Timothy Taylor Boltmaker (formerly 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.

Farriers Arms, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		03 Oct 2026	Served with very good head and lasting lacing on this copper-amber coloured West Yorkshire bitter from brewing first set up in 1858 in Cook Lane in the West Riding town of Keighley, before upping sticks in 1863 to a grander premises over at the Knowle Spring Brewery in Keighley, and remaining West Yorkshire's last independent family brewer of true cask ales. A dry bitter first hit on what was originally known to the old boys as Taylor’s Best Bitter before it was crowned Supreme Champion Beer of Britain and where the brewers use nothing but real, whole-leaf hops and premium malts. A dry bitter first hit. A sweet fruity bitterness rising from its Fuggles lending earthy and woody notes for me, Goldings behind its sweet floral touches, delicate spice and a bit of honey, and Savinjski Goldings lending a bright citrus orange peel and a punchy, zesty marmalade hint. A malty fruitiness winning over aided by its Golden Promise Premium barley lending a sweet and distinctly bready flavouring, its Crystal Malt lending a toffee, sweet caramel and dark honey infusion, and Amber Malt behind its toasty biscuit, light nuttiness, and a touch of dry woodiness. Hitting my whistle with a biscuit-like, toasted nut-cake sweetness. A bitter hoppiness paddling out. Served in very good order.

The Gatekeeper (formerly The New Inn), Etchinghill, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		02 Sep 2026	Cloying and over malty, a chore to drink..
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	11 Jul 2026	Another NA
Andrew		14 Mar 2026	Nice
Andrew		08 Feb 2025	Excellent condition. Ready malty, well constructed beer.
Magnus Greel		06 Oct 2023	Nigh on faultless condition temperature and the full hit TT experience. The first pint didn't touch the sides so with another 33 minutes to spare before my next bus north I had time for another.
Jack William	Not Tried	11 May 2022

The Red Lion, Bromley, Greater London

One Green Bottle, Battlesbridge, Essex

The Half Moon, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

The Ferry Inn, Stone in Oxney, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	28 May 2026
Wittenden	Not Tried	18 Apr 2026
Wittenden	Not Tried	21 Feb 2026
Wittenden		26 Jul 2025	Crisp and reassuring.
Wittenden	Not Tried	22 Mar 2025
Wittenden	Not Tried	22 Feb 2025
Wittenden	Not Tried	23 Nov 2024
Wittenden	Not Tried	10 Nov 2024
Wittenden	Not Tried	27 Apr 2024
Wittenden	Not Tried	29 Jul 2023

The Red Cow, Sandwich, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisatSturry	Not Tried	09 Apr 2026
Jack William		18 Jan 2026
Jack William	Not Tried	23 Mar 2025
ChrisatSturry		19 Jan 2025	Lovely beer, malty and in good condition
Jack William	Not Tried	24 Nov 2024
ChrisatSturry	Not Tried	23 May 2024
Jack William	Not Tried	14 Jul 2016

Two Sawyers, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		26 Jan 2026	A well kept pint met with all my TT expectations.

The Chequer Inn, Ash, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		22 Jan 2026	Not at its best but I may have had the first one out. Later pints pulled looked far brighter.

The Canterbury Tales, Canterbury, Kent

The Five Bells, Eastry, Kent

Black Horse, Hertford, Hertfordshire

Hare & Hounds, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	01 Nov 2025
Magnus Greel		22 Apr 2024	Lacking its usual dry hoppy crisp finesse

The Mole Hole, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		13 Sep 2025	Good head and lacing and lasting on this Yorkshire bitter from Keighley, north-west of Leeds. A very dry bitter first hit. A good touch of maltiness rising from its Golden Promise, Crystal Malt, Amber Malt, Munich Malt and Brown Malt. A pleasantly bitter mouthfeel. A hop-infused bitterness playing out from its Whitbread Golding Variety/Goldings, Fuggles and Savinjski Goldings. Very reasonably-priced here at just £4.00 a pint for your average strength ale.

