The Ordinary Bitter, Anspach & Hobday

Anspach & Hobday The Ordinary Bitter 3.7%

The London craft brewery based in Bermondsey and Croydon has launched its first range of canned beers – including The Ordinary Bitter.

Paul Anspach and Jack Hobday say: “Our beer has always taken inspiration from the past and brought it to the modern day. There is no style where that is more on point than the bitter. A true historic beer of Britain and one which until very recently was the hero of cask beer and only revered when served up by beer engine or bottle.

“As the can revolution continues, it mirrors the widening adoption of ales on keg, and we’re thrilled to be part of this revolution by including The Ordinary Bitter in the launch.”

The beer has a deep bronze/amber colour: the grains are not listed but the colour and palate suggest a generous portion of crystal malt. The single hop is Chinook. If the use of an American raises eyebrows it should be noted that in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, when cask bitter became a major style, English brewers imported large amounts of both grain and hops from the United States.

The beer has a spice and pine aroma with cherry-like fruit and biscuit malt. The palate is bittersweet with a fine balance of biscuit malt, spicy hops, gentle fruit and caramel. The finish is long and complex with bitter hops, dark fruit, caramel and honeyed malt.

Cans are available in four and 12 packs or a case of 24. It can be a mixed pack of the four new beers: see www.anspachandhobday.com. Hurry as the beers are selling fast. There’s a 15 per cent discount on orders at present: quote the code STOCKPILE. Shipping is free for orders of more than £40.