Phipps NBC Red Star

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		03 Mar 2026	1st beer of the visit: Now not so aptly named as on its fourth day on. It was no longer shining like a star on this red-coloured bitter from Northampton. Only just exhibiting a head. Its lacing was not lasting very well at all and so needed a few decants on the second offering of this. Still a very dry bitter, malty first bite. A biscuity sweetness rising. A dark cherry-infused fruitiness mixed with the odd red berry but not sweet-tasting. Its maltiness still hanging on from its rye and traditional mild ale malts. A very dry malty bitterness on the descent. No acidic attack on me again as was also the case on Sunday. A shame now on its fourth day as noticeably less conditioning. No longer is it asking you to try another according to my taste buds.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Mar 2026
Philip Pirrip		01 Mar 2026	Good condition - very malty
Hogan Sampling		01 Mar 2026	1st beer of the visit: Aptly named as on its second day shining like a star on this red-coloured bitter from Northampton. Exhibiting good head and lacing and lasting well still. A very dry bitter mixed with a malty first bite. A hoppy bitterness rising. A subtle hint of fruitiness ably assisted by its dark cherry fruit and the odd red berry thrown in for good measure but not in the least sweet to my taste buds. A bitter-tinged maltiness prevailing from its rye and traditional mild ale malts. A moreish dry bitterness sailing out. One of those rare evenings where the fruitiness of pales or IPAs which I did not sample at all on this visit did not therefore work their acidic attack on me. I would highly rate this ale as better for its second day on. Very quaffable and moreish. You actually desire another is the point and plus!
Hogan Sampling		28 Feb 2026	1st beer of the visit: Fresh on was this Northampton-brewed bitter and exhibiting good head and lacing and lasting well from this 2014-launched reincarnation of a brewery officially called Phipps NBC (Northampton Brewing Company) and now known for reviving heritage ales and stouts in a restored Victorian brewhouse. A very dry bitter first hit. A hedgerow fruity bitterness rising with hints of many a red berry and aided by the addition of a dark cherry fruit. Its malty notes winning over aided by its rye and traditional mild ale malts, lending it a sweeter taste than the average modern bitter. Certainly not in the least too sweet for my taste buds despite a honey malt aroma present. A dry bitterness prevailing alongside a hoppiness* waving on the sailing downwards. *While specific hop names like Fuggles or Goldings are often used in Phipps' other traditional recipes like Chesters Pale, the brewery generally describes the Red Star hop blend as "traditional" and with no further detail added. A tad fresh perhaps and so may be even better the following day!
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Nov 2019
Philip Pirrip		26 Sep 2019	Very quaffable brown basic English bitter aaaaaaaah
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Mar 2019

Albion Brewery Bar, Northampton, Northamptonshire