The Stranded, Charing Cross, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		29 Jul 2025	Offered with or without sparkler. Made mistake of having the sparkler fitted with the implied big head short measure that resulted. Pint tasted rather first out for a while as a tad warmish

The Lemon Tree, Charing Cross, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		16 Jul 2025	Poor head and lacing, rather cloying
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 Nov 2024
Philip Pirrip		29 May 2023	Very enjoyable it was too so I got stuck into multiple glasses

Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House), Addiscombe, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		14 Jul 2025	Good to have this on occasionally. Slightly sweet aftertaste
Philip Pirrip		28 Nov 2023	A half in prime condition

The New Inn, Minster (Thanet), Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		06 Jul 2025	In fine form.
Jack William		29 May 2025	Wouldn’t normally rate such an ordinary bitter as excellent - but this was in such good condition and went down a treat.
Jack William		23 Jan 2025
Jack William		05 Dec 2024
Jack William		16 Jun 2024	Very lively and we struggled to get full pints.
Jack William		04 Jan 2024	In tip top condition. I think we got through about 2.5 gallons @ £40 a gallon.
Jack William	Not Tried	10 Aug 2022

The Slip Inn, York, North Yorkshire

George Hotel, Youlgreave (or Youlgrave), Derbyshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisatSturry		19 Jun 2025	Rich burnt caramel ncely hoppy

The Albert, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

The Dolphin, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		30 Aug 2024
Andrew	Not Tried	02 Dec 2023
Magnus Greel		20 Apr 2023	All the TT expectations fulfilled.

Albion Inn (formerly The Hogs Head; The Little Albion Inn), Broadstairs, Kent

Express Tavern (The Express Ale & Cider House), Brentford, Greater London

The Royal Oak, Blean, Kent

The Bouncing Barrel, Herne Bay, Kent

The Bricklayer's Arms, Putney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	23 Dec 2023
ChrisE		11 Mar 2022
Jack William	Not Tried	15 Jan 2022
Jack William	Not Tried	26 Dec 2018

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		15 Oct 2023	New cask on today - a good bitter hit

The Woolly Sheep Inn, Skipton, North Yorkshire

The Radius Arms, Whyteleafe, Surrey

The Fountain, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		20 Jul 2023	Warm, tired.

York Tap, York, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	27 Jun 2023
Philip Pirrip		13 Dec 2019
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	17 Sep 2017

The White Horse, Chilham, Kent

The Queens Head, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mitch		22 Apr 2023

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

First & Last, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		04 Aug 2022	Changed with good grace for another Blonde Ambition
ChrisE		28 Apr 2017

The Salmon Inn, Belford, Northumberland

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		19 Jun 2022

Boltmakers Arms, Keighley, West Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	01 Mar 2022
ChrisE		26 Apr 2017	Superb.
Magnus Greel		18 Aug 2016
Philip Pirrip		27 May 2014
ChrisE		22 Mar 2014	Excellent, this pint hardly touched the sides. Delicious.
ChrisE		08 Oct 2012	The new Boltmaker pump clip was proudly displayed in this pub.

The Fleece Inn, Haworth, West Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	01 Mar 2022
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	18 Aug 2016
ChrisE		22 Mar 2014
HSB		29 Jun 2012

Palmerston Arms, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

The Admiral's Arm, Queenborough, Kent

Ravenswood R.B.L.C., Banchory, Aberdeenshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		18 Mar 2020	Fully meriting 4*s this showed cask at its best. Smooth, balanced and refreshing it was served in perfect condition.

The Greyhound Inn, Coventry, West Midlands

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		17 Jan 2020

Red Lion, Burnsall, North Yorkshire

The Great House, Hawkhurst, Kent

Bake & Alehouse, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	14 Jun 2019
Jack William		11 Apr 2019	Good honest pint.

The Victoria, East Sheen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		04 Apr 2019	Expensive.

The Gordon Arms, Chislehurst, Greater London

Jackdaw Inn, Denton, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		03 Oct 2018	Good flavoured bitter in excellent condition.

Three Kings, Clerkenwell, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		14 Jun 2018	A proper Best Bitter – very nice.

The Dirty Habit, Hollingbourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	09 Jun 2018
Jack William		04 Dec 2017	First one out, passable.

Ocean Inn, Dymchurch, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		02 Jun 2018

The Falcon Inn, Arncliffe, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		30 Oct 2017	From the jug,which suits this Kentish scribe. Well conditioned spicy best bitter.Beyond reproach.

