John Smith's Bitter
John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)

John Smith's BitterJohn Smith's Bitter
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From:
John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Bitter
Ranked #139
ABV:
3.6%
Score:
73
Ranked #27,677
Avg:
3.01 | pDev: 25.91%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
37
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 28, 2023
Added:
Jun 18, 2002
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  2
John Smith’s bitter, which is still going strong, is a malty, bitter sweet ale with a slight fruitiness and a bitter aftertaste – we probably took the words right out of your mouth. John Smith’s Original can be enjoyed in cans at home (3.6% ABV), plus there’s the Cask Ale available on the bar (3.8% ABV).
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Ratings by whiterapid:
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Rated by whiterapid from Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -16.9%

Jan 09, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.42/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
August 2003: Cask, in England. More or less like the Extra Smooth - but without the nitrogen................... Still drinkable when the cask is well kept. Been years since I had it now, my cask ale priorities are different.
May 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by dannycohen62 from Illinois

Mar 09, 2020
Photo of Archibald_N
Rated by Archibald_N from Wales

1/5  rDev -66.8%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Not sure why anybody would choose this over another beer, it's awful!
Apr 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.4 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Jun 28, 2017
Photo of BeckHardy
Reviewed by BeckHardy from California

2.3/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
I got the can on a train from London to Edinburgh. Poured it into a plastic cup. The look was amber and the smell was very faint. It tasted very smooth with a creamy head. Some decent lacing was left clinging to the sides of the plastic glass. The mouth feel was slightly slick but not bad at all. Another good product from John Smith.
Feb 17, 2017
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.69/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Enjoyed on tap at The King’s Head. Silky, creamy head coated the glass the entire way down. Medium brown color, with smooth, mellow taste. A great pub drink...
Jan 19, 2016
 
Rated: 2.48 by dmurray50000 from England

Jun 26, 2015
 
Rated: 2.79 by dheldman from Minnesota

Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 2.77 by Lare453 from Florida

Dec 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by endless1408 from England

Jun 05, 2014
Photo of JohnSmithsFC
Reviewed by JohnSmithsFC from England

4.95/5  rDev +64.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
John Smith's Bitter (JSB) is undoubtedly the most supreme of all beers. Some say that God drinks it. I'll tell you why. JSB has smooth, creamy feel with of course that 'taste of Yorkshire' praised by the great Winston Churchill himself. Its delightful golden colour can be likened to piss although its taste is the exact opposite (not shit - see review on Guiness). The alcohol percentage of 3.8% is ideal and complements the taste like no other alcohol percentage. All in all, JSB is the Pint of Champions. We fucking love John Smith's Bitter. Long live the king.
Nov 14, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by TT--Cashout from Canada ()

Aug 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by vinicole from England

Aug 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by SoPeL from Poland

Aug 14, 2013
Photo of M_C_Hampton
Reviewed by M_C_Hampton from Georgia

3.07/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
A: poured from a 440 mL can into a glass, amber brown with a loose white head that lingers leaving little lacing, clear

S: heavily malty, earthy grain, caramel

T: flavor a bit on the uninteresting side, slight malt, little hops, slight mineral water

M: thinner higher carbonation

O: nothing exciting, low alcohol content, refreshing served cold
Aug 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by ZachKelly from Virginia

Jan 13, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by Beerman1977 from Austria

Dec 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by brother_rat from New York

Dec 01, 2012
Photo of cervezango
Reviewed by cervezango from Wisconsin

2.92/5  rDev -3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
smells a litte fermentaed apple and alot like cider really., hints of pepper i guess you could say.

very carbonatedwhich kindoff goes against being a bitter in my opinion. lots of weird clumpy lace looks chemically.

very mild but tastes like a bitterr its no esb but its def. more bitter than alot of the euro pale lagers of similar cost.

and marginally more refreshing than them also

its clearly not afraid of its bitterness which i respectit says serve cool rather than serve ice cold, which i like.

hints of spearmint and sweet cider.

made by heiniken.
May 02, 2012
John Smith's Bitter from John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)
Beer rating: 73 out of 100 with 37 ratings