Coniston Bluebird Bitter ABV 4.2% • Vol 500 ml • bottle • UK • Mid-price • Flavour 6.5 • Bottle Conditioned Other beers from Coniston Other beers from UK

Light amber brown in colour with a loose white head which rapidly falls away. Aroma is up front hop with the distinct barley sugar signature of crystal malt. Immediate first taste is dry and fruity but rather thin. The beer is quite low in carbonation. Bitterness is subdued throughout and while taste is largely disappointingly neutral, a strange soapiness lurks therein. There is a bit of crystal malt evident, but no trace of roast malt although this is mentioned on the label. Finish is quite bitter and lingers a little but is like the beer, a little short of everything. Conclusion: A bit of a disappointment. Beer lacks the complexity of the cask-conditioned Champion Beer of Britain. There are similarities, the same appealing fresh taste, but everything just seems toned down. May improve with a couple of months more age but not, I think, very much. Not a bad beer by any means but not as good as it could be. Review submitted by: Peter Alexander ADD A COMMENT TO THIS BEER

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Review updated 22 December 1998

Comments

The CAMRA and Beauty of Hops award-winning draught version of this beer is produced at the Black Bull brewpub at Coniston in the English Lake District, and named after the ultra-fast cars and boats piloted by Donald Campbell, who died on nearby Coniston Water in 1967 while attempting another world speed record. This bottle conditioned version, however, is brewed under contract a few hundred kilometres away, at Brakspears of Henley, Oxfordshire, where the adjoining body of water is not a lake but the river Thames. Nonetheless it's an extremely impressive beer, an invitingly clear deep golden/amber colour, pouring with a nice head and an intense and mainly earthily hoppy aroma, with some yeast, limes and the flowery scents of geraniums and roses: it comes as no surprise to learn that it's dry hopped with English Challenger. Despite the hoppy nose, the first taste impression is of firm malt, with some citric fruit, all enfolded in a deliciously melting texture. A bitter hop character soon develops, however, becoming quite puckering, with a tangy fruitiness, floral hints and, though the beer is nothing other than bone dry, an underlying toffeeish texture that keeps the balance. It is an outstanding beer, complex but clean, refreshing and very modern-tasting: my only criticism is that considering the intensity of flavours the finish is a little short. A beer this good needs to hang around for longer. (Taste out of 10 - 8.5)
Des de Moor

Peter's comments on thin and soapy are as true as Des de Moor's on melting texture and floral hints. The beer lacks body and depth, but is wide ranging with interesting twists and turns - the most intriguing being the soapy floral hints. A response to this would be centered on one's opinion regarding the nature of beer: should it have body, or should it have tone; should it be traditional or should it branch out into new flavours - such as rose petals or Midnight In Paris perfume? My view is that this beer might be good for dabbing behind the ears, but it shouldn't be drunk from a glass.
Silk Tork

Like liquid toffee (excuse pun). Excellent mouthfeel. A quality brew, balancing the flavours of malt and hop.
Geoffrey Woodin

A brilliant ale. A little dull in a bottle. Much better on draught in Coniston or Elterwater at the Ship after a hard slog up the lakeland fells. Could easily sink a couple it goes so smoothly, delicious!
Antony

A great beer when drank on tap from the black bull, if you are in the lakes visit the black bull and have a few pints - the bottled beer doesn't do it justice
Alex

Excellent bottled beer..take no notice of these other reviewers!
Mike

BEST BEER EVER MADE IN BOTTLE AND IN CASK FORM LIGHT REFRESHING WONDERFUL RESINOUS HOP AROMA AND TASTE HAVE A FEW PINTS IN THE BLACK BULL CONISTON YOULL BE HOOKED
IAN BRADLEY C.B.C.

Hi,
Had this in the Black Bull and was disappointed to be driving. 7.5/10.
Juice Terry

silk tork is completeley wrong about this beer. it is excellent. better on draught though.
Antony

Just in case there's any confusion, the "shouter" with the unbiased review above is Coniston's brewer & owner! This bottled beer is now brewed under the direction of Peter Scholey, at Hepworths/The Beer Station, Horsham, Sussex (by Andy Hepworth, former HB at King&Barnes). Recently spotted in Safeway, as yet untried.
Mike McGuigan

Just tried the new version ... definitely 9+/10. Low carbonation, good hop hit and bitterness. In fact it delivers what it says on the bottle! Best BCA I've come across so far.
Mark Enderby

Draught is best. Newfield Inn in Seathwaite has it as main ale. Excellent after a day in the Duddon. You seem to take this beer business VERY seriously! [Oh yes - Ed.] An excellent pint to drink in a session.
Pete Halsall

I tried the new Hepworths-brewed version tonight Very nice too - fresh, some bitterness, pleasant mild CO2. However IMO it had none of the seriously full-on Challenger hop aroma (& hoppy palate) of the Brakspear version had. The beer used to be quite mild in bitterness, but the hop-smell used to climb out of the glass and the hop-flavour stayed in your mouth until it did battle with your toothbrush. Good, but not the same beer. (I helped to brew it at Brakspear's from 1998-2000 - it used loads of hops in the hopback, but so few went in for bittering that we would spray foam over the streets of Henley every brew!)
MikeMcG

