Readily Available English Bitter?

Unless a local brewer is making one, I'd not buy one that is bottled.

 

Maybe Boddington's?

 

This is a hard one, I would roll with local guys if they make them but good luck finding that lol.

Fullers was good I want to say, going off distant memory.... Not sure if it is around these days.
Cheers OP

 

I've seen this on shelves around here.

 

This Fuller is available around here, at least on one shelf I can think of. That is, if my memory serves me correct. I mistakenly thought those same shelves had Baltika #9 and Schneider Weisse's Eisbock, when in reality they had 1-8 Baltika line and Schneider Weisse's Tap 6.

 

Hobgoblin.

 

Seasonal and not the best example (but not a bad beer by any means), Southern Tier Harvest.

 

Boddington's Pub Ale and Fuller's ESB are both English bitter despite their differences. Fuller's is dated, so grab that if you see a reasonably fresh one, but if you're looking for something closer to Fuller's ESB that isn't Fuller's ESB, then grab a Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome since I just started to see them hit shelves. If you're looking for an American made six pack of something then I wish you good luck.

 

I drank a lot of Redhook ESB as a younger man and remember liking it for what it was. Looks like it's still being produced.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18134/1119/

 

It pisses me off even thinking about English styles. All non seasonal imports are ancient around here. Wish we weren't so focused on only super bitter, super sweet or super sour beer in this country.

 

It sucks for us lovers of English styles, how hard it is to find good ones.

I don’t usually answer this kind of question with this kind of advice, but...homebrew?

English ales are comparatively simple to make well vs. something like a German Pilsner, and their subtle and rustic charm are more forgiving to the variability and quirks of the average homebrew system.

 

In cans, no less!

Yup. The 'rebellion' against pale lagers may be more vocal, but it's been much more silent yet devastating against English styles.

 

@JohnnyChicago beat me to it.

In my area the British imports are old and stale. My solution is homebrewing. Every year I brew a batch of English Bitter Ale to get my fix.

My suggestions for brewing:

• English Maris Otter Pale Malt
• A bit of English crystal malt
• English hops (I prefer East Kent Goldings)
• Wyeast 1469 for the yeast (classic Yorkshire ale, Timothy Taylor)

And then enjoy your fresh and tasty English Bitter Ale.

Cheers!

 

Good call, been drinking that on tap at my favorite local spot this week. It's a beaut.

 

There are quite a few bitter English lads on here, but I won't mention any names!

 

Alesmith Anvil and Laughing Dog CSB are OK.

my favorite was 3F Lord Rear Admiral.