Pete Drinks: Tring Ridgeway Bitter

Name: Tring Ridgeway Bitter

ABV: 4.0%

Bottled/ Draft: Bright Draft "Mini Cask"

Bottle Size: 5 litre (9 pint)

Price: A gift from lovely friends. (Can be purchased directly from the brewery for £15.25)

Colour: Caramel brown

Clarity: Bright

Head/ Bubbles: Good foam

Mouthfeel: Smooth without being creamy.

Taste: Short hop start, nicely balanced.

Comment: Although not much in the way of aroma, the hop start leads into a well balanced session beer without overwhelming your taste buds. I can't honestly say that there's anything greatly special about it, but sometimes you just want a nice drinking beer and this is certainly that. Fresh from the brewery is as close to getting a pulled pint at home as you can hope for. The mini cask they use is remarkably easy (and, better still, non-dripping!) to pour from, and seems to keep the beer in good condition for the 2 or 3 days it took me to get through it!

Unless you're near the brewery (they're based in Hertfordshire), you'll have to get lucky and hope your local has them in as a guest ale - although they produce some of their beers in bottles, this doesn't yet include the Ridgeway.