You can't get a better bit of bitter

Six of the best

1. ADNAMS BROADSIDE SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLK, 4.7%
This Suffolk best bitter commemorates the Battle of Sole Bay off Southwold in 1672 when the unlikely combination of the English and French fleets defeated the Dutch. Men o’ War fighting ships in those days placed all their guns along one deck and fired them by turning broadside to the enemy’s vessels. The beer named after the confrontation is brewed with 100% Maris Otter pale malt, with just a touch of caramel for colour adjustment. It has 38 units of bitterness. The hops are First Gold, Fuggles and Goldings, which create a powerful 33 units of bitterness. The beer has a fine aroma of tangy fruit, resinous hops and biscuity malt, with the Adnams’ hallmark of a whiff of seaside salt. Juicy malt, tart orange fruit and spicy hops fill the mouth while the finish is long and is dominated by tart fruit, ripe malt and great hop bitterness.

2. BATEMAN XXXB WAINFLEET, LINCOLNSHIRE, 4.8%
When XXXB won the Champion Beer of Britain competition in 1986 the victory helped rescue a brewery threatened with closure as a result of a deep split in the owning family. Bateman’s has gone from strength to strength since then and XXXB remains the flagship ale. It is brewed with Maris Otter pale and crystal malts and a touch of wheat malt. The colour is 38 units. Two hop varieties, Challenger and Goldings, create a robust 41 units of bitterness. This rich and complex beer has an aroma of sappy malt, vine fruits and tangy hop resins. The full-bodied pala.....

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By Roger Protz

Section : Beer styles

Page number : 65