Yeastie Boys + Lobethal Bierhaus Bruce

I have to admit I looked at the 3.5% abv on the menu with some disdain before ordering this one.

It came with a recommendation though and I'm glad I picked it up - great nose from the outset really lifts the spirits with both hops and barley present and accounted for. Nice caramel character there too.

Flavour-wise it's malt driven for the most part with some sweet cotton candy sort of notes. Slightly overcarbed I felt, but then for its aim of a low alc beer that's maybe not a bad thing. There's enough hop bitterness to push it over the norm for a bitter and crank up the interest level to something pretty good.

This is up there with Rogers and a couple others in quite rare territory at present: a mild beer that you actually want to drink. Good stuff. 7.5

Youngs Bitter (bottle conditioned)

This is the bottle conditioned version, weighing in at a still paltry 4.5% compared to the normal 3.7%.

And, well, it pours and looks like a big English mug of English bitter. A closer look reveals this is distinctly orange rather than amber in colour, lighter than expected, transparent, and the head dissipates as if embarrassed to be around. Nose of bitter, macro lager notes, not much caramel, with the slightest hint of nut on the denouement. I'm glad the dog above is interested because I'm not, this is not enticing.

At this point I actually started wondering if its actually going to be bitter, or some sort of horrid hybrid lager ale instead. But indeed after a pretty pilsner sort of start it does mellow with a little talk of caramel. Taste wise it is pretty nondescript but never unpleasant per se. I just found it eminently boring throughout and far from compelling. A beer that takes effort to drink and still makes me yawn is not going to be purchased again. 3.0

Harviestoun Mr Sno'balls

Mr Sno'balls, a wintery bitter from the thus far impressive crew at Harviestoun.

This one pours pretty sedate and flat as you can see with low aeration, but it is a nice light cola hue. The flavour profile is dominated by the pale and crystal malts with a bit of caramel character and just slight bittering hops. The roasty barley character is quite pleasant and lifts this above some others that are all just caramel and nothing else.

While they're not perhaps the most exciting beers, I don't mind beers in this vein from time to time. They can be a pretty comforting drop to nurse over some time as they take well to being flat and warm. The only real issue I have with this one is the label - 'Crisp' yeah, 'Caramel' yeah, 'Citrus' ..what? Surely there were other words that started with 'C' you could have used? 7.0

De Ranke XX Bitter

Things with "X" and "Bitter" in the title rightfully don't have the best reputation in this country.

This beer seems to come from finer stocks, though I'm not really sure why they call these beers 'bitter' at all - while there's a sour edge to the nose, the dominant characteristic of the taste is a caramel sweetness backed by malt. It's refreshed throughout and particularly in the aftertaste by that typical european hop flavour.

The Belgian yeast etc is pretty apparent on this one, primarily on the finish as expected. Pretty drinkable really without being very exciting at any stage. Reminded me a lot of a number of ESBs I've had.

Not my favourite style of beer but hey, it's worlds away from XXXX. 7.0

Burleigh Brewing My Wife's Bitter

Back to Burleigh for Myrtle's favoured drop.

Pours pretty dark actually with an off-white head, surprised me a little. Malty bread nose, bread malt taste too quite gentle and restrained. Ever so slight caramel to back it up. This is a faithful recreation of an english style ale.

Is this a seaside beer? Maybe for the english seaside? 7.0