Readily Available English Bitter?

That beer is mediocre at best. I'd take a Honkers over that any day of the week.

London Pride seems to be the only one I had access to.

Bitters are best on cask, but that is a moot point in the US, I know

 

I bought a 4 pack of their esb, misread the date. Thought it was the packaging date which would have made it a few months old... nope, best by date. Undrinkable. So I wouldn't drive too far without knowing the freshness.

 

Go to the U.K. They’re readily available there indeed! Joking aside, since I know that doesn’t help the OP, I had the pleasure of traveling to London this summer. Drinking Bitters while watching the England team play in the WC was wonderful. Too bad the style is hard to find here.

 

Montauk Driftwood Ale is an ESB or close to it. I really like it but the last 6 pack I had tasted off. They contract brew so I'm going to hope it's a production issue not a recipe change. Unless my palate was off, which I'm not ruling out.

 

Beers that scratch the itch might not be labeled bitter, so it pays to keep an open mind. With this thought, and my last comment about American made six packs, you can look for Left Hand Sawtooth which they label an "amber ale." I think they distribute to Indiana and this might be as close to "readily available" as one can get. They even make a nitro bottled version.

 

English Bitter was the first non-AAL style I had, as a young man stationed in the UK. That is what I consider the beginning of my 35 year beer journey

 

I like Montauk Driftwood Ale. Is it an ESB? BA and the Montauk website list it as an English Pale Ale. However, I believe ratebeer and untappd call it an ESB.

 

Sam Adams Boston Ale, while labeled a "Stock Ale" would fit the bill here if you can find it. You can use Sam Adams beer finder.

Furthermore, I imagine you could get your local store to order you a case of Honker's Ale.

I've seen cans of Wells Bombadier popping at my local lately as well.

 

I would say it's definitely hoppier than a pale ale, with distinct English hops but I'm not an ESB expert. It's just a nice change of pace from the wall of IPAs at every store.

 

Haha, I didn't see the beer for 1 penny. That's one way to drum up business...

 

The brewer calls it an English pale ale... but there are folks who view these things as distinct, and others who view them as variations on a theme or even names for the same thing. I'm a grouper rather than a splitter in this case, so I personally use pale ale and bitter interchangeably in this context and ESB (instead of "strong bitter") only when we're talking about Fuller's.

 

I would vote for Bateman's XXXB as my fav. Unfortunately I only get it when my niece's husband sends or brings it back from the UK

 

Indeed, 35 years ago as a young engineer, I was picked to work on a joint project with a UK firm outside of London. It took about 12 hours after clearing British customs at Gatwick to discover there is better beer than Bud.

 

Imperial ESB. Cost about 10.99 for a 6 pack. Sold up and down the east cost I think. Good beer.

 

You could try an Arcadia IPA if it is available in your area. It has an English style and seems pretty close to a Pale Ale.

 

Why not more love/praise for Sawtooth? I thought it was a good ESB, and Left Hand is available pretty much everywhere.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/418/1543/