Cain's Best Bitter - Robert Cain & Company Limited

WrathsU

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Medium brown, brilliantly clear body. Thick white head which is long lasting. Lacing looks good.

S - Malty, delicate perfume smelling hops. Sweet fruit traces as well.

T - Light sweet malt, light caramel, nice bitterness throughout that isn't overpowering at all. Finishes clean with a nice slightly earthy hop flavor. After taste is slightly pungent and undesirable.

M - Light bodied, no alcohol burn, carbonation is at good levels.

O - A superb beer overall. At 4% you can drink a ton of these in a day and with its flavor you won't complain. Definitely give it a try if you can find it.

Serving type: can

01-22-2012 20:39:40 | More by WrathsU

Seumas

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cains Traditional Bitter (it only becomes best bitter when in the can) is slightly less bitter and slightly more hoppy than it was when I first had it.

I'm really happy about the second development and split about the first. The beer is still quite bitter, but it now lacks the slap to the back of the tongue that so stunned me when I first tried it a dozen years ago. I like intense bitterness, but it's not for everybody, so I guess the decision to down the bitterness makes sense.

Serving type: cask

09-12-2003 14:36:29 | More by Seumas

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.2/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I bought this from France 44 online.

It has a gorgeous pour; a beautiful clear mahogany colour with a huge whiter than white head of foam.

The smell is roasty and lightly bittered. Simple, yes, but very much inviting me to take a sip or 2.

It has a very good taste. It starts of malty and roasty, the malty almost being sweet chocolate like, has some mild bitterness mostly mid palate, and finishes with cool balanced flavours.

I love the subtlety that this Bitter brings to the table.

Close to medium, nah, medium bodied with light carbonation, it is so smooth and easy drinking. I'm a fan.

Serving type: can

03-04-2012 16:07:44 | More by Bitterbill

Finn

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a deep red color, and supports a modest creamy head of foam. It has a very mellow and pleasant aroma of sweet dark fruits, and the flavor is similar: smooth dark crystal malts blending with classic english yeast flavors of fruit. This bitter is excellent, it is smooth, flavorful and a bit lower in carbonation than your average style. A great flavorful and easy drinking ale.

Serving type: can

01-27-2012 01:55:03 | More by Finn

Brad007

Vermont

4.08/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a mild amber color with a thin white head into my glass. Looks good for the style.

Creamy with a mix of grassy hops and sweet buttered bread. Of course, it is not BURSTING with these flavors but they are there.

Sweet, buttered bread and grassy hops go further into depth here. There's also a creamy texture to it.

Perfect amount of bitterness in the mouthfeel. The creaminess is a plus and I now realize that Cain's is trying to mimic the profile of a cask-conditioned ale.

I like this bitter. Maybe it's the mouthfeel and then again, maybe the fact that it's 4.2% and just as flavorful as something higher in ABV is a huge plus in my book.

Serving type: can

10-10-2011 00:44:59 | More by Brad007

branko7

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I loved this beer. Poured a nutty brown. Quite a bit of head, which settled down nicely. Taste was a bit sweet, but not cloying. A nice malty base, with a trace of hop bitterness. Mouthfeel was smooth, almost like a nitro. Light carbonation. Overall, very well-balanced and pleasant. Not super complex, but tasty. I'll definitely look for it again.

Serving type: can

01-18-2013 01:55:17 | More by branko7

jorg2619

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On draft at bulls head in Lititz.

Appearance: clean dark amber thin and drinkable looking a possible long time affair.

Smell: not much very mild

Taste: mild a touch of hops very enjoyable

Mouthfeel: very nice thin yet coating

Overall: I like this pub beer can have a lot and still drive

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2011 20:49:10 | More by jorg2619

francisweizen

Australia

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Chestnuty amber with ruby edges. Almost no head, as always with these ere' beers. Aromas are fresh floral hops and biscuity malts. The taste is hoppy, slightly bitter, and malty on the finish to smooth it all out. Mouthfeel is cask and lovely, but a bit light to my tongue, and so the drinkability does suffer a bit because of this lack of dimension. This is like a lighter version of the IPA. Not quite as good, but still bloody excellent.

