Boddingtons Pub Ale - Boddingtons

pmorey

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

My review scores are based on a pull from Champions Pub in Sarasota, FL.

Nice two finger head and deep golden appearance. Good clean taste and creamy mouthfeel with nIce lacing on the glass. Very enjoyable pub beer.

However, I did NOT have the same impression when I have had Boddies from the nitro can. I thought it hat a somewhat bitter and chemical after taste. Not pleasant at all.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2013 00:56:32 | More by pmorey

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -15%
look: 5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

The cascading is just like that of Guinness. This beer has a lot going for it in looks!

This beer I poured from a 40-ish degree can into an imperial pint. You gotta pour it quick as it will overflow. It poured a golden straw color that is very clear below the cascading bubbles and worked its way up as the cascading tapers off and the head decreases. The head was a huge super creamy 3 finger head. Boddingtons says that this effect from the nitro can is supposed to mimic the natural aeration of the classic English pub hand pump. The head dies down to a 1 finger creamy head for the rest of the drink.

The first aroma that I got was banana. Presumable from the hops, but half way through the beer that died away. Now just the underlying aroma of light malt and some grassy or piney hops remain very light. Not overly aromatic. Almost like a lager.

The taste. Hmmmm. Retracing my steps, I get the banana somewhere at the end and before that some metallic or plain old dirt flavors of hops and mild malts. Some people were describing it as metallic, but to me it tastes more like sliding into 3rd base on a dry hot day. It's apparent, but not overly so. If you can look past that its a good beer for having with Indian food. Strong strong indian food.

The mouthfeel is light and watery and not overly pleasant. There is carbonation that you can see visually, but it's not noticeable on the tongue at all. The finish is dry from the hops, but not floral or citrus like in any way, just dry with some peppery notes. Very Flat Mouthfeel.

In fact, I think the flavor and the mouthfeel are both flat. There really aren't many redeeming qualities that I like about this beer. I can session it and it's not horrible. But I most likely given a choice would drink something else. If someone gave them to me for free, I'd do a handstand and sing Gilligan's Island like I would for any free beer!

Serving type: nitro-can

02-27-2013 01:32:43 | More by WissBrauSean

alexipa

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

A: I haven't found a better looking beer. It had the signature nitro cascade after pouring, into a nice amber color with a very thick white dense head. The head never goes away.

S: Not much to report on. Slightly bready, maybe some slight citrus hops.

T: Very mild yet expertly balanced. Lots of bready english malts backed up by mostly flavorless bitter hops. Almost tastes slightly watered down, which is a shame.

M: Creamy smooth and perfectly carbonated. Pretty thin despite it's creaminess, very sessionable.

O: If the taste wasn't watered down and subdued, this would be fantastic. As it stands it's a good session ale that has a great mouthfeel and looks nearly perfect. Sometimes that's all I need.

Serving type: nitro-can

02-21-2013 21:56:14 | More by alexipa

fstorey

Connecticut

3.24/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Served from nitro can into a pint mug.
A - Nice amber copper color
S - Very faint smell slightly fruity, dominated by piny hops aroma.
T - dry, with a moderately strong hop finish. Not surprisingly the word bitter comes to mind.
M - light mouthfeel. Light carbonation.
O - The taste is lighter than the color. Its OK but not a standout. I'm trying different styles to decide what to brew for the summer and this is the first bitter I've tasted. Easy to drink, but not my favorite style.

Serving type: nitro-can

02-08-2013 23:22:02 | More by fstorey

oline73

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clear amber with a fluffy white smooth nitro head. The smell is slightly sweet with some fruit and very mild toffee. The flavor is malty and quite fruity. Just a touch of bitterness, especially in the finish. The bosy could be a bit thocker. Nothing super special.

Serving type: nitro-can

02-02-2013 03:10:47 | More by oline73

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.39/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Nitro can picked up tonight at the COOP... poured into a big ole English Pint glass.. beautiful long lasting off white head atop a polished golden brew.

Aromas are mild English pale malts and some lesser earthy hops.. a little yeasty fruitiness.

Very balanced flavor... low bitterness/definitely balanced toward the pale malts and some background caramel.... middle of the road yeasty fruitiness but more than the nose.. grassy hoppiness is there, but just enough to balance.

Body is light with the expected creaminess ... I don't like nitro beers too much, and I don't personally believe the nitrogen does anything to help the flavor or aromas.

