Hidalgo Best Bitter Ale
OEC Brewing (Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores)
- From:
- OEC Brewing (Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores)
- Connecticut, United States
- Style:
- English Bitter
Ranked #4 - ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #11,843 - Avg:
- 4.07 | pDev: 7.62%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 20
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 22, 2026
- Added:
- Mar 20, 2022
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
Hidalgo is our interpretation of a British Best Bitter. We brew Hidalgo with a classic simple infusion mash using Marris Otter & Crystal malts. It is hopped with Challenger & East Kent Goldings during the boil. After an open fermentation it rests in our cellars for several weeks prior to packaging.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
4.48/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From a 16 oz can stamped DEC BREWING, Pro #02179. Sampled May 22, 2026.
The appearance is an orange-amber color with a fine, delicate cream colored head and a lot of lacing.
The aroma emits lovely sensations of toffee, caramel, floral, and earth. It also has a bready character.
Medium mouthfeel.
The taste is sweet toffee and caramel with a nice balance of floral and earthy hops. Low bitterness, which is actually how I like my ESBs. Clean, Crisp. Just enjoyable all around in the British tradition.
May 22, 2026The appearance is an orange-amber color with a fine, delicate cream colored head and a lot of lacing.
The aroma emits lovely sensations of toffee, caramel, floral, and earth. It also has a bready character.
Medium mouthfeel.
The taste is sweet toffee and caramel with a nice balance of floral and earthy hops. Low bitterness, which is actually how I like my ESBs. Clean, Crisp. Just enjoyable all around in the British tradition.
Rated by Nash39 from Florida
3.83/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.83/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The pour is carrot colored. The taste is baked biscuit, caramel, black tea leaves, & a touch of English hops. Cheers! B
Dec 02, 2025
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.79/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: slight haze; copper colored; 1 finger finely pored tan head that receded to a wispy cap with a moderate tight collar; OK lacing;
S: bread, sweet malt, and toffee;
T: follows the nose up front; caramel and apple come in the middle; mild bitterness at the end balances the sweetness nicely;
M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: easy drinking, however the balance overall was on the malty side;
Nov 23, 2025S: bread, sweet malt, and toffee;
T: follows the nose up front; caramel and apple come in the middle; mild bitterness at the end balances the sweetness nicely;
M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: easy drinking, however the balance overall was on the malty side;
Reviewed by LeRose from Massachusetts
4.26/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours murky golden color with an inch or so of off white foam that holds nicely, falling to about a quarter inch of rocky residue. Nice draping on the glass. Actually looks like apple cider with a head on it. Bubbles keep fueling the cap to the"bitter end".
Immediate smell of bready malts, sweet toffee, honey, a little lemon, black tea, faint peppery spices, nutty, a bit of apple fruitiness, floral and herbaceous hop notes.
Tasty, tasty, tasty. The malts are a mix of bread and biscuit with some sweetness - more honey and caramel where the nise said toffee. There's quite a pronounced and very clear black tea flavor. Then the background singers pipe in - lemon, black pepper, some apple, hops more floral than in the aroma, and some nut flavor - not quite hazelnut but close. Very earthy. The bitter is welcome at the end as a reset - not overly assertive but enough to notice.
Feel is slightly dry, and it feels creamy with a medium body. The pepper and lemon hang around for a bit.
Really liking this beer. I believe it is reasonably representing the style as I understand it - admittedly not much. Flavorful and full for a modest ABV. I can understand exactly where this fits in the beer universe.
Jul 28, 2025Immediate smell of bready malts, sweet toffee, honey, a little lemon, black tea, faint peppery spices, nutty, a bit of apple fruitiness, floral and herbaceous hop notes.
Tasty, tasty, tasty. The malts are a mix of bread and biscuit with some sweetness - more honey and caramel where the nise said toffee. There's quite a pronounced and very clear black tea flavor. Then the background singers pipe in - lemon, black pepper, some apple, hops more floral than in the aroma, and some nut flavor - not quite hazelnut but close. Very earthy. The bitter is welcome at the end as a reset - not overly assertive but enough to notice.
Feel is slightly dry, and it feels creamy with a medium body. The pepper and lemon hang around for a bit.
Really liking this beer. I believe it is reasonably representing the style as I understand it - admittedly not much. Flavorful and full for a modest ABV. I can understand exactly where this fits in the beer universe.
Reviewed by Tolianych_Pivomnabuhanych from Vermont
5/5 rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
OEC beers can be hit or miss. This one is extremely good and close to style.
This ale has a rich amber color with generous white foam. The aroma is very elegant and pleasant. The taste is crisp and refreshing. Extremely well balanced maltiness and hoppiness. Very impressive compared to a regular British Best Bitter.
A solid 5-pointer for me.
Jun 11, 2025This ale has a rich amber color with generous white foam. The aroma is very elegant and pleasant. The taste is crisp and refreshing. Extremely well balanced maltiness and hoppiness. Very impressive compared to a regular British Best Bitter.
A solid 5-pointer for me.
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.87/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
It's a slightly hazy, amber color. Big, off-white head. Caramel malt, bread, biscuits, and earthy notes in the aroma. Malty, moderately sweet taste with nice, balancing bitterness.
Feb 18, 2025
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.83/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Very nice and rounded out by wood. Well crafted for balance over hoppiness.English hops get through. We'll malted. This is refreshing and to be enjoyed.
Dec 23, 2024
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
4.59/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.59/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours murky, orange brown in color with one inch head. Taste is big bready English malt and meadow. Medium light body, medium low carbonation, sweet. Excellent malty beer. Lager at its best. Reminds me of beer in England.
Dec 02, 2023
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I had this on cask 4/13/23 @ the Beer Temple.
Mostly see-through orange/brown appearance.
Nice off-white head; tree-rung lace remained.
Oatmeal, orange peel & faint cream notes in the nose.
Smooth, medium mouthfeel.
Honeyed oats & orange peel flavors up front; cream notes on the finish.
Pleasant & enjoyable!
Apr 19, 2023Mostly see-through orange/brown appearance.
Nice off-white head; tree-rung lace remained.
Oatmeal, orange peel & faint cream notes in the nose.
Smooth, medium mouthfeel.
Honeyed oats & orange peel flavors up front; cream notes on the finish.
Pleasant & enjoyable!
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