Abbot Reserve

Greene King in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular

Score

6.73

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: -

Ticks: 71

Very full bodied, rich and sweet with a higher bitterness to provide balance. Bursting with malty, biscuity and fruit cake character from the mixture of pale, amber and crystal malts. Masses of tropical fruits and floral fragrance from the hops, in particular the fragrant, floral and spicy Fuggles used as late hop together with extra Challenger, Pilgrim and First Gold. Very complex, rich and warming.

MALT: Pale, crystal, amber.
HOPS: Challenger, First Gold, Fuggles

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Martinsh (3803) reviewed

Abbot Reserve (Cask) from Greene King

1 month ago

7.6/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 7.5

Cask at Moon Under Water, Wolverhampton though I have drunk it before elsewhere. Indeed my records suggest I rated it on RateBeer back in 2018. Anyway pours a dark amber with a small foamy off-white head and good lacing. There’s malts, dried fruit and peel in the aroma. In the mouth it is slightly sweet with a rich creamy texture. Malts to the forefront in the flavour plus raisins, cake, biscuits and hints of traditional hops. Hints of toffee, dark bread and alcoholic strength come through later leading to a slightly fruity finish. This is quite nice – much better than I was expecting.

Tried from Cask at Moon Under Water (JDW) on 12 Jun 2026 at 15:15

HopBurn (448) reviewed

Abbot Reserve (Bottle) from Greene King

3 months ago

7.3/10 — Appearance 7 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7.5

Deep copper colour off white head
A - sweet malt, fruits
F - malt, dark bread, fruit cake, toffee
smooth coating mouthfeel

Tried from Bottle on 11 Apr 2026 at 19:45

BlackHaddock (18017) reviewed

Abbot Reserve (Cask) from Greene King

5 months ago

7.1/10 — Appearance 7 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 7.5

Hand pulled pint in the 100 House, Norton at Will & Grace's wedding on 16th February 2026. Clean amber body, off white, but weak head. Nice blend and an old school ESB, malty front but with a solid hop content.

Tried from Cask on 16 Feb 2026 at 21:00

Scopey (25518) reviewed

Abbot Reserve (Cask) from Greene King

5 months ago

7.6/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7.5

Cask at Justice Mill. It pours clear chestnut brown with a thick, fluffy beige head. The aroma is sticky, bitter - sweet, dried fruits, raisin, sultana, toasty spice, toffee, fudge, brown bread, fruit cake and polished wood. The taste is smooth, slick, bitter - sweet, rich, chewy, toothy, raisin, sultana, toasty spice, woody, leather, warming booze, touch of tannin, toffee, caramel, fudge and cacao nibs with a drying, chewy finish. Medium body and moderate, fluffy carbonation. Rich and hearty. A big step up from the standard abbot ale.

Tried from Cask at Justice Mill (JDW) on 12 Feb 2026 at 12:36

Grumpelmies (1811) reviewed

Abbot Reserve (Bottle) from Greene King

7 months ago

7.4/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7

Bottle. Clear pale brown with an ok but small white head. Aroma of caramel, toffee, herbs and some alcohol. Taste of toffee, biscuits, caramel, fruitcake, fudge, herbs and chocolate pudding. Moderate bitterness. Medium carbonation. Very nice.

Tried from Bottle on 25 Dec 2025 at 22:33

lad_newton (4445) reviewed

Abbot Reserve (Cask) from Greene King

7 months ago

7.9/10 — Appearance 7 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8

Cask at the Old Trout, Southend on 10th December 2025. Crystal clear copper with shallow foam and almost no lacing. Rich malty aroma. Intense nutty maltiness in-mouth and finish. Velvet smooth texture and a full body.

Tried from Cask at Olde Trout Tavern on 10 Dec 2025 at 20:41