Picaroons Best Bitter

by Andrew R. Miller
(Fredericton, NB, Canada)

Picaroon's Best Bitter from New Brunswick

My Friend Joe Blades and I review this New Brunswick Staple on tap at the Windsor Castle Bar at Alden Nowlan House, Fredericton.

Picaroons has been brewing in Fredericton since about 1995. I've been enjoying their ales continuously since then! Since this brewery is generally devoted to ales of the English tradition I believe their flagship brew would be Picaroon's Best bitter.

Picaroons uses imported English Malt (It would be nice to find a Canadian substitute, at least making an attempt to conform to the "100 Mile Diet" or at least this brewery's own edict "Think Global, Drink Local"); Mt. Hood, Tettnang, Cascade, Willamette hops, Ringwood yeast and local well water.

This is what I would call a slightly new-world version of a basic English bitter: like the traditional draught you might find in many UK pubs, but with a hint of North American high performance.

Upon first impression it seems dark for this style of ale. However, when you hold it up to light it is actually very clear, with a pleasant hue of mahogany.

On other occasions I have noticed some aroma but today don't seem to detect much nose.

There is a wonderful soft initial texture with a slight bit of creaminess. Today there is very little carbonation. This is not a dense ale, nor is it too watery. There are notes of vanilla and sasparilla present. Initially there doesn't seem to be a lot of sugar taste, but there is a rather long finish of subtle sweetness.