The Beer Wrangler™ » Best Bitter http://www.beerwrangler.com Beer reviews, styles, food pairings and more Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:20:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Pretty Things Hedgerow Bitter http://www.beerwrangler.com/pretty-things-hedgerow-bitter/ http://www.beerwrangler.com/pretty-things-hedgerow-bitter/#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:06:36 +0000 The Beer Wrangler http://www.beerwrangler.com/?p=1815 Pretty Things make beer with some interest, as opposed to just brewing standard styles to fill their portfolio. This time out they have used three Dwarf Hop varietals from England, Sovereign, Pioneer and First Gold, and made a well hopped British Best Bitter.  The hoppy flavours may not be familiar to those used to drinking North American IPAs, but these fairly new varieties give it a distinctly wild herbaceous twang.

This is certainly reminiscent of Bitters I’ve drunk in the UK but with an extra helping of hops. The Dwarf hops taste fresh and vibrant and leave a lingering dry . . . → Read More: Pretty Things Hedgerow Bitter]]> http://www.beerwrangler.com/pretty-things-hedgerow-bitter/feed/ 2 Duchy Old Ruby Ale http://www.beerwrangler.com/duchy-old-ruby-ale/ http://www.beerwrangler.com/duchy-old-ruby-ale/#comments Sat, 20 Nov 2010 03:22:07 +0000 The Beer Wrangler http://www.beerwrangler.com/?p=1673 Duchy Originals Organic Old Ruby Ale is made with a historic malt called Plumage Archer which gives this beer a deeply pleasant roasty malt flavour. The bright amber-ruby colour sparkles, and the gentle nose of biscuity and fruity malt make this a great session ale. The slightly tea-leafy and floral hops break through enough to make this a nicely well balanced beer.

This is not a flavour bomb by any stretch of the imagination, and it falls into a cross between a Best Bitter and an Amber Ale in style, but don’t be put off. This is a well-crafted traditional . . . → Read More: Duchy Old Ruby Ale]]> http://www.beerwrangler.com/duchy-old-ruby-ale/feed/ 0 Belhaven St. Andrews Ale http://www.beerwrangler.com/belhaven-st-andrews-ale/ http://www.beerwrangler.com/belhaven-st-andrews-ale/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:28:52 +0000 The Beer Wrangler http://www.beerwrangler.com/?p=572

Wrangler Rating: (Excellent)

Belhaven St. Andrews Ale is a classic session ale in the style of a British Bitter.  There are aromas of light caramel and fruity hops when I dipped my nose in the glass, the body is light-medium with a light head that leaves a little lacing behind.  There are some caramel malt notes on the palate but they do not dominate or overwhelm, the hops are perfectly balanced for this style and give off a slightly fruity and grassy taste right through to the finish. This might not be the most pronounced bitter I’ve ever tasted, but it is a . . . → Read More: Belhaven St. Andrews Ale]]> http://www.beerwrangler.com/belhaven-st-andrews-ale/feed/ 0