Readily Available English Bitter?

I doubt Three Magnets distributes to Indiana but they just canned an ESB called Oliver. Saw it at Berkeley Bowl today

 

My repetitive plaint around here is the absence of the once nearly ubiquitous Young's, from London. There are some around (chocolate stout, I think), but nothing like the old Oatmeal Stout, London Special, Ramrod Ale, and Dirty Dick's. I think this latest iteration of the beer evolution/generation would find these to be eye-opening beers. Fullers is always a good choice from a good dealer.

 

As a matter of interest Bitter is simply what drinkers in a pub called Pale Ale. Generally regarded as the draught version, many brewers sold exactly the same beer in bottle as Pale Ale, Luncheon Ale, Dinner Ale and so on.
So to enjoy a Bitter, simply seek out an English Pale Ale. Remember that ideally it should come from a cask to be at its best.

 

The Bier Brewery in Indy makes an ESB that's won many awards at the Indiana Brewers Cup. I've never tried it but it's relatively highly rated on UT for the style. Not a lot of ratings on here. It's not readily available, but is a local option.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24411/73249/

 

Speaking of Arcadia... I used to like their Thunder Trail "ESB" which was available in six packs... but I just looked at their website and it's now draught only. Oy vey. It's one to look out for for the OP given the proximity of the brewery though.

 

These two nailed it.

However I would add one thing. Make sure you’re using ENGLISH pale ale and bitter interchangeablely.

If you gave someone an English bitter and an American Pale Ale or a New England style pale ale they would wonder how one could think they were the same. Especially the New England style (although the mouthfeel would be cask-like).

For Fuller’s specifically there’s an increase in ABV as you go from their Chiswick Bitter to London Pride (pale ale) to their ESB.

 

Gotta make room for the obligatory rotating New England IPA series double dry hopped with a different popular hop variety each month.

 

All a product of their parti-gyle brewing and blending along with their Golden Pride / Vintage Ale.
https://beerandbrewing.com/practical-parti-gyle-brewing/

 

Batemans and Bluebird were favorites many years ago, I can still usually find Fullers fresh on tap in Greensboro.

 

I know people have already said it, but Boddington's. Not the best, but still pretty good.

 

Thanks for that link, that was a nice read. I found this particularly interesting...

After blending, the beers diverge further during maturation. The ESB spends two to three weeks maturing, with hops in the tank. The London Pride is matured for a week but not dry hopped. The Chiswick gets a week and is dry hopped.

 

I'd drink English bitter all the time if it were easier to come by. For British varieties I'm always happy to pick up some Coniston Bluebird or some Timothy Taylor Landlord.

For US iterations, the aforementioned Left Hand Sawtooth and Honkers Ale are good enough, but I'm more likely to pick up some Surfman's Check by Devil's Purse (which doesn't help you as I can't imagine this dinky Cape Cod brewery distributes to Indiana). And for another ESB-style brew that doesn't make it to Indiana (or anywhere else), Tree House's Old Man is a nice brew that's often ridiculed by Tree House fans because it's not a JUICY HOP EXPLOSION or some shit. Savages.

 

Local Highland Brewery (21 yrs in business) let their Kashmir IPA go three or four years ago because it just was not a big seller. Solidly in the English corner. I asked the local rep and he said that despite a very long run and devoted small following, it just didn't sell well enough these days to continue it.

And I am likely at fault for not buying it much before its retirement.

 

Green Man ESB Asheville.

Going to go get some now just after thinking about it.

 

I can actually see that aspect- English IPAs have always been kind of a niche product. But the Pale Ales, that's a whole other story, and we used to be swimming in them- on draught as well as on the shelves.

Fortunately for me I still see Fuller's regularly, as well as Hobgoblin. Samuel Smith's, too, but it's usually the Brown/Porter/Stout line. Then there are others that I'll see from time to time (Bluebird, Wells Bombardier...) but who knows how old they are. And that's about it.

I actually think @zid 's suggestion of Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome is the best one, at least for this time of year, because freshness shouldn't be an issue.

 

imo Winter Welcome is their best beer. Will try to chase some when I hit Milwaukee. It does not appear her

 

Having a Bateman"s XXXB right now ! - Cheers !

 

Check the label, I saw one that said 2010-2011 the other day. Pass.

 

Wise man!

 

Haha, I don't always remember. Bought some ancient Maduro the other day