Devon Pride vs Tolly Roger: Which Should You Drink?

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Devon Pride

South Hams Brewery

United Kingdom · Extra Special Bitter

hopIQ rank #2447

62%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Tolly Roger

Cliff Quay Brewery

United Kingdom · Extra Special Bitter

HOPIQ TAKE

Devon Pride if you want something clean and malt-forward, Tolly Roger if you want a bit more character and depth. Both are proper ESBs sitting at nearly identical strength and bitterness, so you're really choosing between two different philosophies of the style. Devon Pride leans into South Hams' reputation for approachable, food-friendly brewing—it's the beer you'd reach for when you want the style without surprises. Tolly Roger has that Cliff Quay signature of being slightly more complex and assertive, even at the same IBU.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Devon Pride when…

→You've had a few already and want something drinkable and forgiving
→You want the ESB style distilled to its clearest expression
→You're introducing someone to proper British bitter

Pick Tolly Roger when…

→You want to actually taste complexity in your pint
→You're in the mood to sit with one beer and pay attention to it
→You appreciate when breweries push slightly against convention

SIDE BY SIDE

	Devon Pride	Tolly Roger
ABV	4.1%	4.2%
Bitterness	Noticeably bitter	Noticeably bitter
Colour	Amber	Amber
Style	Extra Special Bitter	Extra Special Bitter
Origin	United Kingdom	United Kingdom

WHAT IT TASTES OF

6 shared · 10 distinct

Both beers

maltysmoothcarameltoastycleanbready

Only Devon Pride

fruityfull-bodied

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Devon PrideTolly Roger

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Devon Pride

FruityMaltyFull-bodied

Devon Pride goes down incredibly smooth. There's a honey-like sweetness that builds mid-palate without ever becoming cloying, backed by biscuit and a subtle toast character. The bitterness is there—40 IBU isn't shy—but it arrives late and stays polite. It's the kind of ESB that doesn't demand attention, which is exactly why people keep coming back to it.

Tolly Roger

MaltySmoothHoppy

Tolly Roger has more grip to it. You'll notice a drier malt base, something almost grainy that sits differently on your tongue than Devon Pride. The hop bitterness integrates tighter into the beer's structure rather than sitting on top of it. There's a peppery edge that catches you on the finish—nothing aggressive, just present and a bit more interesting.

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