English Bitter Beers for Delivery or Pickup

Based on the name, you might expect English bitters to have a bitter taste. On the contrary, they tend to have a medium amount of bitterness from hops which is balanced out with sweetness from the malt used to create this drink. English bitters are called bitter because when they were first created, they were more bitter than the mild ales available at the time. They have a more resiny, earthy, or floral taste, and the overall flavor is relatively mellow. Modern English bitters might have a nutty or bready flavor as well.

They tend to have a low alcohol content, a gold to copper color, and range from light to medium body. You may not see them as often in the U.S., but some manufacturers in the U.S. make this delicious drink. Some criticize Americans brewing English bitters and maintain that the two styles are distinctly separate. Nevertheless, American brewers create incredible English bitters and sometimes add their own creative touch.

Some consider them to be the first session beer, mainly meant to be consumed in large quantities without causing a high degree of intoxication. Session beers are beers with a low alcohol content, typically below 5% alcohol by volume (ABV). English bitters also have low carbonation levels, and they often smell like fruit or caramel. They're usually served slightly chilled from the cask, although some brewers also make bottled English bitters.

English bitter categories include ordinary or standard, best or special, and extra special bitter (ESB). The biggest difference between these is their strength. They all share the same coloring and toast or caramel note to their malt. Standard or ordinary bitters have the lowest ABV, rarely going above 4% ABV. They also tend to be the least bitter of the varieties of English bitter. Best or special bitters are a bit stronger, with an average ABV between 4-5%. They're slightly more bitter and stronger than standard bitters. Belhaven Brewery's Best Bitter is an excellent example of a best English bitter.

ESBs have the highest ABV, typically between 5-6%, although they may occasionally go over 6%. They have the highest international bittering unit (IBU) of the English bitters, which means it is typically the most bitter. Laughing Dog CSB is an example of an ESB. English brewery's considered their ESBs to be their finest product available, which means that the ESB was typically the strongest and best balanced bitter they offered.

Consider how bitter you like your drinks when you look at English bitters. If you prefer a less bitter taste, look for a standard or ordinary English bitter. You can also look for bitters that have an added fruit flavor, as that may add more sweetness to balance the taste. If you're interested in a well-balanced flavor with a bit more bitterness, look for an ESB.

Also, consider the AVB of your English bitter. An ESB will have more alcohol content than a standard, so if you're interested in something with more alcohol, go for an ESB. For a more moderate amount of alcohol, consider a best or special English bitter. Popular varieties of English bitter include the Bathams Brewery's Best Bitter, Conclave Brewing's English Rain, and Maine Beer Company's Black Barn Program No. 2.