Wells Bombardier (Pasteurised)

Brewed by Wells & Youngs
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Bedford, England

Pours darker than I had expected. Brown but red when held to the light. Malty nose. Raisiny body with good character and fine finish. Balanced, blissfully enjoyable and quaffable.

The beer came in a sturdy looking 500 ml. Bottle, and I chose to warm it up close to cask temperature before opening it. The beer looked very good in the pint glass, as the copper colored body was absolutely clear, and the head atop was nearly two finger thick and sticky. I know my bottle was fresh, because the store owner had cut open a newly arrive case and handed it to me, but I did not realize how fresh until the hoppy aroma hit my nose. Quite a bit more aromatic than most other English bitters I’ve sampled so far. The earthy pungent hop smell was quite detectable, even at an arm’s length. The taste was where the Englishness of the beer started to make itself known. The bitter-spicy, mineralized, dry, and musty taste was typical handiwork of an English yeast strain. Not much citric brightness was seen here, like that typical in the American interpretations of the style. The mouthfeel disappointed me a little, as it was tinny and marred by an almost metallic aftertaste. Not as good as Fuller’s version from what I recall, but it’s been a while.

From a 1 pint bottle- poured non transparent, red/amber, great head that transends time and life itself. Aroma of some mild hops, a mild amount of hops(yes I said it twice, think REALLY HARD), and some wood molecules, highly in·trigu·ing. Hits the mouth with some maple or red oak (?), well defined body, finish that begs for more. If a porter is not available for cold weather, get this.

On draft, perhaps served too cold, @ BSP. Faint whiff of chewy malts, slight grassy hop aroma, a little thin on the palate, taste more like a simple bitter to me.

Cool label! Oh, and the beer----it’s nothing to airmail back home about. This is nicely hopped and, true to the label’s proclamations, is fairly dry. This is a nice, sit-and-read Maxim and sip on a beer kinda brew. There is nothing distinctive about this beer--like trying to describe that one Emperor penguin that goosed you out of the thousand huddled against the antarctic cold.

Can, IBS, Perth Loveley fresh grassy/leafy aromas, crsip bitter edge to a nice round caramelised malt background, with a hint of vegetative spiciness. A welcome surprise

Bottle. Very pretty dark amber body with a thick foamy head. Nose-dusty, musty, stale hops. Taste-semi-sweet, cherry, medium CO2, light alcohol, cloying, lots of fruity esters. Very drinkable.

Part of an English Bitter tasting in Ocean NJ on 10/06/2007. Nice looking beer pouring a clear dark amber with a finger and half of sticky head. Aroma is buttery with nutty woody tones. Nice toffee malt character with a stinging earthy hop finish.