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Hobsons Best Bitter

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Best Bitter was the first beer Hobsons delivered in 1993 and is still part of the core range: a pale-brown to amber session bitter using Maris Otter malt and Fuggles, Goldings, Challenger and Progress hops grown a few miles away. Hop character is pronounced, earthy and herbal, set against warm biscuit and caramel malt tones. The body is medium, the finish bittersweet and clean.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession

AWARDS

Bronze · 1997
CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain
Champion Bitter · 2012
CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain (regional, West Midlands)
★Bronze — CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain
★Champion Bitter — CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain (regional, West Midlands)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppyearthyherbal
hoppy
earthy
herbal
clean
caramel
bready
Aroma
The nose is distinctly hop-forward, with earthy and herbal notes that dominate the aromatic profile.
also:malty
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hobsons Best Bitter

◎ Appearance

Pale brown to amber in color, displaying the characteristic warmth of a traditional session bitter. The beer presents good clarity with a modest, cream-colored head that settles to a thin collar. Carbonation is gentle and well-integrated, creating fine bubbles that support a clean, inviting presentation.

pale brown to amberclearmodest headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose is distinctly hop-forward, with earthy and herbal notes that dominate the aromatic profile. Underneath, subtle warm biscuit and light caramel undertones from the Maris Otter malt provide a gentle sweetness that does not overwhelm. The hop character—drawn from Fuggles, Goldings, Challenger, and Progress varieties—creates a grounded, herbaceous presence typical of traditional English bitter character.

earthy hopsherbalwarm biscuitsubtle caramel

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a clean, malty sweetness accented by warm biscuit and light caramel tones from the base malt. Mid-palate, the hop bitterness becomes more assertive, with a pronounced earthy and herbal quality that builds gradually. The medium body carries these flavors without heaviness, maintaining balance between the malt's sweetness and the hops' dry, herbaceous character.

malty sweetnessbiscuitearthy bitternessmedium body

◑ Finish

The finish is bittersweet and clean, with the hop bitterness lingering pleasantly without harshness. The aftertaste dries progressively, leaving a dry, herbal note that invites another sip.

bittersweetcleanherbal dryness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
76
Finish
77
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Hobsons Best Bitter

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About Best Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Best Bitter?

Best Bitter is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Best Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, earthy, herbal character as Hobsons Best Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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