Serving type: cask

02-18-2005 07:47:49 | More by francisweizen

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

CAN you dig it?!? Another CAN from Another6Pack in support of The CANQuest (TM)! And another English session beer, to boot! CAN Bitter be Better than the previous Dark Mild? Stay tuned, kids, we'll be right back after these words from our sponsor.

Hey kids, tired of drinking bland old milk? Why don't you try some BUPGOO? BUPGOO is a syrup that when added to milk makes the milk more attractive to children! BUPGOO works on the principle that children want what they cannot have. You see, BUPGOO in milk makes the whiteness rise foaming to the top of the glass, leaving a transparent brown liquid underneath. Yes, BUPGOO makes a glass of milk look EXACTLY like a glass of BEER! Next time you want that beer your parents drinking, ask 'em for BUPGOO!

From the CAN: "Imported British Beer".

The Crack also evidenced a minor offgassing of CO2, but nothing like the previous Dark Mild. The Glug had some cascading action, but nothing like the Dark Mild. I had best stop thinking about one vs. the other or this review will be seriously flawed. I had a mere finger of thick tawny head when I was done, like a crown atop the head of the beer. The color was a glorious deep-amber with NE-quality clarity and the BUPGOO allusion definitely applied! Nose had a grassy quality that reminded me of drying mown grass in the summertime. Mouthfeel was thin-to-medium with a grassy hoppiness that was very tasty on the tongue. It was bitter, but not quite bitter enough for this self-avowed hophead. Finish was dry and refreshing and given its relatively low ABV, I could make an afternoon of it if I had to, but there may be better choices available. I see that Cain's CANs three other beers and I am game if anyone wants to ship them my way (hint, hint).

Serving type: can

11-20-2011 17:07:34 | More by woodychandler

morimech

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear copper color with one finger of head that had good retention before settling to a thin cap. A few spots of lacing is left on the glass.

Has the English hop aroma that I enjoy so much. It is grassy and herbal. The malt adds a bit of toffee.

The flavor does not disappoint either. Plenty of hop flavor up front being balanced by a nice toffee malt flavor. The flavor falls off a little too quick, but for a low ABV beer, I'm not complaining.

Light bodied with low carbonation. About what I expect from a low ABV, British ale.

A good Bitter that happens to come in cans. The rather lackluster reviews had me a bit concerned, but I thoroughly enjoyed this ale.

Serving type: can

04-24-2012 21:52:59 | More by morimech

emerge077

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pristine burnished copper color, brightly clear with saturated color. Tan foam rises to the two finger mark and settles to an ample layer across the surface, never breaking. Retention is surprisingly strong, though there's no lace to speak of.

Soft subtle aromas of toasted grain and baked apples with cinnamon. Lightly mild sweetness.

Supple feel, low carbonation to emulate a cask serving. Very smooth body. Light toasted malt flavors, vague bitterness upfront, some lingering apple fruitiness from the yeast possibly. Pretty mild flavors in general, but still flavorful. This is tailor made to session.

Thanks Aaron for this one!

Serving type: can

11-11-2011 01:06:29 | More by emerge077

MattyG85

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 14.9 oz. can into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep and dark brownish amber orange with lots of rising bubbles. Decent two finger off white head that quickly fades into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: A fairly sweet malt forward aroma. Bready malts that are somewhat toasted. Hints of caramel, toffee, biscuit, butterscotch, and a little citrus orange. Also some light earthy hops lingering in the background. Somewhat herbal.

Taste: Much like it smells, a fairly sweet malt forward English beer. Toasted malts with good notes of biscuit, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and some orange peel. Very light hints of herbal earthy hops come trough towards the finish. A pretty decent taste.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with a moderate level of carbonation. Crisp, creamy, and very smooth drinking.

