Spitfire Amber Ale (Bottle)
Shepherd Neame in Faversham, Kent, England 🏴
Bitter - Ordinary / Best Bitter Regular|
Score
5.99
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Spitfire Amber Kentish Ale was first brewed in 1990 to commemorate the Battle of Britain which was fought in the skies above Kent 50 years earlier and is one of the leading ales in the UK. Spitfire Amber Ale combines the pick of Kentish hops to layer bitter orange marmalade flavour on top of sweet biscuits and caramel malts for a peppery dry finish. Hops: Target, Challenger, East Kent Goldings, First Gold.
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7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
I must have drank gallons of this over the years: never thought I hadn’t rated it! Sorted now though. Clear 500ml bottle, well in date when poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard on 30 Aug 2013. Good looking beer, a fine reddy brown body with an off-white cockpit which hung around throughout the pint. The smell and taste are very similar, you’ll find semi-sweet biscuits that contain toffee, caramel and nuts within the mix, towards the end of the mouthfeel a dry hoppiness pops up to remind you this is a proper beer. Very much like the cask version in my opinion. The body could be more deeper and richer, but I’m being picky. This is a good, solid English beer and long may it fly high.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Sep 2013
at 12:56
6.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Bottle. Pours clear tea amber with stable off-white head. Bitter, hoppy and fruity and peppery aroma. Bitter, hopy taste with distinct fruity and caramel notes. Dryish aftertaste. Slightly watery mouthfeel. An OK bitter.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 May 2013
at 14:41
6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
Bottle @ Home. Pours copper with a offwhite head. Aroma of malt, caramel, light cinnamon, light hops. Flavor is malt, little yeast, caramel, light spice, bitter citrusly hops. Thin body, soft carbonation, dry light bitter finish. 070513
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 May 2013
at 08:28
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Head: beige, medium-sized, creamy and frothy, diminishing. Colour: deep amber.
Aroma: slightly fruity, pine.
Taste: barely sweet, mostly dry and bitter. Lng and bitter finish.
UPDATE: Looks like I’m starting to like the english bitters. Or is it the summer approaching? 2.9>3.1
Aroma: slightly fruity, pine.
Taste: barely sweet, mostly dry and bitter. Lng and bitter finish.
UPDATE: Looks like I’m starting to like the english bitters. Or is it the summer approaching? 2.9>3.1
Tried
on 02 Apr 2013
at 12:55
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
500ml bottle. Clear copper amber colour, foamy tan head leaving some lacing and fruity aroma. Caramel malt taste, with fruity & woody notes, a spicy hop bitterness and dry finish. Medium bodied, medium carbonation, OK bitter.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Mar 2013
at 14:21
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6
Clear copper with a modest off -white head. Aroma is floral and spicy with some orange and caramel. Fairly thin and a bit fizzy. Tastes as it smells - not much body, a little caramel, firm bitterness with some berries and a peppery finish. Dry with a little unwelcome astringency at the end too. Refreshing.
Tried
on 30 Mar 2013
at 04:20
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
A copper brown beer with a medium and blond head. Aroma of toffee, wood, nuts and some refreshning citrusfruits. Taste is similar than aroma, wood and nuts, some toffee and hint of citrusfruits. Nice bitterness and the aftertaste is quite dry. Not stale. Almost medium bodied, medium carbonation. This is prototype of bitter, dry wood and nuts with some toffee. Edit 31.08.2023, bottle 4.2%. I'd change citrus to fruitness of perries, clearly less wood than original review, points 30 -> 32.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Mar 2013
at 11:58
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
50 cl bottle @ home. Rated on 28.03.2009
Aroma has English hops, some toffee, grainy malt and hints of hay. Flavour is somewhat hoppy with some citrus, bready malt, toffee and hay. Good, but not worth its reputation.
Aroma has English hops, some toffee, grainy malt and hints of hay. Flavour is somewhat hoppy with some citrus, bready malt, toffee and hay. Good, but not worth its reputation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Feb 2013
at 02:49