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.
5.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 5.5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Brewery #2700. Cask half at The Maypole, Cambridge. Pours clear amber with white foam. Caramel malts, mild toffee, autumn berries. Light to moderate sweet & bitter. Light to medium body. Washed over me completely
Tried
from Cask
at
Maypole
on 26 May 2026
at 22:18
7.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
500ml bottle from Bacchanalia - Mill Road, Cambridge. Pours brown with a white head. Aromas & tastes of fruits, hints of chocolate and spice, nuts, hops & malt. Medium body. Somewhat dry long moderate bitter finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 May 2026
at 14:45
5.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Rocky white head on an unclear golden coloured body.
Bitter & wet cardboard aroma.
Medium bodied, well carbonated with a foamy back.
Light malt, cereal, biscuit, wet paper & citrus tastes with a bitter finish.
I've had better
Bitter & wet cardboard aroma.
Medium bodied, well carbonated with a foamy back.
Light malt, cereal, biscuit, wet paper & citrus tastes with a bitter finish.
I've had better
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Apr 2026
at 20:01
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.
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!
[#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.
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.
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