Bantam Bitter
Phoenix Brewery Co Ltd

Tasted by a half pint at the Devonshire Cat, Sheffield, on 25 June 2007. Handpulled w/ a sparkler.

A: pours a clear reddish amber hue; the light beige frothy head lasts pretty well, on top of low carbonation.
S: the aroma is extremely mild upfront, suggesting some hop resins and pear-drops, added with just a faint touch of pale malts.
T: pink grapefruit bits and peels abound on the palate, then the bitterness catches up, leaving the cara-malts to wander aimlessly… there’s a good aftertaste of zesty bitterness that renders an herbal finishing touch. But apart from the necessary bitterness, an undesirable, flat-textured sourness (as in “off-ish”) also appears in the mixture.
M&D: slightly flat and not as lively as a fresh cask ale should be, although this is compensated for by the belated bitter palate. I’d say this is a bitter Bitter, if not offering anything else to make an interesting drink.