About
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.
7.8/10
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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.
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
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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
6.3/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Tried
on 29 Aug 2025
at 20:38
6/10
cask at Briar Rose
Tried
from Cask
on 22 Aug 2025
at 15:14
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
17th August 2025
Bright clear deepish gold beer, small bubbly pale cream colour head. Airy smooth palate, a little dry, decent fine minerally carbonation coming through on the back end. Light malt, slightly thin bodied but, bringing enough sweetness. Crisp bright pine. The trio of US hops deliver a bright, juicy and, slightly jammy citrus. The claimed melon is clear enough but, only at the very end. Smooth, juicy, well balanced. Nice.
Bright clear deepish gold beer, small bubbly pale cream colour head. Airy smooth palate, a little dry, decent fine minerally carbonation coming through on the back end. Light malt, slightly thin bodied but, bringing enough sweetness. Crisp bright pine. The trio of US hops deliver a bright, juicy and, slightly jammy citrus. The claimed melon is clear enough but, only at the very end. Smooth, juicy, well balanced. Nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Aug 2025
at 14:57
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
17th August 2025
Bright clear amber beer, small bubbly pale cream colour head. Airy palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Smooth malts, a light creamy sweetness and a pretty modest caramel. Olicana hops bring a good fruit array. I don't get the claimed mango, but there is some passion fruit like flavour, not passion fruit but a cousin thereof. Light but juicy mandarin and tangerine, very mildly marmalade like. A little soft pine. Smooth finish. Another quality brew from BN. Nicely balanced, full of flavour and just so darn quaffable.
Bright clear amber beer, small bubbly pale cream colour head. Airy palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Smooth malts, a light creamy sweetness and a pretty modest caramel. Olicana hops bring a good fruit array. I don't get the claimed mango, but there is some passion fruit like flavour, not passion fruit but a cousin thereof. Light but juicy mandarin and tangerine, very mildly marmalade like. A little soft pine. Smooth finish. Another quality brew from BN. Nicely balanced, full of flavour and just so darn quaffable.
Tried
on 20 Aug 2025
at 14:55
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
17th August 2025
Bright clear gold beer, small white head. Light palate, mildly dry, decent fine minerally carbonation. Light malts, a decent sweetness, trace of natural grain and a touch of honeyish sweetness. Hops bring mild pine and a pleasant light marmalade vibe, juicy as well. Light finish. Just a pleasant and well crafted blonde that goes down easy.
Bright clear gold beer, small white head. Light palate, mildly dry, decent fine minerally carbonation. Light malts, a decent sweetness, trace of natural grain and a touch of honeyish sweetness. Hops bring mild pine and a pleasant light marmalade vibe, juicy as well. Light finish. Just a pleasant and well crafted blonde that goes down easy.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Aug 2025
at 17:46
6/10
Magus, mõru, karamelline, happeline, linnaseline. Ok.
Tried
from Cask
on 13 Aug 2025
at 12:41
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Panda thanks to Grumbo: Poured a golden with whispery white head. Aroma is sweet, malty, caramel, hops. Taste is malty, biscuit, cereal.
Tried
on 08 Aug 2025
at 23:30