Foster's Special Bitter
Foster's Group Limited

Foster's Special BitterFoster's Special Bitter
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Foster's Group Limited
 
Australia
Style:
English Bitter
ABV:
5%
Score:
67
Avg:
2.83 | pDev: 20.14%
Reviews:
174
Ratings:
238
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 17, 2020
Added:
Jul 10, 2001
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  15
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.77 by smi69 from New York

Apr 17, 2020
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

2.79/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
I think this might have been one of the first 750ml size beers I ever had. Pours a feint yellow and mild amber kind of beer with half way decent clarity and a thin 1/5" white head that disappears faster than personal responsibility among failure types. The aroma is metallic to say the least. Like, very metallic, we're talking early Metallica up to the And Justice For All . . . album. Not much beyond that.

The taste has a metallic bitterness, but isn't really what you come to think of when thinking ESB or English Bitter. It doesn't seem to derive from the hopping. Other than that, it is essentially slightly watery and thin. Its like, without the metallic aspect, this could be a cream ale for all I can tell. The color made me think this might have more of a malt body.

I dunno, there just doesn't seem to be much going on with this beer. What is there is relatively bland, and when it goes beyond bland, it isn't a desirable flavor (metallic bitterness).
Sep 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.67 by HopliteMpls612 from Minnesota

Sep 19, 2018
 
Rated: 2.93 by MRLott from Georgia

Jul 14, 2018
Photo of OzmanBey
Reviewed by OzmanBey from Massachusetts

3/5  rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I am not sure but everyone gets this at least ounce in their life and it is a good starter beer into the bitter world but ounce you have a few top quality beers you quickly move on. Not bad but not great either.
Oct 15, 2017
Photo of BeckHardy
Rated by BeckHardy from California

1.24/5  rDev -56.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.25
Other than having caramel coloring added please see my review for the original Foster's.
Aug 20, 2017
 
Rated: 2 by fthegiants from California

May 26, 2017
 
Rated: 2.64 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Mar 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.7 by mikr from New Jersey

May 13, 2016
Photo of NavyVet1959
Reviewed by NavyVet1959 from Texas

2.5/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Definitely better than regular Fosters, but not what I would call a "great" beer. Still, it's a quite a bit better than any of the American mass market beers (e.g. Bud, Miller, Coors, etc). But then again, even regular Fosters is better than *them*. I think that the version we get is make in Fort Worth these days, so technically, I guess it's an American beer with Aussie influence. I'll still buy it in a pinch, so I guess that says *something*.
Apr 30, 2016
 
Rated: 2.86 by Urk1127 from New Jersey

Apr 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by Oidmoe from Austria

Oct 31, 2015
 
Rated: 2.69 by Mebuzzard from Colorado

Jul 13, 2015
 
Rated: 2.97 by SFNC from North Carolina

May 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by 31Sam13 from New Hampshire

Mar 14, 2015
Photo of Brenden
Reviewed by Brenden from Ohio

2.71/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Not the bronze or brown color of some, neither is this beer extremely pale; it's pretty much an even copper, clear and fairly bright. The head is a bit more than expected, a bubbly off-white foam that might top at half a finger. Retention is above average, and the little bit of lace left clinging may just be as well.
The aroma, as expected, is pretty light and altogether unexceptional. Tangy fruit esters, grainy dryness and mineral make up the nose, while the flavor is marred by something not quite vegetal and the mineral aspect taken to metallic proportions. It seems like someone made an effort with hops, though it went wrong and only made it a little sulphuric.
IT's a little slick and dry at the same time, though it evens out and goes to a cleaner semi-dry in a light but almost medium body. It goes into a quick finish.
Mar 03, 2015
 
Rated: 2.85 by Winston3737 from Michigan

Mar 01, 2015
Photo of jooler
Rated by jooler from California

3/5  rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Not really an ale, it's more like an India pale lager. Has a really hoppy lager taste to it
Jan 07, 2015
 
Rated: 2.64 by corywalston from North Dakota

Nov 19, 2014
 
Rated: 2.25 by NorCalAussie from California

Oct 15, 2014
Foster's Special Bitter from Foster's Group Limited
Beer rating: 67 out of 100 with 238 ratings