Bishops Finger
(has 2 batches)
Shepherd Neame in Faversham, Kent, England 🏴
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular|
Score
6.35
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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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6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle @ Home. Pours dark amber with a small offwhite head. Aroma of malt, caramel, wood, light spice, herbal hops. Flavor is sweet, light bitter, malt, caramel, wood, light herbal. Medium body, soft carbonation. 080717
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Jul 2017
at 08:18
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle, 0.5l. Clear amber pour with one finger off-white head, slightly creamy. Decent retention, good lacing. Nose is heavily malty with good wooden and caramel notes. Slightly charred. Medium body, regular carbonation. Slightly creamy texture, smooth and pleasant. Malty sweet taste with a touch of hop bitterness towards the finish. Aroma is malty, a bit roasty, a bit caramel. Wood. Herbal, peppery, earthy. Caramel gets more into play as it warms up. Nicely balanced. Regular finish, mildly bitter, a bit peppery and slightly dry. Overall, quite smooth and easy drinking. Enjoyable and refreshing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Jun 2017
at 09:24
6.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Can from systembolaget, Östersund. Aroma of pineapple (weirdly enough) but very strong for me. Taste is thick grass / hay, chestnuts, big alcohol (vodka) hit. Very cosy and yummy I must say. Rerated, keg at bishops arms sundsvall. 3.9 to 3.5. A decent enough premium bitter (11/18) Rerated, again at Bishops sundsvall. 3.5 to 3.2 despite the lovely mahogany colour, it isn't that nicr an ending.
Tried
from Can
on 24 May 2017
at 12:37
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Flaske delt med Steven på indisk restaurant i Fortis Green: klar og dyp rødlig kobberfarge med eksemplarisk skum. En fyldi og god esb i beste engelske stil, preget av god malt og lokale, klassiske humler. Fruktig og med gode jordtoner. En god match til måltidet.
Tried
on 01 Mar 2017
at 17:34
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask @Tree Folk’s (Rome). Pours a light amber color with a medium white head. Aroma is malty, nuts, light roasted notes, caramel, grass, apple. Flavour is medium malty with a delicate bitterness. Medium to light body, soft carbonation. So british!
Tried
from Cask
on 03 Oct 2016
at 13:39
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7
0.5l bottle. Clear ruby body, quickly disappearing off-white head. Aroma of bread, toast, carame, minimal butter and some floral hops. Taste of toast, caramel, raisins, a hint of roasted malts and quite a lot of floral/spicy hops in the finish. Correct beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Aug 2016
at 13:42