Marks & Spencer Stores Suffolk Bitter

Suffolk Bitter

 

Marks & Spencer Stores in Paddington, Greater London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Brewed at/by: Adnams
  Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular
Score
6.35
ABV: 5.2% IBU: - Ticks: 29
The quintessential English bitter is brewed with sweet biscuity East Anglian barley and grassy Fuggles and Goldings hops to create an aromatic beer with a refreshing taste and a long distinctive finish.

Try this traditional bitter with a classic roast, like tender sweet lamb with all the trimmings.
 

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7.3
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Adnams' classic Suffolk Strong Bitter somewhat ironically made even stronger but just called "Suffolk Bitter" for the Marks & Spencer supermarket chain; bottle from the Marks & Spencer at Union Square in Aberdeen, rating partially from memory as the notes almost got lost in machine washing my shirt (long story). Off-white, medium sized, opening head on a pure orangey amber robe with copper glow. Aroma of toast, herb crackers, unsalted peanuts, dry caramel, apple peel, dry grass. Restrained dried apple peel-ish fruitiness in the onset, low sweetness, medium carb with slick, smooth body; cracker- and peanut-like maltiness, a tad metallic round the edges, slight bitterish toastiness and softly bittering grassy hops, keeping each other in balance. By itself perhaps not the most 'natural' or genuine bitter - or in this case, perhaps more of an EPA, but for a supermarket offering and with the old trusted name of Adnams attached to it (admittedly a large one but still independent), I found this quite worthwhile and clearly remember enjoying it.

Tried on 04 Oct 2025 at 20:28


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

500ml bottle from Marks & Spencer in Jersey. Pours dark amber with a off white foamy head. Aromas & tastes of bread, toffee, brown sugar & biscuit malt. Medium body. Light bitter finish. Enjoyable

Tried from Bottle on 27 Jan 2025 at 16:00


6.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Bottle from the father in law. Amber with a medium head. Aroma of toffee malt. Flavour is caramel, wood and malt, fruity base, dry finish.

Tried from Bottle on 10 Jan 2024 at 23:49


6

Tried from Bottle on 26 Jan 2023 at 09:57


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle picked up at Streatham M&S and drunk at home alongside a great toad in the hole (30/05/2022) - pours amber with a small off white head. Toasted and sweet malty, notes of cereal, grain, caramel biscuity malts, medium body, malty and grassy twiggy hoppy into the finish. Decent bottle conditioned bitter.

Tried from Bottle on 06 Jun 2022 at 12:15


6.2
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

(bottle 0,5l from online shop rohlik.cz) Overall: Ok classic Bitter. Aroma: Light malty, bread/toasty, fruity. Appearance: Clear copper. Medium, beige head. Taste: Light sweet, fruity, malty, light bitter. Palate: Light-medium body. A bit harsh bitter finish.

Tried from Bottle on 16 May 2022 at 19:21


7

Tried from Bottle on 08 Apr 2022 at 18:46


6.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 5.5

Panda at home, thanks to SHIG, 16/05/21. Deep mahogany brown with a good sized beige head. Nose is bitter sweet, nutty, toffee, brown sugar notes. Taste comprises sweet biscuity malts, grains, brown bread. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Ok bitter if a touch on the sweet side for me.

Tried on 16 May 2021 at 17:53


5.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Bottle: Poured a dark brown with a tan head. Aroma is malty. Taste is bitter, metallic, malty.

Tried from Bottle on 25 Apr 2021 at 14:02


6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

500ml bottle. Look - clear amber brown, small beige head, nice retention and lacing. Aroma - lightly toasted malts, caramel, fruity apple and pears. Taste - malty, biscuit, caramel, earthiness, light resin, apple fruit and metallic hop. Moderate bitterness. I think it lacks a bit of sweetness to balance as I didn't find it that tasty. Palate - medium body, average carbonation, quite dry. There is a level of complexity here that you don't always get from supermarket bitters but for me I didn't find it that flavoursome.

Tried from Bottle on 15 Feb 2021 at 00:08