XB (Bottle)
(has 1 batch)
Theakston in Masham, North Yorkshire, England 🏴
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular|
Score
6.21
|
|
XB is a rare delight, a real ale connoisseur’s masterpiece. A strong full-bodied ale with a subtle but superb blend of two types of bitter and three fruit hop varieties giving a most thirst quenching and satisfying ale. XB was first brewed in 1982 to celebrate the purchase of the Carlisle Brewery by Theakstons a few years before. Brewed always and ever in Masham, XB was designed as a tribute to the classic ‘border’ style of beer, strong in gravity, low but complex hop. It was an instant sucess and has remained so, winning over real ale devotees all over the UK. Always in the shadow of its more famous stable–mate, Old Peculier, XB has quietly established itself as favourite among serious cask ale enthusiasts. Its name came not from some clever marketing expert but rather based on the more prosaic features of the Masham brewery. In the days when the only way to distinguish the contents from one cask to the next was by use of one of only two wooden stamps dipped in white wash and applied to each cask, the only letters available were either an X or a B. We could have called in BX but we preferred XB!
The full-bodied nature of XB makes it the perfect accompaniment to big, full, flavoured dishes such as sausages, meat or game pies, stews etc.
The full-bodied nature of XB makes it the perfect accompaniment to big, full, flavoured dishes such as sausages, meat or game pies, stews etc.
Sign up to add a tick or review
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask. Pours a clear amber with a small and creamy off-white head. Caramel and nuts in the nose. Medium body with a low carbonation, caramel, nuts and a slightly tart edge - plenty of fruit. Very subtle bitterness. 161111
Tried
from Cask
on 22 Nov 2011
at 11:11
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
From cask at Charlies. Pours cloudy orange with a small white head. Aroma is light fruity and toasted malt. Bitter, mild fruity and subdued sweetness from the malt. Bitter and light fruity to herbal finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 17 Nov 2011
at 03:20
6.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle 500ml.Clear medium amber colour with a average to large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, light beige head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, caramel, fruity, malty, light hoppy. Flavour is moderate sweet and bitter with a average to long duration, malty, wood bitter notes. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20101227]
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Sep 2011
at 14:14
5.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6
Bottle. Amber with a small off white head. Modest aroma of caramel, nuts and flowers; some pears and berries. Slightly oily but pretty thin and lifeless. Sweet malty/ fruity beer with hints of flowers and spices. Malts threaten to intrigue but then seem a bit stale. Disappointing in the way that bottled bitters all too often are.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jul 2011
at 07:38
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle from the Cromwell Road Sainsbury. Pours amber with a 3 finger coarsely creamy white head. Aromas of malt and overripe light stone fruit. Med + body. Flavor is malt with some nice fruit bitter. All rather dark, not light, fresh. So it’s not a fast drinker. Drinks well though.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 May 2011
at 13:17
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. Sweet toffee malt and herbal hops aroma. Chestnut color with small head. Slightly sweet toffee flavor and mildly bitter grass and astringent alcohol finish. Good - surprisingly boozy for 4.5%
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Nov 2010
at 11:54
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask@GBBF2010. Copper colour, small head. Aroma is fruits, wood, caramel malts, nuts and some mild earthyness as well. Flavour is wooden, a bit nutty, also some slight sappy and syrupy notes along with mild earthyness. Mild toffeeish notes lurking in the background as well.
Tried
from Cask
on 17 Aug 2010
at 21:51