Overall: A pretty decent beer. Its what you would expect from an English session brew.

Serving type: can

06-09-2012 07:52:45 | More by MattyG85

GbVDave

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 14.9oz can into an imperial pint. Thanks to Aaron for this!

A: Pours a handsome tarnished copper, autumn brown color. 1 1/2 fingers of creamy off-white foam rose up to the edge of the glass and lasted for quite a while before settling down to a thick collar that didn't leave any lace.

S: Caramel with tangy apple and lightly toasted grains.

T: As above, but with an interesting flavor transition that goes from a "paper-y" flavor and leads into carmel, hops, and then roasty malt.

M: Very nice balance between light sweetness and dry roastiness.

O: Not a caramel bomb...I approve.

Serving type: can

11-12-2011 12:02:21 | More by GbVDave

schoolboy

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have an old friend whom I haven't seen for a while who is a Liverpudlian. He's now a Clevelander like me but I still haven't seen him for a while. I wonder what he thinks of Cains.

It is a bit flat looking, not much head. The aoma is a little weak but improving with warmth. The taste and mouthfeel are like the flat look, but nice and bitter. Overall it's pretty drinkable but I won't go out of my way to repeat.

Serving type: can

01-21-2012 00:48:17 | More by schoolboy

Bierguy5

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

14.9 oz can, 4% abv. Deep amber color, clear. White creamy head disappears fairly quickly. A thin ring leaves a few spots of lace.

A hint of roasty malt, some caramel and toffee, along with some mineral-like notes. Perhaps some light, earthy hop aroma.

Caramel malt, with a clean feel. Some mineral flavors, with a drier, earthy finish.

Lighter body with some soft carbonation. Alcohol isn't even mentioned here, making for a great session beer.

Serving type: can

10-20-2011 21:58:23 | More by Bierguy5

jsh420

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours clear bright caramel brown with a small off white head that fades to a film and left no lacing

smells of caramel mat and a little grass

tastes of rich buttery caramel malt very mild earthy grassy hops

mouthfeel is light body low carbonation and oh so smooth

overall this is a perfect session beer at only 4% abv and a great deal of malt flavor - not watery at all

Serving type: can

10-26-2011 03:10:52 | More by jsh420

KarlHungus

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a clear ruby color. The head is an inch in height, and recedes slowly into a nice cap of lacing. The aroma is of toasty malt with hints of toffee, and a whiff of butterscotch. It is all rather faint though. The taste is a bit more impact than the aroma. There is some nice caramel, toffee, and toast notes with some light butterscotch in the finish. The mouthfeel is light bodied with a velvety texture, and appropriately low carbonation. Overall, I really like the flavor of this beer, and its refreshing quality is hard to beat. I could see myself drinking this again when In the mood for something on the lighter side. I only wish the aroma were a little more pronounced.

Serving type: can

03-14-2012 01:40:11 | More by KarlHungus

jsanford

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light brown with a slightly patchy ivory haze. Pleasant aromas of sweet caramel malt, lightly toasted grains, toffee, and earthy hops. Taste is very similar to the nose, very drinkable overall. Mouthfeel is creamy, with a light body and good carbonation. Overall a very nice Bitter, and I love the can presentation.

Serving type: can

05-06-2012 19:54:40 | More by jsanford

charlesw

New York

3.7/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed a pint in the Red Lion public house. Hand pumped (no head, little to no carbonation). Pours a lighter version of dark walnut (does that make sense to you? It did to me at the time!).
Aroma: very typical for a bitter with a slight smoky side to it.
Taste: First (oddly enough) you get the bitterness. Ah, yes, this is what a bitter should be! Then comes a hint of malty caramel (surely the yeast used, eh?) and lastly you get a bit of flavor (no, not a citrusy flavor - perhaps a bit more bitterness?) of hops.
Drinkability: Yes :) Ok, it is quite drinkable in a certain context. Mmm. I would say that this would be the beer to drink with a meal. It is consistent and flavorful enough and yet not overpowering at all. A fine beer, indeed!

