Best Bitter
T & R Theakston Ltd.

I had this one on tap at The Charles Dickens Tavern in Melbourne in March 2025. I was in a hurry, so the notes are perfunctory.

L: Golden yellow with a fluffy, bright white head. No bubbles are seen in the glass.

S: The nose is very light, has bready malt and a slight touch of sulfur.

T: My overriding impression is of a milky tea note with minimal bitterness and a weak, slightly citrusy finish.

M: The body is full and smooth. Carbonation is low, with almost no carbonic bite on the swallow.

O: I could be totally wrong, but I suspect this is more similar to what a cask beer should be, with minimal carbonation and somewhat muted flavors. However, I can only review it based on my understanding of how a bitter should present and taste, and for me, this one is quite unremarkable in almost every way.

Cheers!
#690

 

 

Had at The Stiddy in Lythe. Mild, smooth, creamy, malty, amber. Would gladly drink a few of these.

 

Pours a clear amber with soft head.

Smell is malty, bready and a bit floral. Notes of toast, honey and citrus.

Taste is malty and bready with some sweet and floral hints. Notes of toast, honey, citrus and some rye with a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium, smooth and well carbonated.

Overall, a terrific, sessionable bitter.

 

 

 

 

Draft at The Mitre in Blackpool. Medium amber with one finger creamy head. Nothing exciting here, quite the norm for the style. Pretty damn mild, and exceptionally creamy.

Clear, light, orangey copper amber with a two finger white head. On the nose, some orchard fruit, subtle biscuit malt, a hint of orange, some mustiness, and perhaps a hint of earthy hops, all a bit muted. The taste is bigger on the orange citrus, but otherwise follows the nose. Super drinkable, barely touched the sides on the way down. You could easily throw back litres of this stuff with its easy drinking mouthfeel and 3.8% ABV. This is not the most flavourful bitter. I had hoped for more spicy hops, but the hops character here is just a bit weak. Overall though it is still a decent and easy-drinking English bitter, and very sessionable.

Cask in Northern England: An excellent real ale cask bitter. I wonder if you guys who don’t like it really like English bitters at all??

 

 

 

Poured from a beer engine at a pub in Croydon, England. Has more of a spicy, peppery flavor compared to most bitters available. Otherwise run of the mill bitter that can be downed in mass quantities without becoming bored.

 

Theakston Best Bitter | 3.8% | Draft @ Montpellier Harrogate

L4.5
Beautiful dark amber with slight cloud. Perfect head.
S4
Good nose - classic bitter hoppiness
T3.75
Doesn’t quite fulfill initial promise, Fairly standard Yorkshire bitter. Some citrus notes.
F4
Smooth gentle carbonation. Held head very well..
O4
Very good example of a classic Yorkshire bitter, let down slightly by bland taste, which doens't match Timothy Taylor Landlord.