3.75/3.25/3.5/3.25/3.25

Serving type: nitro-can

01-28-2013 05:12:09 | More by JohnGalt1

NovoAleMan

3.73/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On-tap, Jake's Cigars and Spirits, Lincoln, NE:

Appearance: Milky pour, very thick head of foam. Solid golden, classic appearance. Big fan of the appearance. 5/5

Smell is light, hoppy, sweet. What Budweiser should be. 4/5

Taste: Slightly bitter and hoppy. A little watery at first for my tastes. Lacks complexity. But not bad. 3/5

Sits well in mouth. 4/5

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2013 20:31:56 | More by NovoAleMan

cbutova

Massachusetts

2.48/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A- Poured out of the can after a massive hiss into a pint glass. Dark-golden, clear body with a massive cascade of silky nitrogen bubbles which ends up being a head of about one finger with great retention. Nice thick lace spots here and there.

S- Not a ton going on. Light malts, honey sugars, light fruits remind me of white grape/apple and some floral hints. A tiny bit buttery. Strength dies with each minute.

T- Pretty much just like the nose but not as hard to pick up. A good deal of light cracker malts, honey sweetness, caramel, buttery popcorn kernel hints, light fruits like apple/white grape. There is a bit of a floral and herbal thing going on, I guess they added some hops.

MF- Pretty much just feels watery to me. There is a light bit of bubbles but overall it reminds me of almost flat soda. Slight bitterness in the finish.

I don't think the nitro aspect of this beer enhances it in any way. It just feels watery to me and that doesn't help the buttery, popcorn kernel flavor going on. Potential is there but it just doesn't work out for me.

Serving type: nitro-can

12-13-2012 03:38:25 | More by cbutova

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

2.85/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Nitro-cans have a flair for the dramatic and even this otherwise conventional looking beer has a terribly grandiose unfolding. After that, however, the clear, toasty golden liquid reveals a pedestrian appearance, despite that its head is big and flamboyant enough for old ladies in Atlanta to wear to church.

The aroma features soft, honeyed malts and a light floral tint, but smells unmistakably like spilled, stale beer. Its only saving grace are the minor traces of sweetness and earthy, English hops. I prefer the smell to the taste but have not made a habit of keeping my nose in the glass.

Only in a world where tastebuds are dead could this be considered worth drinking. The ale becomes borderline off-putting as that impression of stale beer washes over the palate. It tastes somewhat grainy and has a strong note of corn bread. It wouldn't be fair to call it 'foul' but the urge is there.

The texture is starchy in the mouth but turns remarkably watery on the finish. In hindsight it resembles a cloying, light swill lager (and even has the lingering shot of corn syrup to boot). In fact, I think the widget helps hide the fact that this is ostensibly just that: a pedestrian beer made from poor quality ingredients.

Boddingtons is part of my effort to review the least interesting beer ever, and I may have succeeded. It's something that even a turn of the century librarian would find too bland. I can't imagine a situation in which I'd willingly want to drink this beer; unless you're the type to be distracted by cat toys, you'll likely feel the same.

Serving type: nitro-can

12-02-2012 16:55:51 | More by biegaman

TheCondor

Missouri

2.73/5  rDev -15%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I was on a build your own six pack kick, and grabbed a can of this just because of the unique quality I thought it may bring to the table. English beers are generally a little too subdued for me; I love English styles, but I like the American twists to them. However, I always give our bad-teethed, funny talking forebears a chance. They did invent the style, mind you. So I wanted to try this brew.

Appearance - This is not a joke. One of the most impressive presentations I have ever seen out of any beer. Their little carbonator inside the can really works well! Side poured with standard vigor into a pint glass, the head rose to a towering four fingers, then slowly disintegrated to three and then two fingers, about where it stayed for a while. Lacing is like glue, head never went under one finger. So awesome. The definition of what a beer should look like.

Smell - Tiny amounts of hops, a little grain, maybe a honey sweetness note in there. Like English brews typically are, it is very subdued. Nothing is overwhelming

Taste - Awful. It tastes kind of like skunked out American Adjunct Lager. Slick, buttery taste blends with the mild sweetness and some sort of bittering agent to produce an abomination of a taste. Not good at all.

Mouthfeel - Finishes with that bitter kick, and I don't mean a good bitter like hops, IPA's, etc. Just a gross bitter, and butter. Metallic.