Their web site says:
"prize winning cask beer [...] dark, full bodied [...] excellent [...] refreshing yet full bodied [...] rich flavours of premium malt and goldings hops"
Yeah, that sounds about right :)

Serving type: cask

07-10-2003 17:10:44 | More by charlesw

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a perfect pint.

3.0 A: Clear dark orange amber color. Two fingers of frothy beige head. Retention is about average and nothing is left in terms of lacing.

3.5 S: "Stale" toastiness, grainy malts, and an earthy mineral component. Fairly dry. Not a lot going on, but decent enough.

4.0 T: Lots of flavor hiding in the taste though. Toastiness, caramel, graininess, and mineral earth. Much more potent than the nose. Dry, but balanced.

3.5 M: Medium body. Slippery feel to it like nitro or something along those lines. Carbonation is on the lower end, giving a cask feel to it.

3.5 D: Decent beer. Worth a try if you like a lighter beer from time to time.

Serving type: can

10-09-2012 03:01:44 | More by DavoleBomb

rtepiak

Poland

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a lucky and random find in dallas but seems like this and the dark mild are the most populate among BA. very drinkable and a great but very low bitterness of a bitter. great pour. amber with a nice head or about 1 to 2 fingers. i've found that is not consistent but its more so because of the glassware. nice thick but small head. creamy. nose is a bit subdued. first and foremost... toast. and malty hints. everything comes together in the palate as a low carbonation but actually great feel creamy malt beer that doesn't go do heavy his a hint of nobel like bittering. and a touch of apple turnover. a bit roasty. nice little treat and rather flavorful silky for the abv.

Serving type: can

05-22-2012 05:02:50 | More by rtepiak

bashiba

Iowa

3.65/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured a clean dark amber, very clear with a sticky tan head.

The smell is very english, minerally and lightly sweet with a touch of hops.

The flavor is spot on english bitter, lightly sweet with a bit of biscuit and a light mineral quality and a smidge of english hops.

The mouthfeel is light and a touch dry.

Very easy to drink, light yet interesting, a solid session bitter.

Serving type: can

02-21-2013 00:32:43 | More by bashiba

Beejay

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Medium brown and crystal clear. Some nice tan on top that seems to sit around for a while, looks nice.

S: Malty, and very smooth. There is almost a creamy like quality to this. Some nice floral notes from the hops, a touch of caramel and a very slight earthy forest smell in the finish.

T: Very nice. There is a good caramel malt flavor at the front followed by some bready notes. There is a little something in the back that I can't quite figure out, and possibly a touch of metal. The hops are nice, and add some floral notes, and light bitterness to the finish.

M: Light to medium in body, the carbonation is on the low side, but I am not too surprised by it. There is certainly a creaminess to it that I rather enjoy. It feels a lot thicker than it is.

O: Overall Good, but maybe not great. Still a very enjoyable, and something nice to come home to at the end of the day.

Serving type: can

02-12-2012 04:55:04 | More by Beejay

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.63/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a dark coppery brown amber. Half finger, fine, very light tan head with great retention and some lacing. Aroma of biscuit and light toasted malt, hint of caramel. Pleasant light flavor of caramel and toasted malt, hint of orange and toffee. Very slight bitterness. Very subdued flavor, almost too attenuated, but what flavor is here is quite pleasant. Medium bodied, better than expected. A nice low key English bitter. Glad this was in a can as the light flavors would probably have not fared as well in a bottle.

Serving type: can

09-15-2012 02:53:32 | More by LiquidAmber

chicagoabbot

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

tall can into pint glass, split with a friend...a little on the dark side, missing some of that bitter brightness. nothing too special in the nose, but it's fairly clean. taste is not bitter enough by any means. nothing objectionable here, but not much depth or pizazz. mouthfeel is fine, not too energetic, but not seriously flawed. eh, it's ok, just not spectacular.

Serving type: can

08-13-2011 07:04:42 | More by chicagoabbot