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	03 Oct 2017
Jack William		16 Jun 2016	Very smooth.
Mick	Not Tried	12 Dec 2014

Exhibition Hotel, York, North Yorkshire

The Station Inn, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Taylor's on the Green (formerly Lord Rodney), Keighley, West Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		26 Apr 2017

Burlington Arms, Keighley, West Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		26 Apr 2017
ChrisE		08 Oct 2012	Still badged as best bitter here, although the beer has been renamed Boltmaker.
ChrisE	Not Tried	27 Mar 2010

The Sportsman, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Arcadia Ale House, Headingley, West Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		17 Dec 2016	Classic thirst quencher.
Mick	Not Tried	15 Sep 2015

Brown Cow, Keighley, West Yorkshire

King & Queen, Wendover, Buckinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		16 Jul 2016	Very smooth malty beer. Well constructed. A mild like finish

Cococure Haus (formerly The Refreshment Room), Stratford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	16 Jun 2016
Stephen Harris		08 Jun 2016	A good, amber/brown coloured Bitter with caramel flavours.

Veritas, Leeds, West Yorkshire

The Great Harry, Woolwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		22 Mar 2016	A travesty. Sweetish and hazy, not as Timothy Taylor intended

Wetherspoons, Victoria, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		11 Mar 2016

Mute Swan, Hampton Court, Greater London

Number Twenty 2, Darlington, Durham

Slice (formerly The Goose; The Sovereign), Ramsgate, Kent

The George & Dragon, Fordwich, Kent

East of Arcadia, Meanwood, West Yorkshire

Albert, Llandudno, Conwy

Anchorage Hotel, Four Mile Bridge, Gwynedd

The Providence Inne, Sandgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		28 Aug 2015
ChrisE		18 Aug 2015	Superb.

The Adelphi, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Little Manor, Thelwall, Cheshire

The Old Coach & Horses, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		30 Jul 2015	pleasant if rather sweet

The Station Hotel, Ipswich, Suffolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		25 Jul 2015

The Castle Barge, Newark, Nottinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		23 Jul 2015
HSB	Not Tried	07 Jul 2015

The Southwark Tavern, Southwark, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		22 Jul 2015	A malty, run-of-the-mill Bitter.

The Clachan, Soho, Central London

The Ship Inn (Rum Runner), Retford, Nottinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		11 Jul 2015	The group had all had this beer so we followed suit. Much better.

The White Hart, Waterloo, Central London

Dentdale Music and Beer Festival 2015, Dent, Cumbria

The Aleksander, St Margarets, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Tobes	Not Tried	13 Jun 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	29 Nov 2014
Tobes		06 Sep 2014	Underwhelming for a current champion beer.

The Railway, Ryde, Isle of Wight

Rose & Crown, Clapham, Greater London

Cross Swords, Skillington, Lincolnshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		02 Apr 2015	A very good Best Bitter, without being anything spectacular – I can see why it has won awards.

The Victoria Hotel, Beeston, Nottinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		31 Jan 2015

Tap & Tankard, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Ye Olde Black Boy, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		02 Dec 2014	Nice enough but a bit average.

Fell Brewery Bar (formerly Moo Bar), Penrith, Cumbria

The Old Bell, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Brigantes Bar & Brasserie, York, North Yorkshire

Old Blackfriars, Sean, Worcestershire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle	Not Tried	21 Nov 2013
Ray		25 Aug 2010	Typical Taylor's yeasty aroma with firm malt and hops on a biscuity base. A little tired.

Fitzgeralds, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

Juniper Green Inn, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, City of

The Star, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		02 Mar 2013	An old favourite which seemed off form. Disjointed and muted.

The Flying Horse Hotel, Rochdale, Greater Manchester

Burton Bridge Inn, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Garry		07 Apr 2011	Beer of the night. Full of hops, lovely brown colour and great aromas. Very nice pint indeed

International Festival of Beer, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Garry		11 Feb 2011	Nice - I found honey in this

King's Head, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

The Dispensary, Liverpool, Merseyside

Ye Olde Mitre, Holborn, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		30 Nov 2007	Amber with thin lasting beige. Yeasty, tasty best bitter. Simple but effective.

The Rose & Crown, Perry Wood, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		13 Oct 2007	Bland bitter.
Andrew	Not Tried	13 Oct 2007

The Royal Oak, Brookland, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		28 Mar 2005	Amber colour, hoppy nose. Good mix of hop and malt. Creamy in mouth, good hop finish