XT Brewing Valances 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.

CAMRA 2026 AGM at Alban Arena - , St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		18 Apr 2026	3rd beer of the visit: Good head and lacing and lasting on this specialty best bitter, made in tribute to the original 1912 recipe from the defunct Sidmouth brewery, and now from Notley Farm in Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire, and on the border with Oxfordshire, and where XT was set up in 2011 and operates an 18-barrel plant. A very malty bitterness on its first bite. A dry hoppy fruitiness rising. A bready biscuity note winning over aided by its malts and likely to include Maris Otter to lend it its flavours. A marmalade-infused citrus and spice emanating from its hops with hints of "hedgerow" flavours joining in and likely to be derived from English varieties such as Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. A very malty bitterness prevailing and before spiralling downwards. Served in good nick.