Beer > Bitter

Advantages: Light, refreshing and well balanced light bitter.
Disadvantages: Not the best. Lacks body and texture.

...beer tasting of Peak Ales Swift Nick! ~~~THE BREWERY. Peak Ales is located in the Barn Brewery on the Chatsworth House estate, near Bakewell in Derbyshire. Their first brew of beer (called Bakewell Best Bitter) took place on the 1st February 2005 ~ so they have really only been in business for a very short time in brewing terms (when you think of some breweries, like Fullers and Youngs, who have been brewing for years). In actual fact the brewery ...
...***A Bit of Background*** Swift Nick is actually named after a famous outlaw and you will see a picture of a highwayman on a horse on the pump clip for the beer. John "Swift Nick" Nevison lived from 1639 to 1684 and was apparently an associate of the infamous Dick Turpin. It is said he got his name from the fast ride he made from London to York to get an alibi to escape capture for his crimes (he and a gang of thieves regularly robbed travelers ... Read review

Advantages: An award winning beer produced in my home village
Disadvantages: May be difficult to track down the further north you live

...all over the country. Gales produce a range of different beers, wines and whiskey, the most well known of which is HSB - or Horndean Special Bitter. Walk into any of the many public houses that Gales now own, and you can be sure that you will find draught HSB at the bar. Ordering your first pint of HSB is an experience, rather than a transaction. Firstly, there is the anticipation. If you have read this review, read about HSB elsewhere or seen ...
...sure of excellent service. The Gales pubs pride themselves on their service, as well as their beers !! As they pull your pint, the dark beer gushes down the side of the slightly tilted glass. This isn't your standard "lager" or beer where it has to be treated carefully, and trickled slowly down the side to prevent a foamy head forming. No, this is traditional ale - a hardy, earthly drink from the land ! As the pint is presented to you, a very thin ... Read review

Advantages: Tasty beer with a good body.
Disadvantages: Stronger than you might think.

I had already almost written this review before the new batch of products appeared so I decided to continue with it. This was primarily because I had finally found out what the name of the beer meant, but also because it IS a classic beer worthy of a write-up! So, here is my review of Shepherd Neame’s Classic premium ale; the wonderfully named Bishops Finger. ~~~THE BREWERY. Shepherd Neame call themselves the oldest brewery in Britain. Their claim ...
...way back in the mists of time…well, 1698 to be precise. Based in Faversham in Kent, Shepherd Neame was founded by the then Mayor (Captain Richard Marsh). Kent is well known as being hop growing country, so it isn’t surprising that brewing had been going on in the area since the 12th century. As the years passed the brewery grew and developed and was the first brewery outside London to use a steam engine to power their brewery. The brewery prides ... Read review

Advantages: Nice taste
Disadvantages: Quite an unusual taste so not for everyone

...up in Sheffield the name Wards was synonymous with the City. They sponsored my beloved Sheffield United Football Team for several Seasons and the strong smell of the Hops that they used in the Beer seemed to drift down every Street within a mile radius of the Sheaf Brewery that they occupied on Eccleshall Road just outside the City Centre. Sadly this Brewery closed in 1999 and it seemed that Wards and its many Beers, including their internationally ...
...Maxim Beer Company bought the Wards brand name and began producing this wonderful Beer once more, originally in just Bottled form and then following on from this success as a Cask Beer too. A BIT OF BACKGROUND In 1837 two men by the names of John Kiby and William Roper founded a small Brewery on Effingham Street in the centre of Sheffield. William Roper died in 1842 leaving complete control of the business in the hands of John Kiby who was joined ... Read review

Advantages: Great flavour but not too hoppy to put off first time drinkers
Disadvantages: Harder to find down South, Jennings has some even finer ales

...the North West of England, Cumberland ale is quintessential example of a bitter beer. Its colour is that of the classic medium brown bitter with a good looking, slightly cream-coloured head. There is a balance of hops that's immediately apparent when the glass gets close to the drinker's nose, with an initial light, almost lemon, citrus flavour, giving way to thirst quenching hops. Although the lingering taste is definitely bitter, it's not overpowering; ...
...to compare it with. Cumberland ale is usually very reasonably priced, coming in at under 2 pounds [in 2006] in even some of the more tourist-trap pubs of the Lakes. I've also seen this beer in a lot of other places around the country and, unlike a number of other regionally brewed beers (Pedigree, anyone?) it does travel well - I've had cracking pints in Yorkshire, the Midlands and Oxfordshire. Recently, I was stood at the bar in a pub in Staffordshire ... Read review