One of the few beers using Challenger alone which doesn't have a harsh bitterness - must be to do with the quality of the malt used. The delicate floral aroma makes this a distinctive session-strength beer which is all-too drinkable.
Martin Brady

Recent samples (10/03) have not lived up to the first ones I tried from Hepworths. Beer is now harsher and less well-balanced. Downgraded to 7/10.
Mark Enderby

re Martin's comments above - the main reason this beer isn't harshly bitter isn't to do with the malt (pale maris otter & crystal) but because the brewers don't put many hops in at the start of the boil, and instead put loads in at the end (or in the hopback) which gives the characteristic & pleasant floweriness. BTW the vagaries of contract-brewing & the death of Brakspear (tho soon to be reborn at Wychwood) means that this should now be known as Hepworth's Coniston Bluebird! :~)
MikeMcG

Used to love these - not sure who brews them now Brakspear have closed, but the latest bottles I've tried are disappointing - the aroma has gone & the beer tastes sour & uninteresting. It's gone from an 8/10 to 3/10 in my view. [In fact, Brakspear has now reopened in new premises, although the brewery and brand are now owned by Refresh UK - don't think they still contract-brew Bluebird though. Anyone know? - Ed.]
david hannaford

Thanks for the technical info, MikeMcG. It's unusual for Challenger to be used an aroma hop.
Martin Brady

re who brews this beer - exK&B Head Brewer Andy Hepworth brews & bottles this beer at his Horsham microbrewery "Hepworth's" - under the supervision of Peter Scholey (ex-Brakspear HB) & his consultancy & contract-brew company - Beer Counter, based near Reading.
MikeMcG

A great ale, very tasty indeed.
Mr folio

Very average - no hint of Lakeland character here! Perhaps they should wait till summertime for a brew as thin as this - might taste better in a sunny beergarden.
Pete Wood

This brewing lark is ludicrously easy. Trouble is the almighty(TM) keeps throwing spanners. 2002 harvest challenger hops were crap. Not unreasonable of anyone to blame that on brewing at Hepworths if you don't know otherwise, just as the imminent return of floral hoppiness isn't their fault (or mine) either but you can give them the credit if you wish. It's one of the delights / hazards of brewing with real stuff instead of stuff in bottles. Hi Mike ;-)
Peter S.

Recently bought a bottle from Spar at Lancaster university. I make a habit of buying a different bottled beer ever once in a while, and this is the best I have tasted (out of 11 others) So, I bought them out of the rest of their stock
Roy Dennis

The best bottled beer you can buy IMHO
Guy P

not a patch on the stuff at the black bull or the manor, broughton, but as a cumbrian in london it's the nearest i can get. in contrast to the review, i actually think it's quite fizzy. almost as if it's been brewed by swizzles...
the brew crew

theres nothing better than a day climbing the old man and coming down for a nice pint in coniston, this is one of 3 or 4 beers i love to drink in coniston
Dave

For the sake of clarity for the uninitiated - "the old man" mentioned by Dave is "The Old Man of Coniston" a mountain above the village of Coniston & the Black Bull pub where the draught version of the beer is brewed :~)
Mike McG

This is one of the easiest bottle-conditioned beers to buy, being constantly on the shelves at my local corporate grocers, so it's easy to become blasé about it, but it is truly a gorgeous brew. Does it lack body? No: it's a refreshing, juicy session ale. Soapy? No, no: a good balance of satsuma-floral hops against the juicy-sweet body. It's almost as satisfying as a good cask bitter. It's a clear demonstration of why bottle-conditioning is important. Taste: 8.5/10.
Mike Griffin

A subtle bitter ale that's nice & dry. Quite light on the palate.
Dave Morton

I didn't enjoy it, thought it lacked a bit of substance. Will try it again though.
damo

havent tried the bottled version,but had a pint in Coniston hotel/bar and its superb.Going back there just for another taste-and normally dont like ales.
marko butler

Quote "...havent tried the bottled version,but had a pint in Coniston hotel/bar and its superb.Going back there just for another taste-and normally dont like ales...." When I see this comment I always feel impelled to respond, "...that's because you've not yet tried a sufficently large number of good ales... " In the UK there are probably around 2000 (as opposed to maybe 1% of that number of chemical fizz brands) so anyone who claims only to like Dudweiser, Swiller, Curse or anyone of their clones simply needs to broaden his or her experience. There is a Real Ale to meet every beer-drinker's taste - it's simply a question of finding the right one for you. Happy hunting!
Richard English

A LOVELY CREAMY PINT,NOT HEAVY, WE DRINK IT IN THE SPINNERS ARMS,ADLINGTON ,BOLTON & WHEN WE GO TO THE LAKES.
VICKY

Been drinking beer for 40 odd years now mostly on tap and from cans, a transition to bottled beer recently has left me quite excited about the variety. Bluebird is one of my first choices now, it suites my fine pallet, giving good depth of flavour, mellow aftertaste and light alcohol. Would recommend for social occasions and Sunday afternoons.
Dave Musto

I've never had this on draft but always find it delightful botled; it is light but balanced by the hop and i find it fruity and quite complex. I recommend shaking the residue as the yeast adds flavour. Definitely a favourite.
Sammy b

I enjoyed this...
Aircooled

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