Bishops Finger
Shepherd Neame in Faversham, Kent, England 🏴
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular|
Score
6.34
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First brewed in 1958, Bishops Finger was the first strong ale created by Shepherd Neame after 20 years of malt rationing came to an end.
The beer was named after an ancient Kentish signpost found on the Pilgrim’s Way pointing to Canterbury and the shrine of Thomas à Becket in the city’s world-famous Cathedral.
A rich and fruity ruby ale, it has won numerous awards, including World’s Best Bitter in the 2024 World Beer Awards, and also holds EU Protected Geographical Indication, recognising its unique provenance as a Kentish Strong Ale. Uniquely, it is brewed to a charter which states it can only be brewed by the head brewer on a Friday and must use 100% natural ingredients - Kentish hops and barley - and the brewery's own artesian mineral water.
Flavour profile
Fashioned on a firm, fruity foundation of Crystal malt, this rich, ruby-coloured Kent classic belies its burly appearance with a complexity of flavour. Mouth-filling fruit, prunes, plums and dried apricot spiked with palate-prickling pepper, cinnamon and a soft bitter blood-orange finish.
The beer was named after an ancient Kentish signpost found on the Pilgrim’s Way pointing to Canterbury and the shrine of Thomas à Becket in the city’s world-famous Cathedral.
A rich and fruity ruby ale, it has won numerous awards, including World’s Best Bitter in the 2024 World Beer Awards, and also holds EU Protected Geographical Indication, recognising its unique provenance as a Kentish Strong Ale. Uniquely, it is brewed to a charter which states it can only be brewed by the head brewer on a Friday and must use 100% natural ingredients - Kentish hops and barley - and the brewery's own artesian mineral water.
Flavour profile
Fashioned on a firm, fruity foundation of Crystal malt, this rich, ruby-coloured Kent classic belies its burly appearance with a complexity of flavour. Mouth-filling fruit, prunes, plums and dried apricot spiked with palate-prickling pepper, cinnamon and a soft bitter blood-orange finish.
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7.5/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 10
Overall 7
Zapach chmielowy przyjemny jakby miętowy trochę ziołowy trochę siano, skoszona trawa skunks Herbaciany kolor, klarowne, biała piana znikająca Smak gorzki chmielowy to dominuje, a później trochę słodów Nagazowanie średnie orzeźwiajace dobrze się pije, mało ciała Przyjemnie się pije takie sesyjne
Tried
on 04 Mar 2025
at 09:28
6/10
Tried
on 01 Mar 2025
at 12:05
5.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5
nice amber color, good carbonation.
aroma is quite hoppy. flavour is the same, but i’[m getting a big metallic bite. yuck, once the metal is gone, you get a slightly sweet, and bitter finish.
aroma is quite hoppy. flavour is the same, but i’[m getting a big metallic bite. yuck, once the metal is gone, you get a slightly sweet, and bitter finish.
Tried
on 27 Feb 2025
at 05:32
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Аромат классического битера. Немного карамельки на оттенке, много травянистости от континентального хмеля. Цвет красно-коричневый, пенка очень мыльная и крупнопузырчатая. Вкус хоть и питкий но плотненький. Снова травянистость которая уже в горчинку длительную переходит. Оттенки карамельки легкой, в целом не плохо для стиля который я не люблю.
Tried
on 01 Feb 2025
at 11:28
6.3/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Pint from the cask at the Lamplighter, St Helier, Jersey. Pours amber with a small white head. Aromas & tastes of dark fruits, caramel, toffee & malt. Moderate body. Moderate bitter finish. Enjoyable
Tried
from Cask
on 23 Jan 2025
at 08:04
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Completely clear light red with slight head. Nice change of scenery for the aroma. Slightly floral, toffee, grassy, slightly earthy, plum slight metal. Smooth and full bodied taste. Well rounded, lingering bitterness, more than I remember. Medium sweetness, plum. Caramel poking through. Overall very good.
Tried
on 10 Jan 2025
at 23:05
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Bottle 0,5ltr: Clear dark amber coloured brew with an balanced hoppy start, the fruitiness takes over and there are hints of caramel.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Dec 2024
at 11:40
5.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Pinta inglesa, color ámbar cobrizo, limpio y transparente, espuma color crema claro de media retención que al mermar persiste en forma de aureola cremosa. Aroma a malta, frutas maduras, especialmente frutos oscuros , caramelo, frutos secos... En boca se percibe de cuerpo medio, bien carbonatada, bien balanceada, entrada moderadamente dulce con dominio de las notas de malta, caramelo, pasas, frutos secos...final mayormente amargo, tostado, con cierta presencia herbal y especiada.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Mar 2024
at 23:00
5.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at The Justice Mill, Aberdeen. Surprised I haven't rated this before! It pours clear deep brown with a thick, beige head. The aroma is earthy, woody, toasted nut, brown bread, toffee and fruit cake. The taste is dry, woody, quite nutty, walnut, earthy, dusty, leather, some astringency, spice and dried fruits. Finish has a slight astringent, nutty vibe. Medium body and moderate, fluffy carbonation. Fairly robust and with some decent character to it. I am not a huge fan of the finish though, which doesn't leave a great taste in the mouth.
Tried
from Cask
on 29 Jan 2024
at 12:44
5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Lime and a little rust. Pours golden with ok head. Light tangy finish. You get what you came for here. Cask.
Tried
from Cask
on 19 Aug 2023
at 00:49