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 - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Bottle 500ml. @ home. 🏡🇩🇰 💻👀
[ As The Kernel Bitter Simmonds 1880 ].
ABV: 5.9%. LIght cloudy looking with a medium yellow amber colour a average to large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, husks - chaff, straw, nutty, caramel, sweet malt. Flavor is moderate sweet and light bitter with a average to long duration, husks - chaff - nutty, sweet malt, caramel, straw, malt bitter, wet straw, medium dry. Body is medium, texture is oily to watery, carbonation is soft. [20240406]
7-3-7-3-14
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
(Draught at Kernel Taproom Arch 7, Bermondsey, London, 18 Nov 2023) Hazy amber colour with creamy, tan head. Malty nose with caramel, toast, dried fruit and earthy hops. Malty taste with notes of caramel, toast, apricots, dark bread and a balanced earthy bitterness. Medium body, with a touch of sweetness. Solid and well made bitter. Very nice.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Keg draught at Tilt, Birmingham. Orangeish brown, almost clear with a film of off-white head and generous lacing. Marmalade, sourdough and a gentle leafy character in the aroma. Sweet taste, only a light suggestion of bitterness in the taste until the finish, where there's an worthy bitter tang in the aftertaste. Full body, soft to nil carbonation. Wonderful!
Scopey (25115) reviewed Bitter Simonds 1880 from The Kernel Brewery 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Bottle at 5.9%, probably iteration 87 or such like. Picked up from Raynville Superstore. It pours light hazy deep amber with a thick, fluffy white head. The aroma is bitter - sweet, hearty malt character, white bread orange marmalade sandwiches, cereal, touch of nuttiness, leafy, dry grass and toasted spice. The taste is firmly dry, bitter, grassy, leafy hops, earth, toasty grain, cereal, nutty, hearty bread, dried florals, touch dusty, plenty of spicy, ryvita and brown bread with a drying, woody finish. Medium body and moderate, fluffy carbonation. Lovely depth of flavour. Robust.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Cask at Mother Arch ii, 05/01/24. Murky amber from a lively pour topped with a good sized lasting egg shell white head. Nose is stewed fruits, dates, brown bread, biscuit, herb. Taste comprises gigs, sultana, fruit cake mix, light spice, caramel. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, semi drying close with a good bitter backbone. Solid.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Bottle at home in Hackney - picked up from Figs & Grain. Pours mostly clear orange-gold with a billowing, frothy off-white head. Lightly sweet flavour with notes of sun-kissed pale malts, leafy accents, a little English yeast, bread, dried orange peel, grassy bitterness. Light bodied with active, massaging carbonation. Balanced finish, refreshingly bitterness, more grass, leafy notes, lightly toasted biscuits. Very nice.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Cask @ Welly, Brum. Pours a generally clear deep amber, off-white head. Aroma of caramel amber malt. Malty lead to taste, toasted rye sweetness, caramel, good dry bitter finish. Good bitter.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
cask, hand-pulled in the Wellington, Birmingham; 25th January 2024, with Mat. Off-white crust on an amber body. Malty front to the nose and taste, not much hop action.
Really nice! Very malty as your expect but it’s a nice sweet maltiness. Biscuity, but maybe even cookie like. Nice finish!