, honey and orange peel.
Decent stuff; drinks more like an ESB than an American pale ale. Malt-forward at first, with toasted biscuit, grains and burnt sugar giving way to caramel and leafy, earthy hops. Rather bitter on the back end, with bitter orange peel and leafy hop spiciness fading into a sweet & earthy aftertaste that persists. Medium in body, with relatively low carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel. Drinkability is OK, but one can per night is plenty for this guy.
Final Grade: 3.59, a B grade. Breaking Bitter is not bad for a North American take on a special English bitter, an unusual hybrid that doesn't work very well IMO. Very hop forward, like many American pale ales, but the heavy dosage of EKG leaves something to be desired - the end result is imbalanced, making for an increasingly off-putting session. It's ok I guess, but if I really wanted an English bitter, this would not be near the top of my list.
Reviewed by Boo-urns from Canada (ON)
4.25/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Second time I've bought a few Boston Rounds of this stuff from BTP. It seems to me to be one of the British bitter ales, but it's caterogized as being an American pale ale....but I digress.
It's got a nice sweet malty taste that gets even better as it warms. Not an over abundant amount of carbonation and relatively clean bitter fish. Great aftertaste, seems like a caramel- coffee thing going on....I like it! I'm sure I'll have this again when I next pop by the BTP brewery.
Apr 09, 2016It's got a nice sweet malty taste that gets even better as it warms. Not an over abundant amount of carbonation and relatively clean bitter fish. Great aftertaste, seems like a caramel- coffee thing going on....I like it! I'm sure I'll have this again when I next pop by the BTP brewery.
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.34/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.34/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Ottawa takeover at the only cafe. A bit bitter but otherwise so-so.light orange colour. BTP has more hits than misses, but this is... a big miss. Sorry.
Feb 25, 2016
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
3.2/5 rDev -14.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.2/5 rDev -14.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Growler: Poured a clear chestnut color ale with a medium size foamy head. Aroma of dry caramel malt is tad too dry for my own taste. Taste is a mix of dry caramel malt with light hoppy notes with again a dry finish. Light grainy notes are also noticeable. Not sure it is a bitter per style guideline and not sure I totally enjoy this enough to order again.
Mar 13, 2015
Reviewed by mtomlins from Canada (ON)
4.17/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.17/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 32oz growler into a stemmed tulip glass.
A nice amber color, a bit hazy, with a small, white head, minimal lacing and no real retention. There is a pleasing nose, nicely balanced between caramel malt and hops (citrus and a bit of grass); maybe a touch of bready yeast. The flavor palate follows suite but a bit more of the bread/biscuit malt flavors come through very nicely balance by the bittering hops coming out strong and spicy. Medium body and carbonation. A bitter, I am not sure, but BB is definitely a delicious, thirst-quenching, easy drinking brew and is one of my go-to beers at BTP.
Dec 19, 2013A nice amber color, a bit hazy, with a small, white head, minimal lacing and no real retention. There is a pleasing nose, nicely balanced between caramel malt and hops (citrus and a bit of grass); maybe a touch of bready yeast. The flavor palate follows suite but a bit more of the bread/biscuit malt flavors come through very nicely balance by the bittering hops coming out strong and spicy. Medium body and carbonation. A bitter, I am not sure, but BB is definitely a delicious, thirst-quenching, easy drinking brew and is one of my go-to beers at BTP.
Reviewed by bylerteck from Canada (ON)
3.87/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap at Brothers Beer Bistro. From notes.
A - Poured hazy copper with one finger of off white head. Good carbonation. Minimal lace and barely a film of retention.
S - Big juicy hops. Citrus, grass, oranges, pineapple.
T -More grass than the aroma. Lot's of orange. Honey, spicy yeast. Quite nice. Mellow orangey notes. Fruit juice.
M - Good carbonation, medium body, fruity light bitterness.
O/D - Fairly enjoyable. Not a 'bitter' as it seems they've tried to market it as, but an enjoyable geer. Quite drinkable with lot's of hop flavour. Good stuff.
Oct 12, 2013A - Poured hazy copper with one finger of off white head. Good carbonation. Minimal lace and barely a film of retention.
S - Big juicy hops. Citrus, grass, oranges, pineapple.
T -More grass than the aroma. Lot's of orange. Honey, spicy yeast. Quite nice. Mellow orangey notes. Fruit juice.
M - Good carbonation, medium body, fruity light bitterness.
O/D - Fairly enjoyable. Not a 'bitter' as it seems they've tried to market it as, but an enjoyable geer. Quite drinkable with lot's of hop flavour. Good stuff.
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