Overall - Unfortunately, this beers high point was the pour. For such an impressive looking beverage, it came up short in a big way, like the 2012 USC Trojans. Good looking, no substance. Absolutely awful beer, not recommended for anyone. I ended up having to drain pour it, and that doesn't happen often.

Serving type: nitro-can

11-25-2012 01:37:25 | More by TheCondor

Murrhey

Montana

2.45/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a nitro-can into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- Cascading head that dissolved into a finger and a half thick white head. Thick and creamy looking. Clear amber body, and fading carbonation. Soapy lacing.

S- Slight smells. Noble hops, golden malts. Nothing leaps out. Not impressive smelling beer.

T- Creamy, easy drinking but nothing stands out. Just...nothing here really.

M- Creamy and smooth. Just what was intended.

O- Not special. I like nitro-cans though.

Serving type: nitro-can

11-17-2012 03:29:18 | More by Murrhey

SarahLynne

3.95/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Love the mouthfeel and the head. Flavor is smooth and easy to drink. Like to drink it when I want something a bit lighter. Even my best friend likes it and she does not typically like beer. She said it is a better alternative to Bud/Bud Light. Basically it's my go-to for something smooth and easy to drink.

Serving type: nitro-can

11-11-2012 19:20:10 | More by SarahLynne

smalenberg

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - love the way the nitro can pours. Using a tall glass, it is great to watch the foam climb up from the bottom toward the creamy white head. Lovely golden color.

S - light floral hop notes, slight malty sweetness.

T - Wonderful balance of mild hops with honey-like sweet malt.

M - Very smooth and creamy with extremely low carbonation.

O - This is a different take on the English ordinary bitter and one that I really like. The hop notes are pleasant, but offset wonderfully by the cream sweet maltiness. I'm sure my rating is going to be significantly higher than the average, but I really believe this is an under-appreciated beer.

Serving type: nitro-can

11-04-2012 23:08:05 | More by smalenberg

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

i like boddingtons, and i dont care what anyone says about it. pours a nice nitro powered cream color from the can, but it does its thing much faster than a guinness, with the whole cascade process lasting just a few seconds. it settles into a nice honey colored liquid with an inch or so of foamy white head. the nose is pretty basic, and frankly quite bland. some english pale malts and thats about it. flavor is light and balanced, low alcohol, and perfect for sessioning. kind of tastes like a pancake. love the mouthfeel on this the most, it foesnt have much carbonation, almost like a cask pour, except that its cold. its real smooth and milky in texture. i could drink these all day. i know its nothing too exciting in terms of flavor, but its a classic beer in my world.

Serving type: nitro-can

10-24-2012 22:11:53 | More by StonedTrippin

08Deltadawn8

4.38/5  rDev +36.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

bought this beer about a week ago. pours nicely from the can into the pint glass and produces a great head that last the entire time in the glass. goes down really well and i can taste a little honey/butterscotch in the aftertaste. all in all, i think its a good brew.

Serving type: nitro-can

10-12-2012 19:57:51 | More by 08Deltadawn8

Scrylol

Alberta (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a nice honey orangelike color with carbonation throughout the glass, many rising to the top. Two finger thick, creamy milk white head that lasts. Little lacing. Looks pretty nice.

Some grainy and malty aromas with a tinge of honey. No hop presence.

Kinda hard to describe the taste. Light sweetness on the tongue and throughout the mouth. Very little bitterness. Slight touch of grain. Dry, floral notes in the aftertaste. Not much going on.

Nice creaminess, medium body, and just enough carbonation to balance nicely with the creamy mouthfeel. Goes down real smooth and easy. Excellent.

Other than the appearance and mouthfeel, there isn't much to say about this beer. Nothing great going on, just a simple session ale.

Serving type: nitro-can

09-30-2012 01:14:45 | More by Scrylol

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It looks like a good pale, and the cascading nitro bubbles help.

The taste is a diacetyl bomb. It even smells like butter, with sweet, slick English malts shining through on the nose. Super creamy and sweet, and goes down insanely smooth.

It feels light and slick, with diacetyl coming through.

Serving type: nitro-can

09-22-2012 20:11:50 | More by VncentLIFE

JamesHenjum

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +28.7%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Most nitro-beers look great, but this is the best. Great cascade, but average golden look. What really makes this beer amazing is the head and lacing. Best of any beer I have ever seen. Your entire glass will be covered in a foam.

