It can be difficult to review a classic. Most of those reading this will have tried Broadside and the majority of those will have a strong opinion about it as a beer. For me it is an excellent example of the genre 'English Strong Ale'. It has a delightfully fruity, malty flavor, but the fruit doesn't overwhelm the malt and vice-versa. It has clearly been delicately hopped for balance and dryness, as, for a strong beer (6.3%) it's not overly sweet and certainly avoids being syrupy. That having been said, the balance comes across the length of the flavor, with the initial impression more of a sweet caramel and the aftertaste more dry and bitter. This evolution is quite pleasant and adds to the interest in drinking each mouthful. It is also a beer that, having had it any number of times over the years, never disappoints and this is certainly worthy of consideration. If it has a downside, it is that it lacks the exceptional. No one flavor or characteristic stands it apart from other English Strong Ales, and this is perhaps its barrier to greatness. 7.5/10
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