Allsopp's (wherever it is actually brewed unknown) Best 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 Park Tavern, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		15 Nov 2025	This Allsopp's bitter* was just as good as the one I last tried in February of this year at The Blue Stoops pub, which opened in late 2024, at 127-129 Kensington Church Street. Jamie Allsopp, a direct descendant of the founder, opened that pub in homage to the original Blue Stoops in Burton-upon-Trent, where his family brewed from 1730. Now reported to be brewed at Kirkstall Brewery in Leeds, this best bitter here in The Park Tavern presented a very impressive head and lacing and which it kept with no difficulty to the end. Not in the least overly fruited which generally suits my taste buds. Not sweet either nor too malty. Just the merest hint of caramelised biscuity maltiness. A good dry hoppy note or two dancing in harmony before gently sliding down the hatch. Almost the perfect brew for me that other brewers often either over-fruit, over-malt or over-sweeten. Wonderful in every dimension and not, I hasten to add, the merest hint of indigestion afterwards. *Allsopp's beer was brewed in Burton-upon-Trent, a process that began in 1730 with Benjamin Wilson at The Blue Stoops Inn Brewery. Today, the brand has been revived by a London-based business, and while the original brewery has been demolished, the new versions are developed with the historic recipes and yeast.

The Blue Stoops, Kensington, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		22 Feb 2025	The knowledgeable barman told me that it is all currently brewed in Leeds and my recent on-line research suggested Sheffield as I recalled and from the on-line CAMRA London Drinker article by Roger Warhurst and dated March 2022. Jamie Allsopp, proprietor, says "See you at the Bar with a pint of something foaming and delicious!" Did not see Jamie but tasted something that was presented as certainly "foaming" and the barman took time to fill to the top of my half glass in topping it. £2.75 a half and so the cheapest of this Central/West London outing by far. It had a very dry bitter, bitter first hit. Nothing sweet about it which I hate in a lot of bitters. Neither was there too much malt. All I could say was "Cor, cor, cor!" which is my beer lingo for meaning I am in seventh heaven and that it is a beer to die for! Extremely moreish and a superb dry bitterness lingering.