S: Smells like malty caramel. Not much on the nose but malt.

T: Great taste. All malt. Some toffee, some caramel, and a drop are coffee. Almost desert like, but not sweet. Sooo good.

M: Very creamy, but not over creamy. A nice balance. Nice warm head on top of a cold beer hits the spot.

O: If you love malt, then this beer is for you. Creamy caramel toffee. No bitterness at all.

Serving type: nitro-can

09-21-2012 00:31:31 | More by JamesHenjum

ccrida

Oregon

3.68/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On nitro in london, servered in the Boddingtons tulip pint, appearence is clear gold with a white creamy head leaving foamy lace, some big chunks.

Smell is sweet honey and carmel with leafy hops.

Taste is mild, a little biscut and carmel, and more of those wet leafy hops. Decent bitterness.

Mouthfeel is very smooth, light bodied.

Drinkability is high from a sessionability perspective. There is enough flavor to keep it interesting, yet light enough to not fatigue the palate. Better than I ever remebering those cans tasting at home!

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-17-2012 23:53:07 | More by ccrida

rfgetz

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a medium amber, big creamy nitro head settles in too quickly. Scent is very pale caramel malts, light nuttyness and some stale earthy and grassy hop notes. Taste has notable slightly stale earthy hop presence with mildly sweet and nutty caramel malts, faint fruityness. Medium bodied, nitro seems to settle out quickly. Solid, highly drinkable ale.

Serving type: nitro-can

09-17-2012 17:51:25 | More by rfgetz

mailboxfish

2.78/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

It's very mild. Drinks more like milk than beer. I can see how someone who prefers a more flavorful beverage would dislike like beer. Still, it's not anything to scoff at. It's drinkable, and mildly enjoyable. I doubt I'll be seeking it out in the future, but I won't cringe if offered a glass of Boddingtons Pub Ale. You could probably pass on this one, but I don't think it deserves the scathing reviews it has gotten.

Serving type: nitro-can

09-05-2012 04:05:55 | More by mailboxfish

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: That cascading draught pour never disappoints! You are left with a deep golden brew with great clarity and a white pillow of head on top.

Aroma: Some caramel malt. Not much here but nothing bad.

Taste: Nice smoothness up front due to the creamy head. No hops in here but a good grain presence. Slight toasty flavor but mostly caramel malt.

Mouthfeel: Real creamy feel (due to the nitrogen widget). High drinkability and lighter side of medium bodied.

Final Thoughts: I can understand why this beer isn't highly rated but I think it deserves credit for being very unique (at least for those of us who live in the US). It would be the perfect session beer for an evening in a British pub. Although it doesn't have much flavor to offer, there is nothing off about the taste.

Serving type: nitro-can

09-05-2012 03:33:20 | More by JamesMN

Lemke10

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a clear amber orange color with the perfect long lasting head. Scent is sweet with malts with some hints of grain. Taste is light almost like it lighter than water. Has this cheap grain taste while having a bitter crispness to it. It finishes with a chalky malt after taste. Not my kind of beer by any means.

Serving type: nitro-can

08-27-2012 19:43:18 | More by Lemke10

bsp77

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from nitro-tap into Boddington's Imperial Pint.

Appearance: Honey gold with firm, stark white head. Has the too perfect look of a nitro beer, but it sure is pretty.

Smell: Not too much, but to be expected for the style. Light grainy malts, some light spiciness. Mostly smells dry.

Taste: Dried malts with toast, bread and tea. Hops are nicely balanced and integrated and are spicy, floral and slightly metallic.

Feel:Light bodied but exceedingly smooth and creamy. Very dry finish, as expected since the beer is pretty dry throughout.

Overall: I know many like to blast this beer for being bland, but I find it to be very refreshing and balanced, despite being quite mild. From what I remember, the nitro cans are also good, but not as good as having it on nitro-tap. Happy to finally review this, as I used to have it often in my pre-review days.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-23-2012 14:41:47 | More by bsp77

clemtiger8202

3.1/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had on tap, poured into a shaker glass. Decent, creamy, off-white head with OK lacing. Slight floral, citrus aroma, mostly malty though. Creamy texture with a malty taste. Some hops were present, but I didn't think that they balanced the sweetness the way I like it. I had heard a lot about the beer and it wasn't bad, just not sure that it measured up to the hype...maybe it's me?...

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 02:22:53 | More by clemtiger8202