Hick's (prev. HSD Hicks Special Draught) (Bottle) 5%
St. Austell Brewery in St. Austell, Cornwall, England 🏴
Strong Ale - English Regular|
Score
6.45
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St Austell’s most legendary ale, Hicks is fullbodied strong and Cornish, brimming with a kaleidoscope of flavours. Brewed with plenty of malt and lashings of English Fuggles and Golding hops, Hicks is truly a classic ale of considerable depth and complexity.
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7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
500ml bottle at 5%. Pours clear amber/brown, thin beige head. Aroma of sweet malts, dark fruits, caramel. Taste is malty, sweet, caramel, biscuit, dark or stewed fruits, light nuttiness, light bitterness. Light-medium bodied. Fair.
Tried
from Bottle
from Ocado
on 05 Oct 2025
at 00:29
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle 50cl. as Hick's Traditional Strong Cornish Ale @home poured into a pint glass. Clear deep amber colour, large creamy beige head, good retention and fair lacing. Aroma dark malt, caramel, biscuit, some coffee, light blackcurrant. Taste medium sweet and light bitter, malty, caramel, biscuit, hint of coffee, earthy notes. Medium body, creamy to oily texture, smooth sweetbitter aftertaste, lingering maltiness, bit peppery on the tongue, very nice.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Wijnhuis Mana
on 13 Sep 2025
at 16:42
6.5/10
Tried
from Cask
on 25 Jul 2025
at 15:09
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Pint on cask at the gate house.
Medium creamy off white head. Clear amber pour. Light bitterness
Medium creamy off white head. Clear amber pour. Light bitterness
Tried
from Cask
at
The Gate House (JDW)
on 18 Jul 2025
at 16:54
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Proper Cornish bitter on cask at the Chain Locker Pub in Falmouth. Nose is malty and caramelly. Clear amber/brown with a medium, heavy lacing cream color head. Flavor is lightly bitter with a touch of sweetness and caramel.
Tried
from Cask
at
Chainlocker
on 04 Jul 2025
at 10:22
7.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Bottle. Waitrose. Clear dark amber. Good solid shiny off white foam. Slightly nutty hedgerow vinous nose. Taste is light sweet and pretty dry. Moderate leafy hop bitterness. Feels a bit stewed overall. Moderate bitterness to finish. Probably one to try on cask in front of a fire getting grannies tartan.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Waitrose Supermarket (Various locations)
on 21 May 2025
at 17:53
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Very light, biscuity malts, quite pale, distinct UK hopping. Soft carb, medium mouth feel. Light bitterness, bready, slightly grassy finish.
Tried
on 28 Feb 2025
at 05:40
Bottle. Nose is malt, citrus, Taste is toffee, lemon pith, slightly medicinal hop. This was superb on draft but feels very muted in the bottle.
Tried
on 22 Feb 2025
at 22:49
7.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
A really good ESB with deep and rich malt and a great balance of bitter hops.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Feb 2025
at 18:30
6.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Pint from the cask at The Ship Inn, Looe. Pours brown with a creamy white head. Aromas & tastes of nuts, caramel, toffee, brown sugar & malt. Medium body. Smooth malty finish. Enjoyable
Tried
from Cask
on 22 Jan 2025
at 20:06