Old Cannon Gunner's Daughter

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.

St Albans Beer Festival 2026, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		26 Sep 2026	1st beer of this festival visit: I was tempted to go to this microbrewery’s own festival the week before in Bury St Edmunds but it co-incided with the Gadds’ Green Hop festival at their taproom just outside Broadstairs and so a pleasure to note Old Cannon was here and in the quantity of two different styles. The Old Cannon Brewery is an independent brewpub located in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and known for its distinctive offerings, including the signature Extra Special Bitter called the Gunner’s Daughter. It opened in December 1999 on the historic site of the St Edmunds Head pub and brewery set up in 1845. This, the remaining style on from Old Cannon, their strong bitter, served as a welcome start to my afternoon tastings. The Gunner’s Daughter presented herself magnificently, boasting a robust, healthy head and a delightful pattern of lacing that hung on all the way down and served as a good sign of plenty of action to follow in her flavours she exuded. A dry fruity first bite. A moreishly slightly sweet malty bitterness rising from her East Anglian Maris Otter Pale malt as her base, combined with Crystal malt and a touch of Black malt for her dark colouring along with a peek of dark chocolate. A satisfying hoppy fruitiness joining in from her blend of traditional Northdown hops and fruity Nelson Sauvin hops giving rising to gooseberry, elderflower and grape for my taste buddies’ delectation before climaxing with a lingering hoppy aftertaste coupled with a dry bitterness grandly sailing out leaving me utterly quenched and ready for more samplings after my hike back from the neighbouring village of St Michael’s. Served in perfect nick and especially if she had been on for a good few days of this festival.

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		28 Oct 2025	4½* In superb condition - smooth, powerful and full on flavour

Ox & Plough, Old Buckenham, Norfolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		14 Sep 2014	Not much condition but lots of taste.

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2014, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		08 Feb 2014	Fruity premium bitter.
oz11		08 Feb 2014
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	07 Feb 2014
Andrew		07 Feb 2014	Lots of rose and melon. Slight, watery, rose petal finish

The Old Cannon, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	05 Oct 2013
HSB		25 Apr 2012
Stu	Not Tried	13 Aug 2010