Cain's Best Bitter - Robert Cain & Company Limited

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

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

2.93/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Presentation: 14.9oz tall-boy can, decent enough packaging, if nothing flashy. Poured into a Black Sheep imperial pint glass. 4% abv; finally, a TRUE, Ding-approved English session bitter for the US! Served cool.

Appearance: Crystal-clear dark copper beer, surprisingly high level of carbonation, and a dark ivory cap which fades to a nice, half-finger cap with good staying power.

Smell: Hints of macro lager-like adjuncty business aren't real pleasant, but a few swirls brings out light caramel notes, with a bit of multigrain bread and light fruity esters. Those aromas are quite nice, just wish there wasn't that other kind of off-putting corn-y thing going on (for what it's worth, I have no idea if this is brewed with adjuncts or not). No real hop presence.

Taste: The taste is similar to the aromas in that there's both good and bad stuff going on. However, unlike the aromas, the negatives outweight the positives here. Some stale grainy flavors here, along with a slight macro lager-like sweetness, some unbalanced fruity notes, and then a bit of sweet (pleasant) caramel maltiness.

Mouthfeel: Served at traditional cask temperature, the mouthfeel is actually pretty smooth and nice; it doesn't feel harshly carbonated like I was afraid it would.

Overall: Wanted SO badly to like this. Their dark mild is actually pretty good, and my last trip to England has left me desperate (until I get better at homebrewing) for really tasty English-style session beers (imported or domestic). In the end, this tastes only a few shades better than the 2.5% Sainsbury's Bitter I had in Gateshead (99p for a 4pk of tall-boys). At $1.99 a can, this isn't something I see myself returning to.

Serving type: can

08-11-2011 03:12:18 | More by BedetheVenerable

ShamasUVA

Connecticut

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: lightly carbonated, brilliantly clear (obviously filtered), deep amber/ruby red.

Smell: classic english yeast profile, dark stone fruit, very little english hop character

Taste: On the bitter side of balanced, some caramel

Mouthfeel: This would get a better score I suspect if the beer was cask conditioned, but still the carbonation level is nice and there are no tannins, alcohols, or other distractions.

Overall: A very nice example of a Best Bitter, a style which is hard to come by in the US. I'd really like to try this beer unfiltered and cask conditioned. Do not drink this beer cold, the character of the ale really improved as my glass warmed up.

Serving type: can

08-09-2011 01:02:06 | More by ShamasUVA

cichief

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on draft at the Park Lane Pub (formerly the Fredericksburg Pub) in Fredericksburg, VA.

A- Pours a dark amber-brown with a nice tan head, just a little hazy.

S- More malty than hoppy, hints of dried fruit, sweet, but balanced.

T- Starts a bit sweet, like raisins or figs, but finishes somewhat dry.

M- Medium body, smooth drinking, would be better on cask.

O- A decent example of an English bitter. Overall a good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2011 17:56:41 | More by cichief

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

AEK

United Kingdom (Wales)

2.58/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Are you sure this beer is retired??? I had it on cask in my local last night..

A. Red coloured beer with a very thin white head.

S. Slight aroma of tinned strawberries and cream.

T. A little malt presence and some hop. There is also a faint touch of strawberries. Initial taste is like washing up liquid, this then gives way to the strawberry flavour. Has a metallic tasting finish.

M. Thin bordering on medium.

D. Alright for a one off try I suppose but don't bother having seconds. I have never really been a fan of Cains beers but, seeing as this was the only beer they has available had to try it out.

Serving type: cask

11-24-2010 11:14:11 | More by AEK

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tasted by half-pint at Half Moon, a JDW pub nr. Stepney Green, East End London. The pump clip says the name is "Cains Finest Bitter", at 4%abv.

A: dark tawny hue, coming with a thin, off-white beer head with good retention and leaving tight lacing as it retreats.
S: bitter-sourly sweet aroma of fruits, like dried California plums (a fruit snack) and dried raspberry, along with a lightly resinous note coming through the foam. Pretty nice~~
T: sourly-sweet green apple, followed by lightly roasted, semi-dryish malts, the bitter edge of caramel, while a lightly spicy resinous+grassy, Goldings(?) hoppyness stays behind the firm malty flavour.
M&D: very smooth mouthfeel and light-bodied bitterness lingers. Good backbone of dryish fruity hops. A different bitter from the usual treats of bitters from the southern counties in my local pubs.

Serving type: cask

03-17-2006 03:16:27 | More by wl0307

JohnfromDublin

Ireland

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tasted a pint of cask conditioned Cain's in the Shrewsbury (known as "The Shrew"), Wirrall, UK on Sunday 4th Sept 2005.
I figure that they must have changed the head retention on this brew since other reviewers reviewed this. It now has a creamy head along the lines of Caffreys or Kilkenny. Looks very nice atop an amber body.
Smell is very floral, with a taste that doesn't quite match.

Overall a very nice English bitter.

Serving type: cask

09-06-2005 15:00:03 | More by JohnfromDublin

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

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

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