Old Wavertonian vs Summerskills Best: Which Should You Drink?

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Old Wavertonian

Spitting Feathers Brewery

United Kingdom · English Bitter

hopIQ rank #964

86%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Summerskills Best

Summerskills Brewery

United Kingdom · English Bitter

HOPIQ TAKE

Old Wavertonian if you want more assertive malt backbone and a slightly drier finish, Summerskills Best if you want a rounder, more approachable bitter that drinks almost like a session ale. Both clock in identically on paper (4.3–4.4% ABV, 30 IBU), but they're playing different hands—one's got structure, the other's got friendliness. The real difference is in the brewing philosophy: Spitting Feathers leans into that traditional Lancashire character, while Summerskills smooths the edges.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Old Wavertonian when…

→You want to taste the brewer's craft—there's intentionality in every sip
→You're in a proper pub setting and want something with genuine backbone
→You prefer bitters that finish dry and leave you wanting another

Pick Summerskills Best when…

→You want a bitter that doesn't challenge—just satisfies
→You're drinking multiple pints and need something that stays smooth
→You prefer malt sweetness over hop structure

SIDE BY SIDE

	Old Wavertonian	Summerskills Best
ABV	4.4%	4.3%
Bitterness	Noticeably bitter	Noticeably bitter
Colour	Golden	Golden
Style	English Bitter	English Bitter
Origin	United Kingdom	United Kingdom

WHAT IT TASTES OF

10 shared · 3 distinct

Both beers

maltysmoothhoppybreadybittercleancrispcaramelrefreshinglight

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Old WavertonianSummerskills Best

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Old Wavertonian

MaltyHoppyBready

Old Wavertonian has a proper biscuit-and-caramel thing happening—almost shortbread-like on the nose. The body's noticeably firm for a 4.4%, with a grainy malt presence that doesn't apologize. Hop bitterness arrives clean and measured, then exits quickly, leaving your palate slightly dry. It's the kind of bitter that makes you sit up a bit, not slouch into your chair.

Summerskills Best

MaltySmoothSmooth-drinking

Summerskills Best slides in softer. There's honeyed malt sweetness up front, and it feels more integrated—less like separate components, more like a cohesive whole. The finish is gentler, almost creamy in the way it sits on your tongue. This one doesn't demand your attention; it invites you to have another without thinking about it. It's beer-as-comfort rather than beer-as-conversation.

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