Bishops Finger
Shepherd Neame in Faversham, Kent, England 🏴
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular|
Score
6.32
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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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Szeppp (7592) ticked Bishops Finger from Shepherd Neame 3 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
From recently unearthed notes, drank December 2018. Cask at the Spanish Galleon, Blackheath. Reddish amber pour with a beige head. Aromas of red fruit, nuts. Flavours of red fruit, sweet malt, touch of caramel. Long malt laden finish.
MusingAnorak (11819) ticked Bishops Finger from Shepherd Neame 3 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5
Review in August 2022: Bottle. Clear glass, never a good start. Clear amber body with a thin off-white head. Steady carbonation. Faint lacing. Aroma of biscuit, wood and stewed tea. Flavour of toffee and cranberry. Thin to medium body with a watery texture. Soft fizz. It’s a decent beer, despite the clear bottle. I think this would be nice on cask. 8-7-7-6-7 = 7.0
Review in March 2025: Bottle (brown glass this time, promising). Clear amber body with a thin off-white head. Steady carbonation. Faint lacing. Aroma of biscuit, red berries and stewed tea. Flavour of toffee, rust and cranberry. Thin to medium body with a watery texture. Soft fizz. This is a very good bitter at a very good price. 8-7-7-7-7.5 = 7.3.
Botza (2939) ticked Bishops Finger (Cask) from Shepherd Neame 3 years ago
Daniel (4395) ticked Bishops Finger from Shepherd Neame 3 years ago
Sanftes, ausgewogenes Bitter
bb (18428) reviewed Bishops Finger (Bottle) from Shepherd Neame 3 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Bottle. Amber beer with a cream head. Malt and light citrus aroma. Malt and light caramel flavor with light citrus. Medium bodied. Light caramel and light citrus linger.
EvNa (6056) reviewed Bishops Finger (Bottle) from Shepherd Neame 3 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle. Reminds me of long time ago, mid nineties visits to Kent / Faversham. Color: Dark amber to copper, off-white head. Aroma: Caramel malt. Taste: Quite strong caramel malt, floral hop background. Moderate sweet and bitter with a very dry medium bitter finish. Medium body, below average carbonation. Mouthfeel is a bit flat, which is ok for a traditional English Ale.
laiti (11645) reviewed Bishops Finger (Bottle) from Shepherd Neame 3 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
50 cl bottle @ home, BBE 11/2022. Rated on 5.4.2022 Aroma has menthol, toffee and nuts. Flavour has toffee, minerals, hops, menthol. Nuts in the finish. Nope, English hops still won't work for me.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
# 2766; 2/2022. Bready and earthy aroma. Brilliant amber body; off-white head with low persistance. Malty, stone fruits, earthy, bready, dry. Very good bitter. 0,5 l, clear glass bottle, supermarket, Canterbury (Kent, UK).