Bishop Nick

Microbrewery in Braintree, Essex, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Associated Venue: Bishop Nick Brewery Shop

Established in 2012

Contact
33 East Street, Braintree, CM7 3JJ, England
Description
in 1842 Thomas Dixon Ridley built his brewery on the banks of the River Chelmer. It was here that the Ridleys’ great tradition of brewing was born. The brewery thrived and Ridley’s beer was enjoyed at inns from Southend to Saffron Walden. Over the next 163 years six generations of Ridleys honed their skills and perfected their palettes to bring the people of Essex the best local brews, until the brewery was sold in 2005. In 2012 Nelion Ridley takes up the mantle once more, and with his craft brewery ‘Bishop Nick’, is devoted to keeping Essex ales sacred.

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6.6/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 6.5 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Tried from Draft at Cricketers (JDW) on 06 Apr 2026 at 11:40

5.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 5.5 Texture 5 Overall 5.5
Tried from Draft at Cricketers (JDW) on 06 Apr 2026 at 09:42

5.6/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 5 Flavor 5.5 Texture 5 Overall 6
Hand pulled half pint in the Thomas Botfield on Sunday 8th March 2026. Didn't take to this at all, might have been too long since it was broached. Clear and clean golden body, white head that left some lacing as the beer level fell. The citrusy hops left a floral aftertaste and the malt content didn't add much to the flavours. Just the wrong beer at the wrong time for me. Scored kindly!
Tried from Cask at Thomas Botfield on 08 Mar 2026 at 14:00

6.9/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Rocky off white head on an unclear amber coloured body.
Malt & sliced berry aroma.
Medium to thin, we carbonated with a clean back.
Nutty, pale malt, toffee & English hop tastes with a bitter finish.
That's a good Ale.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Mar 2026 at 17:21

6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Cask, half pint. @"The Richard John Blacker", Liverpool (England) 17/02/2026
[#8.830 Global - #1.140 England - #1 Bishop Nick (My English brewery #349)]
Pours clear amber with a white head. Aroma: caramelly malts, light toffee, orange and raisins. Taste: caramelly and bready malts. Malty palate.
Next one, please!
Tried from Cask at Richard John Blackler (JDW) on 17 Feb 2026 at 22:21

6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Rocky off white head on a clear chestnut coloured body.
Toffee & tobacco aroma.
Medium bodied, smooth thinning out to a clean back.
Toffee, malt, spiced & nutty tastes with a fruity finish.
Boring.
Tried from Bottle on 17 Feb 2026 at 21:28

6.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 6.5
Rocky white head in a slowly carbonating golden coloured body.
Yeast & bitter aroma.
Medium bodied, well carbonated with a clean back.
Berries, zesty, citrus & biscuit tastes with a well hopped finish.
Quaffer.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Feb 2026 at 19:50

Tried from Cask at Knights Templar (JDW) on 09 Jan 2026 at 14:57

7.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
26th October 2025
Near clear amber beer, decent but bubbly cream colour head. Light palate, mildly dry, good fine minerally carbonation. Smooth if light bodied malts, a nice light creamy sweetness with a good dose of smooth but unsweet caramel. Endeavour and Ernest hops bring crisp cooling pine, mild soft lime and orchard fruits. Light finish. Another clean and balanced quaffable beer from this brewery.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Nov 2025 at 14:46

6.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6.5 Texture 7 Overall 6.5
Isle Of Wight Holiday Beer#97. Amber coloured with a decent head. Crisp hoppy-sugary beer, there's a lot of the latter in both aroma and taste. It's tasty enough for it though.
Tried from Cask at The Barrel Vault on 12 Sep 2025 at 13:49