RateBeer
Score
4437
OVERALLStyle
Brewed by Swans Hotel (Buckerfield Brewery)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Victoria, Canada
Serve in English pint

bottling
unknown

on tap
available

Local Distribution

Add Distribution Data
RATINGS: 30   MEAN: 3.01/5.0   WEIGHTED AVG: 2.97   EST. CALORIES: 150   ABV: 5%
Share this beer with friends!
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
A coppery-coloured "best bitter' in the British style. Robust in flavour, it is balanced by a pleasingly creamy texture, a clear maltiness and long, hoppy finish.


4.1
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
texasbeerlover (9) - Austin, Texas, USA - APR 24, 2005 does not count
Cask conditioned. Nice red amber color. Smooth bitter flavor, nice finish for a bitter. Very good by style. Perhaps a bit tart in finish. Pretty clean, and drinkable. They got a new brewer, no longer Chris, seems he left about 2 years ago. I would probably term this a “Red Bitter”

4.1
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
Kristatos (6) - USA - AUG 17, 2007 does not count
Tap and bottles at Swan hotel/brewery in Victoria. This bitter is true to the style IMO, with a fruity nose, light bodied but with complex malt flavors backed up by a bitter hop finish. Poured nicely from the bottle, persistent head which is nice but not always typical with a bitter. Good color and flavor, one of my favorite bitters.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
tiggmtl (4475) - Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA - AUG 1, 2008
Thick, chewy caramel malt aroma with light fruity esters and floral, earthy hops. Hazy, deep copper coloured body is topped by a generous and lasting off white head that leaves some lace. Caramel up front but not overly sweet. Decent offsetting bitterness with floral and earthy hop flavours. Esters are apparent especially in the aftertaste. Quite dry with medium body and creamy texture offset by pleasantly prickly carbonation. Tulip glass. Allowed to warm from fridge temperature. Bottle (Brewery Creek, Aug-08).

3.5
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
Chris411 (18) - Victoria, British Columbia, CANADA - SEP 9, 2006
[2006 GCBF] Pretty decent bitter. Nicely sweet and malty, good amber color and not too watery either. Would have again, but not their best.

3.5
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
jonas (4588) - Garching b. München, GERMANY - AUG 11, 2006
Tap. Light toasted aroma. Beautiful deep amber, nice golden creamy lacing head. Light toasted flavor, slightly green. Grassy balance. Creamy mouthfeel, good chewy body. Good Bitter.

3.5
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
fiulijn (10383) - Como, ITALY - AUG 3, 2008
Draught at the brewpub, hand pulled
Beautiful, clean amber color. Some caramel aroma. It has a medium sweet flavor, that strangely reminds me a watered Barley Wine; soft mouthfeel; good bitterness, ending with the correct mix of caramel too. Good.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
3fourths (6399) - Boulder, Colorado, USA - AUG 5, 2005
Cask at the brewery
Orange rusty color and clear appearance. The nose is full of tangerines, sour oranges, wood and scotch. Hoppy oranges, alcohol and ashtray notes as well. Wet tasting, not that hoppy up front, but scratchy and woody in the finish. Good toasted nut flavor, very decent brew.

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
DuffMan (4422) - the land of bitumen, beef & beer, Alberta, CANADA - JUL 18, 2008
Burnt orange amber, brief white head leaving patchy lace. Interesting and enticing fruit aromas, hard to characterize, but guava, gooseberries, and pear are being awoken in my consciousness. Aromatic fruity hops on a cushion of sweet malt, with a medium bitter finish of medium length.

3.4
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
patrick767 (2836) - fort wayne, Indiana, USA - SEP 27, 2006
tap at the brewpub - Pours light amber with a thin head. The aroma is very light with just some mild malt and hops. The flavor is much better than the aroma as moderately strong hops make their presence known. It has a good, lightly carbonated, medium bodied palate, then an light, bitter finish.

3.4
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
mgermani (936) - Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA - JUL 4, 2007
UPDATED: JUL 6, 2008 Light caramel aroma - almost undetectable. Amber brown in appearance with a small head of large, sparse bubbles. Weird wooden, boozy taste. Very very odd and unpleasant. Hoppy and malty, otherwise. Thin and flat. What a let down.

Re-rate: Aroma still undetectable, clear copper colour. Good bitterness, nice and malty. Wooden taste, much better carbonation, slightly creamy. Wow, I was harsh!


We Want To Hear From You



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

Join Us »




View Page
1 2 3


Tick this beer

for your profile
  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5




Copyright © 2000-2012,
RateBeer LLC. All rights
reserved.
about us
About RateBeer
FAQ
Feedback?
New Beers
add
Advanced Search
Add A Beer
Add A Brewer
Add A Place
membership
Log In
Edit Personal Info
Premium Membership
Your Messages
the best
100 Beer Club
The Top 50