Flip through the history books of British brewing and you will discover a multitude of beer styles, some of which have long been consigned to the grave (anyone remember Dorchester Ale? I thought not). However, here is a small selection of the survivors and the newbies on the British brewing block...

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BITTER

This is the archetypal English beer, but what is it? A burnished copper-bronze in the glass, its nutty malts should come clearly through as well as an earthy hop character. Hints of spice and fruit too.

TRY: Salopian Brewery / Darwin’s Origin / 4.3%

This multi-award winning is a benchmark for the English bitter style, and full of character. 

PORTER

How to define porter?

Flip through the history books of British brewing and you will discover a multitude of beer styles, some of which have long been consigned to the grave (anyone remember Dorchester Ale? I thought not). However, here is a small selection of the survivors and the newbies on the British brewing block...

-----

BITTER

This is the archetypal English beer, but what is it? A burnished copper-bronze in the glass, its nutty malts should come clearly through as well as an earthy hop character. Hints of spice and fruit too.

TRY: Salopian Brewery / Darwin’s Origin / 4.3%

This multi-award winning is a benchmark for the English bitter style, and full of character. 

PORTER

How to define porter? Dark, roasty, malty, creamy? Originally this was the beer that refreshed 18th century London and then seeped nationwide. It vanished but it's now back, and how...

TRY: Williams Bros / Midnight Sun / 5.6%

A porter combining roasted barley, pale malt, chocolate malt with fresh root ginger.

GOLDEN ALE

Is there anything better than seeing the sun shine through a lively golden ale in a British beer garden? Another all-encompassing term, but they tend to be light in colour and hoppier.

TRY: Conwy Brewery / Clogwyn Gold / 3.6%

A golden ale with aromas of fresh hops and a bitter taste with a smooth mouthfeel.

BROWN ALE

This is a classic British style that allows the toasty malts to shine a little more than the hops. Northern browns are stronger and paler. We're fans of the hoppy US versions too.

TRY: Mondo Brewing / James’ Brown Ale / 5%

A smooth easy-drinking ale with lovely notes of orange and a bit of hoppy resin.

PALE ALE

The classic English pale ale overlaps with the bitter and golden ale, but has roots in brewing centre Burton-on-Trent. It is a clean and crisp beer with the spicy and herbal flavours of English hops.

TRY: Ilkley Brewing / Mary Jane / 3.5%

A light session beer made with high quantities of Amarillo hops to add a citrussy lightness to the beer.

IPA

Probably now the king of beers, but the history of IPA is an enigma. Youíll find it stronger and hoppier than a pale, with a stern malt backbone. At its best when spicy Kentish hops are allowed to play.

TRY: Durham Brewing / Bombay 106 / 7%

Brewed with pale Maris Otter malts, English Goldings and a peppery finish.

STOUT

Stout developed out of porter, being generally stronger, darker and more roasty. A milk stout is sweetened with unfermentable milk sugar lactose. Oatmeal stouts have been common for 100 years.

TRY: Bad Co / Dazed & Confused / 5.5%

Tart cherry and liquorice notes are prominent in this fruity milk stout.

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