Best Bitter Special (Dry-Hopped)

old faithful · Post by **old faithful** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 2:03 pm

Recently I had this at Granite and was knocked out by how good it was. In the past, I tended to stick with Granite IPA since it was the more English-tasting pint. The Best Bitter dry-hopped always seemed more West Coast U.S. in style with a big "green garden" hop flavour sometimes green pepper-like in intensity. On this occasion the beer was reminiscent of that but with subtle and welcome English-type hop notes worked in. There was also a noticeable estery fruitiness that I hadn't noticed before. The taste just seemed better integrated all 'round. I also tried the regular Best Bitter which was similar but of course more carbonated and without the finer points of the cask beer. Granite has always been a stalwart of real beer in this town (and Halifax, N.S.) but never more so than now. Anyone who wants to see what English real ale is all about should pass by Granite soon.

Gary

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:35 pm

I agree and also have to remind myself how good this beer is, and to not take it for granted. I also thought (though apparently I was pretty much the only one) their cask conditioned Summer Ale at the C'est What festival was subtle but very good. I think if one tried it after some of the hoppier beers perhaps its charms were lost. I used to look forward to cask Summer Ale at the Granite itself, but now of course they no longer serve it cask conditioned.

old faithful · Post by **old faithful** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:36 pm

I hope Ron will keep the profile of Best Bitter Special as it is now, it is well-nigh perfect. Summer Ale is still good but I too preferred it in cask form. IPA is still very nice (and I would suggest might benefit from a slightly lower hop rate, maybe during the summer anyway). Peculiar is always good and sometimes very good but perhaps because of its strength I prefer the others mentioned. But exactly, no one interested in real ale should omit these beers, they are tops in their class. I had a good pint of County Ale at Feathers not long ago, it had an interesting "brown malt" (almost medium roast coffee-like) taste. This beer seems to have evolved in palate over the years. It is as good now as in the past but somewhat different I find (not quite as complex I'd say). At Feathers they know how to keep the real ale. An excellent pub in every respect. But in Wellington County's range, my favourite there is Iron Duke.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:15 am

The Duke doesn't disappoint. And while the big, complex RI Stout from Wellington is brilliant in its own right, the Welly Iron Duke very nicely covers that 'middle ground' between mild and powerful.

wxbrewer · Post by **wxbrewer** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:42 pm

I bought a couple of growlers of the Best Bitter Special and the IPA. Both were very undercarbonated. I was dissapointed to say the least. I most likely won't buying them in growlers again.
I think they'd be delicious if it weren't for that.

Bobbyok · Post by **Bobbyok** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:46 pm

wxbrewer wrote:I bought a couple of growlers of the Best Bitter Special and the IPA. Both were very undercarbonated. I was dissapointed to say the least. I most likely won't buying them in growlers again.
I think they'd be delicious if it weren't for that.

Are they served cask conditioned on handpump in Toronto? If they are, as they are in Halifax, there's the reason. I don't think cask beer was ever meant for a growler.

wxbrewer · Post by **wxbrewer** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:01 pm

Bobbyok wrote: Are they served cask conditioned on handpump in Toronto? If they are, as they are in Halifax, there's the reason. I don't think cask beer was ever meant for a growler.

I'm not sure, honestly. It was my first time there.

RyanWright · Post by **RyanWright** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:11 am

Just a heads up about the Special Best and IPA. These two beers are ONLY served in cask conditioned form. I buy growlers from Granite on a fairly regular basis from the take out side and they don't have those in the fridge because the only way to get those beers in a growler is to request to have them poured fresh from the cask. Its just like taking your pint home so the beer will be great that day but not so much the next. So its important to drink it that day. You can however buy the regular Best Bitter in take out growlers that is not in real ale form. I hope that answers the issue. Cheers.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:37 am

Growlers from a pub?

Does the owner date the LCBO commissioner's daughter?

The only place in Ontatrio I was aware of that sells growlers is Walkerville and they get away with because they have a city brewing licence and the pub in their brewery is a "hospitality" room not a licenced drinking establishment.

I thought greanite was a pub with a brewe on premises?

If they fill growlers of cask ale I gotta get in on this.

Can you bring your own "growler" ?

wxbrewer · Post by **wxbrewer** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:41 am

RyanWright wrote:Just a heads up about the Special Best and IPA. These two beers are ONLY served in cask conditioned form....Its just like taking your pint home so the beer will be great that day but not so much the next. So its important to drink it that day.

Thanx Ryan,
I actually drank some as soon as I got home. Still no carb.
That's good to know on the regular Best Bitter, though.

RyanWright · Post by **RyanWright** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:45 am

I believe Ron (the owner) of the Granite has two licenses so he can sell growlers in a separate entrance on the side of the pub/restaurant. I realize its highly unusual to get cask take-out but it is certainly possible. In fact, a few Saturdays ago I had some friends over so I e-mailed Ron in advance to let him know that I wanted a couple a cask IPA and a couple of cask Special Best Bitter. He had them ready for me when I arrived. I first realized about cask growlers when one night after dinner at the Granite we asked if we could get a take home of the Special Best. They said they could pour us one strait from the cask and thats how I first learned about this. I'm fairly sure they will only pour into their own Granite growlers though. The only time I ran into a snag was when I went there without calling or e-mailing in advance on a Saturday and they did not have any empty, sanitized growlers in which to pour. Sadly that day I had to buy the regular Best Bitter. (not to imply thats not a first class ale in its own right!) So if you want to stop by ang grab some cask growlers, I suggest e-mailing Ron at the Granite in advance, or call Ron, and you should be good to go. These two beers are certainly first class ales that are consistantly in good, fresh form.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 1:38 pm

pootz wrote:I thought greanite was a pub with a brewe on premises?

They used to operate under a brewpub license - which meant no bottling or take-home growler sales. But when the rules changed a couple of years ago to allow breweries to have a tied-house pub, they switched over to a brewery license, which allows them to sell bottles/growlers.

The only stipulation is that the take-home beer must be sold in a separate area from the pub, hence the separate room for growler sales.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 6:14 pm

Great info. I'll call first before I pick them up.