Bitter Simonds 1880
The Kernel Brewery in Bermondsey, Greater London, England 🏴
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular|
Score
7.27
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Available on Cask and Bottled.
An 1880 Bitter recipe from Simond's brewery, Reading. Pale Maris Otter and Amber malt only. Goldings all the way through. Perhaps in style closer to how we now consider an ESB or Burton Ale.
Malt – Maris Otter, Amber Malt.
Hops – Goldings, Bramling Cross
Yeast – Blend of 2 London Ale Yeasts with a Yorkshire Ale strain
This recipe for a Victorian Bitter is brewed to an 1880 one from Simond's Brewery in Reading, via the archives of the Durden Park Beer Circle. Their notes on the beer state simply: 'Dream Bitter with a lovely flavour.
A Durden Park Favourite.
Round the brewery we just call it 'Dream Bitter'.
The malt bill predates the common use of crystal malts (which hugely influence a modern bitter's flavour), so comprises of just Pale Ale Malt (our regular Maris Otter being ideal for this purpose) and Amber Malt (a lightly toasted malt). Hopped with Goldings all the way through with some Bramling Cross lightly handed the dry hopping duties.
Aroma of citrus, spice and hedgerow leading through to a smooth body, flavours of marmalade and toast, with a touch of tea. Firm bitterness to balance. Perhaps in style closer to how we now consider an ESB or Burton Ale than a modern bitter?
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Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Sample (thanks fonefan!). Amber colour, small white head. Aroma is floral, toffee, some some mild toasted tones too. Flavour is nicely wooden with some floral, sweet malty and mild black currant bushes to it as well. Really nicely dry and bitter finish.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Has to be worse than the previous. Treasures like s thick yeast cloudy slurry. Mikkeller ams
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Cask at the kernel tap room. A clear reddish amber coloured pour with a a lasting beige head. Aroma is semi sweet, sticky brown sugars, liquorice, brandy snap sugars, singed sugars. Maynard reaction. Flavour is composed of semi sweet, sticky brown sugars, treacle, liquorice, singed pine, cake end, burnt raisin. Palate is semi sweet, rounded, some tannin, toasted grain husks, spicy carbonation. Really good.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
(Draught at Mother Kelly's Bethnal Green, London, 10 May 2024) Amber colour with frothy, off-white head. Malty, hoppy nose with citrus, black-currant, orange peel and caramel. Malty, hoppy taste with notes of crisp-bread, orange peel, black-currant, toffee, dried fruit and a balanced citric/earthy bitterness. Medium body, quite dry. Tasty and well balanced bitter, with a good hop presence. Very nice.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Tap.Copper colour with medium head Aroma is roasted and toasted with flavor of nut's and malt nice mild bready with hint of wood to.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
--Sample, thanks fonefan! -- Hazy copper colour, rich firm head. Bready nose with some dates and leafs. Mid sweet with solid body and rounded mouthfeel. Grainy toast, dates and leafs. Mid bitter fimnish.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Sample (thanks fonefan!). Amber colour, small white head. Aroma is floral, some grassy and mild earthy and wooden tones. Flavour is floral, some bitter malts and some wooden and mild earthy tones.