Bluebird Bitter
Coniston Brewing Co. Ltd

Bluebird BitterBluebird Bitter
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Coniston Brewing Co. Ltd
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Bitter
Ranked #21
ABV:
4.2%
Score:
87
Ranked #17,865
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 12.73%
Reviews:
326
Ratings:
533
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 09, 2024
Added:
Oct 06, 2001
Wants:
  34
Gots:
  35
Bluebird is a fine session ale with a light golden colour. The intense resinous and spicy hop character which is the beer's hallmark is derived from the use of unusual quantities of English Challenger hops, each bale being individually and personally selected by the brewer. The malt is, of course, Maris Otter fermented slightly warm to give a soft fruitiness with a faint hint of scented geranium.

ABV varies. 3.6% in UK. 4.2% in US
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Barnal
Reviewed by Barnal

1/5  rDev -74%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Coniston Bluebird - poor quality ale, even worse customer service. I used to drink and enjoy Coniston Bluebird frequently, however a while back I found a bottle a third empty on opening. Not much in the way of apology or response from the brewery, other than to call in for a few samples. Not exactly very helpful when the brewery is two hours away! A short while after, the next lot I bought, all tasted off. The only response I (eventually) got from the brewery was to either call in, or maybe (rather patronisingly) try another brewers product as if "I" was the problem. Pretty disgusted to be honest, to the point that I have never bought their products since. Really they should have been sending these samples out to me in order to put things right.
Mar 09, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by Dethark from England

Jan 23, 2024
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500ml bottle. Date stamp on label is 'L25 206'.
Clear, deep gold colored body. White head upon pouring quickly retreats to a partial cap and ring. Web patterns of lacing left behind.
Aroma is floral, with caramel bread malts.
Taste is rich with spicy hop resin, light caramel malts, sweet fruity esters. Well balanced all the way through the aftertaste.
Medium mouth feel. Melanoidin malt excellence. Good carbonation.
The main components of hops, malts, and yeast work together well to create a balanced and full bodied brew.
Dec 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.91 by TheItalianStallion from New York

Aug 26, 2023
Photo of Shiredave
Reviewed by Shiredave from New York

4.29/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
I've enjoyed Bluebirds drawn from casks and from bottles, each a different experience. Draft usually cleaner and less carbonated while the bottles usually required careful decanting but always a signature yeast character made bottles more interesting and complex to me.
And complex is what this small ale is - small by US standards and still with more balance and grain-hop character than most brewers these days couldn't achieve on their best day.
Subtle, hop spicing fills the nose while cold porridge aromas of cooked grain and sugar lead to a honey on bread flavor profile, lightly carbonated with a heavier than light mouth feel and long, balanced finish of tongue tingling hops and a sweet fade of jam on toast.
It's Real Ale folks and there are still a few even in the US who know how to do this.
We need more beers like this and brewers who are proud to make them.
Aug 09, 2023
Photo of SABERG
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle with the best I can determine is best by 2024, so relatively fresh?!?
A - Beautiful light copper/gold color, gentle carbonation feeds a thin white cap. Clarity leaves nothing to hide.
S - Cracker, rising fresh bread, a hint of orange jam, with a bit of resin.
T - The aromatics lead the palate, with a bit more earthy hop
M - Lite on the palate. crisp and dry finish, balanced, with a semi sweet start and tight dry finish
O - Oh this would something on cask!! A Bitter in the classic sense, one that is hard to hide flaws in. Thankfully there none
May 15, 2023
Photo of NorsemanOne
Reviewed by NorsemanOne from Utah

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottled on L24 304 (beats me what it means even after doing some light looking)

Poured into a willi becher glass at fridge temp

Pours a rich golden with a creamy off-white and fairly dense head. 4

Aroma is fairly hoppy, and full of hop spice, some lighter malts and might be more than that, but it's enough for me and quite delightful. 4

Hoppy moderate bitterness, light malts and some malty sweetness, perhaps light apricot and on the tart side. 3.75

Body is light, on the thinner side and the slightest but frothy with a bitter aftertaste. 3.75

Overall a bitter that met my expectations and will lament not having around all the time. 4
May 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.3 by nate88 from Rhode Island

May 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by cryptichead from Illinois

Mar 24, 2023
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Found bottles of this beer at the Craft Beer Cellar in Dallas.

Poured into a tulip glass. Golden yellow color with nice white wad and good curtain lacing. Fruity, grassy smell and taste. Bready and pleasantly bitter. Hint of cinnamon. Good with food. This would be a great beer to have with a nice English breakfast!
Feb 28, 2023
Photo of cjgiant
Rated by cjgiant from District of Columbia

4.02/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap:
Pale many with a hint of toast drives the opening, leading to a fruity and slightly mineral bitter counter. Balanced overall.
Feb 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

Feb 15, 2023
Photo of LarryV
Reviewed by LarryV from Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Not really very impressed with this one. I get the aroma of a sweaty sock and that seems to carry through to the flavor as well. Visually it looks good, and it wasn't a drain pour but I can't really say I enjoyed it. I wouldn't purchase it again.
Feb 11, 2023
 
Rated: 3.85 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Dec 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by kjkinsey from Texas

Nov 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by Beecham from California

Sep 23, 2022
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Best by 11/29/23, by my guess of the code L23 333

It’s not often you come across a Bitter, so when you do see it you gotta get it. I’ve never even heard of this one, but it seems to be one of the classics. Let’s get into it

Pours a clear orange gold with a finger of off white head that quickly fades to a thin cap and leaves nice lacing

This is very herbal in the nose whereas I was expecting something more toasty. I’m picking up on aromas of herbal hops, biscuity malt, toffee, orange zest, honey, and light pear skin

In taste it leans more heavily in the fruity esters but still has a decent malty and spicy background. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting apple skin, brown bread, floral hops, honey, lemon zest, and light white pepper. The swallow brings notes of pear skin, clove, biscuity malt, lemon zest, caramel, and herbal hops

A light medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a crisp and clean beer. Finishes mostly dry with a nice spicy note to clean it up

It’s nothing mind blowing, but it is damn solid and highly drinkable
Jul 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.83 by Budlum from Maryland

Jul 01, 2022
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle. White head with nice lace. Clear golden color.

Earthy, spicy hops. Zesty. A bit of citrus. Biscuit and toasted crackers. Grassy bitterness. Smooth, flavorful, and incredibly drinkable. It’s unfortunate this one isn’t more readily available.
Jun 09, 2022
 
Rated: 3.77 by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania

May 24, 2022
Bluebird Bitter from Coniston Brewing Co. Ltd
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 533 ratings