Steam Town Barton Bitter

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
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 Feb 2026
Hogan Sampling		26 Feb 2026	1st beer of this visit: Now the third night on for this bronze-to-amber-coloured Hampshire bitter from the Eastleigh-based and 2017-launched microbrewery, 5.5 miles north of Southampton town centre. Still presenting a good head. The lacing was lasting all the way to the end with the odd decant or two. A fruited first hit. A very dry malty bitterness rising derived from its Maris Otter malt. A definite toasted brown bread flavouring still emerging and from first sampling on Tuesday. A slightly citrusy and marmalade-infused hoppiness winning over aided by its First Gold and Goldings hops. Still that same malty bitterness dancing on my palate before sailing out with a spiciness alongside fruity hints including red berries. A dry malty hoppiness prevailing in the aftertaste. Not as lively as Tuesday but still in good form so stuck to it apart from one further sampling of the porter still on from Sunday.
Philip Pirrip		25 Feb 2026	OK albeit many strange tastes
Hogan Sampling		24 Feb 2026	Fresh on was this bronze-to-amber-coloured Hampshire bitter from the Eastleigh-based microbrewery, 5.5 miles north of Southampton town centre, and set up in 2017. Very good head and lacing and lasting all the way. A bitter but fruity sweetness in its first bite. A biscuity maltiness rising from its Maris Otter malt, alongside its Crystal and pale malts, lending it a toasted brown bread flavouring and the odd roasted chestnut thrown in. A hoppy fruitiness winning over aided by its First Gold and Goldings hops affording it citrus and marmalade notes with hints of apricot, strawberry and red berries. A markedly malty bitterness sailing out with a spicy hint; a dry hoppiness lingering. In top form in every way and so stuck to it despite hearing there was another new kid also on the block this evening.

Steam Town Brew Co., Eastleigh, Hampshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		17 Jul 2019	A littlw on the cold side. Amber/coppwr coloured best bitter.

Alfie's, Winchester, Hampshire