Take Courage Best Bitter
Courage in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England 🏴
Bitter - Ordinary / Best Bitter Regular|
Score
5.40
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With over 200 years of brewing pedigree, Courage Best Bitter retains its widespread popularity. Best is available in both cask and keg meaning even if your local isn’t a cask beer stockist, you can still enjoy the great taste of Courage Best.
Pale brown in appearance with a bitter after taste, Courage Best Bitter consumers enjoy its lower ABV of 4% that allows them the opportunity to enjoy their favourite ale for longer.
Pale brown in appearance with a bitter after taste, Courage Best Bitter consumers enjoy its lower ABV of 4% that allows them the opportunity to enjoy their favourite ale for longer.
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5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at the tyneside tavern. Pours clear amber, nose is caramel, toffee, glue, taste is sweet toffee, bitter, nutty. 6/5/6/6/6
Tried
on 02 May 2026
at 10:04
6.1/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at Star, Penkridge (not listed on Brewver), though I have drunk it before (but not when brewed by Carlsberg Britvic in Burton upon Trent). Pours “bitter brown” with a medium sized foamy off-white head and good lacing. There’s a subtle aroma of mainly malt loaf and apples, but also hints of lactose and toffee. In the mouth it starts off slightly bitter with a creamy texture but also slightly watery. Bitterness increases over time. Flavour has traditional hops and autumn fruits with hints of nuts and marmalade coming later leading to a somewhat dry finish. This is reasonable though rather run of the mill.
Tried
from Cask
on 01 Apr 2026
at 12:10
6.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 7
On cask at the Tyneside Tavern. Pours clear brown with a thin beige head. Aromas of red fruit, glue, malt loaf and toffee. Taste is more of the same. Light sweet finish.
Tried
on 23 Feb 2026
at 18:35
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
On cask at the Tyneside Tavern.
Appearance - deep brown and opaque. Beige head.
Nose - red fruit, glue, malt loaf and toffee.
Taste - more of the same.
Palate - medium bodied and sweet, then roasty finish.
Overall - decent.
Appearance - deep brown and opaque. Beige head.
Nose - red fruit, glue, malt loaf and toffee.
Taste - more of the same.
Palate - medium bodied and sweet, then roasty finish.
Overall - decent.
Tried
from Cask
on 22 Feb 2026
at 16:36
6.6/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Surprised to find this in the pub I'm staying in in Lymington. It's a perfectly good best bitter, old school but none the worst for it. Balanced malt and hops with a very good body for 4%
Tried
from Cask
on 12 Jun 2025
at 22:54
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Old rating from 2001 - Pours amber with a small white head. Aromas & tastes of apple, toffee, nuts, wood, earth, biscuit & malt. Medium body. Dry slight bitter finish
Tried
from Cask
on 01 Feb 2025
at 01:22
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
Bottle. Clear amber with a small white head. Aroma of toffee and chocolate. Taste of malts, chocolate, caramel and toffee. Low bitterness. Low to medium carbonation. Decent and enjoyable but does not feel like a Bitter at all. Maybe my bottle was off - but in a good way.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Oct 2022
at 20:25
5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
500ml bottle. Clear Amber, off white foam atop. Aroma of very faint, light malt. Taste presents a very light caramel sweetness, typical southern best bitter I suppose. Drinks well. No complaints.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Jun 2021
at 19:43
6/10
Tried
on 20 Jun 2020
at 19:21
4/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
500mL bottle, pours a crystal clear copper with a tiny white head. Aroma is cheap and buttery, with butterscotch, and some metallic notes. Flavour is no different, with lots of butterscotch, brutish bready malt, and light metallic character. Very low-quality, cheap brew, but not entirely offensive.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Dec 2019
at 18:33