Day 95, Beer 95 - Wold Top's "Wold Top Bitter"

Today's Beer

Name – Wold Top Bitter

Brewer – Wold Top

Classification – Let's not bother with this bit, eh? It would only be embarrassing for all concerned...

Strength – 3.7% ABV

Verdict - At A Glance


On the eye – Vivid mango-infused amber.

On the nose – Well rounded. Dominant fruit cake, with tantalising licorice hints.

On the tongue – A sharply dry grapefruit main theme, reinforced by an array of subtly complex supporting flavours.

On the subject – Wold Top are a classic example of a brewery in the midsts of the transisition from localised micro to significant national player. I've been thrilled to watch their continued growth because I have yet to find a beer of theirs which doesn't seriously impress me.

On the market – Spreading like the most pleasant wildfire. Supermarkets have an evolving interest in these beers, but if you're in no mood to travel try on-line at the breweries own web-based store.

On the whole – 8/10

Full Review

From what I can remember from my cricket playing days (I was, mind you, a mere child at that time, and a cricketer of no class whatsoever, I might add) there are essentially three types of player in every team.

Natural bowlers, natural batters, and those who are naturals at both of those disciplines – and these are known as the all rounders.

When taking the first few sips of Wold Top Bitter, I reflected on the fact that there are – much like in cricket – three essential types of ale.

Those that are hop dominant, those that are malt dominant, and those brews in which neither of these is dominant. These latter ales are the 'all rounders' of the beer world, ales which we tend to call 'perfectly balanced'.

Once you factor in other features like medium body and rich amber colouring, you are talking about the kind of archetypal English-style beers which most breweries usually like to produce at least one version of.

This is Wold Top's version – and I'm happy to report that it really is very good one.

Dry, zesty with an abundance of subtly complex floral and fruit flavours all hovering above a sumptuous but refined granary loaf base - this a a laid back, sophisticated delight of a beer.

At 3.7% ABV, it comes perfectly pitched for session drinking, and yet the recipe feels considerably more potent, you would think you were ordering repeated jars of a beer that was well beyond session strength. That's a credit to the brewery, who have clearly exploited every flavour opportunity during the process.

This is a proper English ale to sit with and savour. 

It's modern-feeling drink, and yet reassuringly traditional.

It really is the perfect all rounder.