Adnams The Bitter (Bottle/Can)

Copper-coloured and crystal clear beer with a thin, but persistant light tan head. Woody, spicy aroma, light cherry fruitiness with a bit of dustiness as well. Flavour is well-balanced, fruity esters, light caramel and a fairly spicy finish. Nice balanced bitterness. A very good bitter.

A dark honey-amber colour with a rapidly disappearing, frothy cream-coloured head. The first scents are decidedly green, floral hops with slight toffee malt in the background. It was somewhat dry and bitter at first but I probably started at too cold a temperature since it improved greatly as it warmed up so that a slight sweetness improved its balance. However, the aftertaste was still a little too astringent for me. Overall it was not bad at all but there are plenty better in this style.

Fridge Temp. Dark red with a fizzy head that retains decently. Slightly sweet at fist with rich dark malt flavors lined with chestnut and punctuated with toast. Early bitterness (perhaps actually a function of the tremendous acidity). Super light body. Very acidic residual effects-tongue puckering even.

Deep amber with a fascinating orange rim. Puzzling scent of Welch’s (artificial) grape juice, confectionery sugar and cranberry. The creamy, almost buttery, palate is very nice and smooth. Flavour begins a little watery, then leads to a nice bitterness at the middle and finish, with accents of wood and some berry fruit. Very good to look at, pretty good to drink.

Bottle. Floral golden malts with subtle hop finish, turning into sour citrus twist at finish. Solid specimen of the style--slightly above average bitter. I may try it again, but probably only on tap.

Body is a hazy deep amber, the small tan head leaves nice lacing on the glass. Aroma light, mostly flowery hops and a distinct pepperiness. Flavor is hoppy but not overly bitter, some apples and a slight pineyness. Finishes dry and sweet. Tasty beer.

Tasted 17/02/2004. 500ml bottle with rude label from Malthouse, Wellington. Nice deep red amber colour with a thin off white head. Classic english aroma of caramel and woody hops. Flavour is no surprise; slightly more of a malt profile than hops - hints of apple. Palate is left with soft sweet malt flavours. A not too bitter bitter. Re-tasted 03/06/2006, 500ml bottle from Rumble’s. Quite nutty. Very dry. No apple this time but a little carbonic, which takes away from the flavour. Grass and wood in the bitterness. Pretty easy drinking.

Mid brown with a small tight white head and light carbonation. Spicy aroma, with an undernote of sweet malt. Full, hoppy flavour with some light malt flavours to balance, but still oriented towards the hops.