8 Sail 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.

Chappel Beer Festival - Summer 2026, Chappel, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		12 Sep 2026	1st beer: Presented with very good head and lasting lacing on this amber ale from independent microbrewery, 8 Sail, established in 2010 inside a renovated Victorian sawmill, and sitting in the shadow of the historic Heckington Windmil, the UK's last remaining working eight-sailed tower mill, located in the rural village of Heckington, just east of the market town of Sleaford and west of Boston in Lincolnshire. A dry bitter first hit. A mildly fruited bitterness rising from a dual-nation blend of traditional English and bold American hops. Its English Fuggles behind its earthy sweetness, its American Cluster behind its sharp spice, and its American Cascade lending a citrus edge. A touch of maltiness from its Pale Malt aiding its biscuity foundation, Crystal Malt lending its sweet caramel and Brown Malt behind its toasted nuttiness. A dry lingering fruitiness for me. Served in very good nick.