Bottle from The Goat & Tricycle, Bournemouth. Backlog rating from bottle collection and historic scoring. No tasting notes kept, just rating.

Brown 500ml bottle, obtained from the excellent ’Goat and Tricycle’ pub in Bournemouth. Best before 8th Oct 09, drank 22nd Jul 09. Poured into a vase shaped pint glass which was branded ’Old Speckled Hen’. Looked good, deep amber body, which was clear and clean. The thin off-white head sat on top for almost the whole tasting, impressive! Malts in the nose and the promise of something rich and creamy to follow. Rich and creamy it isn’t, the hop combination of Fuggles and Goldings ensure it is more hearty and earthy in the taste. Well balanced and crisp, this is a very good example of an English Bitter in a bottle. 4.7%ABV is fairly high for a standard UK Bitter, but this carries the strenght off very nicely. Very drinkable and enjoyable. I like this breweries beers, I have more in the stash to review, looking forward to it.

[Bottle at Wadworth’s Brewery bar] Pours an amber-straw colour, no head. Tastes like it should be calles Wadworth’s Light - the standard farmyard/straw/egg flavours associated with Wadworths, but all toned down. Flavour is sweeter than other Waddy’s beers, and it lacks the dusty bitter aftertaste. Overall rather bland and watery.