Festival - Landlords Finest Bitter


20th July 2013
Notes on the box state that Landlords Finest Bitter is a classic pale ale with biscuit malt tones layered with subtle fruit character and earthy undertones. It is a dark gold ale with a white head and has a rich hop aroma with fruit like undertones.

Landlords Finest was highly active during fermentation with lots and lots of gurgling emanating from the container. However it was also a very slow fermentation, taking over three weeks to complete! After the first seven days a hydrometer reading indicated only 1020. The instructions supplied said the fermentation would be slower because Landlords Finest uses a special yeast strain. The instructions also said to add a paper packet of hop pellets after five days and leave for another five. Without taking time to think about quantity I added the entire packet of hops, the contents which float upon the crusty foam on the top of the fermenting ale and then gradually sink to the bottom.

After three weeks the hydrometer reading was 1010. Although Richies suggest the reading should be 1009, 1010 will have to do, as I was frankly fed up waiting to move this along. The ale was noticeably clear in the racking transfer but nevertheless I fined the ale using a two part Ritchies’ wine fining.

13th August 2013
Forty eight hours after fining I transferred the ale to the barrel. It was exceptionally clear but the taste I got from the syphon tube told me that I should have gone easier on the hops! Once again my ale is turning out just too bitter and I don’t really feel at all pleased about it, no matter how clear it is.
  • OG 1039
  • FG 1010
The anticipated ABV of 4.3% suggested on the box has not been achieved.

The Verdict
After two months in the barrel Lee and I have had a taste whilst doing some gardening on a clear October day. Although neither of us are greatly taken by the intense bitterness caused by me adding the whole sachet of hops, we figure we could get used to it. Beneath the bitterness we detect Landlord’s Finest is imbued with other impressive characteristics. Landlord’s Finest is a very light coloured ale, I would call it a Golden Bitter. I would love to sample this ale without so much hoppy influence, then I believe I would get the real benefit of those flavours and be able to give a better review. Charlie