Gales Best Bitter - George Gale & Company Ltd

Reinheitsgebot71

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This would be the second beer I sampled on my recent foray to rhino.

A thin off white head tops this dark amber brew lasting the way through with some very impressive lacing, good start.

The aromas are very nice, light smokiness akin to a fine scotch. Lots of heavy dry fruit aromas, figs, date, boxed raisins. Caramel and rye bread aromas balance out the heavy fruity notes.

The taste is very subdued, mild, and somewhat watery. As it warms up flavours of raisins and bready malt along with toffee all manifest albeit very quietly. Halfway through the session the hops finally show with a very low bitterness which lingers toward the finish. The body provides for very easy drinking due to the muted flavours and smooth watery mouth feel.

This is a very subdued beer with muted flavours all around, though the aroma is very fine indeed. Would make a good session beer especially on a hot day.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2009 20:07:31 | More by Reinheitsgebot71

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Bar Volo, this poured an understated carbonation and a light orange colour, with little but pleasant white head. Neutral aroma, and a tad below average mouthfeel. Rather understated bitterness, drinkable nevertheless. 3.9% is appreciated as a session though it seemed like more.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2009 23:55:11 | More by northyorksammy

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.08/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Tasted by half pint at the Basketmakers Arms, Brighton. Although I spent four years living in Brighton and always found GB in Gale's pubs, I don't remember seeing this one at all. Now GB is long gone, the handpump is cleared for this regular brew, but I don't know if it has any connection with GB?

A: dark golden with orangey hues, thin fluffy beer head, slightly hazy~~
S: semi-sweet fruity malt theme, backed by flowery/floral and mildly citrussy hops. Refreshing and very light nose, yet pleasantly hoppy by Gale's standards.
T: lightly honeyish malts with a good support of grapefruity zest from Goldings hops(?); subtle malty flavour stays behind the mildly citrussy palate, slowly leading to a pleasant aftertaste reminiscent of honey-tea+jasmine-tea along with a tangy bitterness in the very end.
M&D: this beer is more hoppy than most of the other beers by the Gale, thus similar to its (presumably) predecessor, GB. The refreshing texture provides a pleasant edge to this otherwise pretty standard treat. In my heart this can't be compared with GB, but not a bad thirst quencher.

Serving type: cask

03-11-2006 16:44:14 | More by wl0307