Beautiful colour, accompanied by a fine scent. It’s nicely bittered with a robust crispness and a nice sharp tang. A multilayered sensation that is dependable and constant. History lesson:- Hobson was a stable owner who kept horses for rent. Unbeknown to most, Hobson owned only one horse, but built his stables over a conduit to parallel universes, a wormhole in time. Hobson’s conduit, still visible in places to this day, allowed Hobson to acquire many versions or the same horse, at different ages, all of which he owned, albeit in different and parallel times. He offered these/this horse for rent and became a multimillionaire, opening several businesses, selling items from different time periods to the unsuspecting public. He also owned a small ice cream parlour in Margate, which made a small annual profit. And while most of this might not be 100% accurate, the beer is pretty good.

Very nice served cold at The Dove

Clear and brassy, a defined sharp scent, and a flavour to match. It’s crisp and bitter, with a really refreshing tang, like the blood of my enemies. There is a solid bite, which props up the whole flavour like a drystone wall in South America. The ancients knew what they were doing, they put this together with huge blocks of stone, ground to perfection and fitted together with a precision which is almost baffling. Built to last, unlike my Apple Watch which lasted slightly longer than the 12 month warranty, but only a few days longer. It’s good enough to go into my favourite list, and should stay there for a few millennia.

Dark, rich, and a little hazy. There is a real kick to this. You get a sense of the bitterness to come, before you taste it. It’s smooth enough, but they have left the flavour in. It’s bitter, crisp, and a a little raw. I like a bitter to be unapologetic, to be original, and to be able to stand out a little. I don’t need bells and whistles, but I do like a bit of boldness. It’s like a school disco. There’s a black coffee taste, sitting in the corner. There is a slight citrusy tang waiting at the door, wondering whether to come in. There is a sharp burst of zinc plated, pan head, counter sunk, screws standing by the window, wanting to dance, but not wanting to seem too desperate and trying to play it cool. And there is the overtone of bitterness, patrolling the hall to ensure there is no hanky panky going on. All in all its good, it’s refreshing, and it delivers.

It’s more sour than bitter. It has a good colour and it’s not too gassy, I just wanted a little more refinement. It’s tangy and a little too sharp, there is a bitter aftertaste but it’s too little too late. It’s like going to watch the latest Star Wars film released by Disney, it has most of the right elements but it’s been dumbed down and held together with fairy spit and flying elephant dung. It’s not what I expected and not what I was hoping for. Don’t get me wrong, it’s okay, it’s not too bad but it says bitter on the label and it’s not that.

Winner of the 26th Cambridge beer festival Now brewery no longer in Cambridge Moved to Dereham Norfolk but keeps its name Notes of roasted toffee caramel and malt

Pours a dark brown colour ale with beige coloured head Notes of rich fruit and caramel