Top of the evening to everyone. This week, we will be featuring beers of the United Kingdom. As you read in last week’s blog, IPAs hail from the UK, but the UK also provided the world with two other important beer varieties, Bitters (also called pale ales) and the infamous Stout.  These two styles could not be more different, but pint by pint have found their way around the world. Stouts, such as Guinness, are using heavily roasted malts to produce a beer so dark, light typically does not pass through them. Many people associate them with coffee flavors, but that is because the malts are roasted for an extended length of time just like coffee.  They are also going to be thicker than the typical pale ale or lager. On the opposite end of the spectrum are bitters. This style is known for its golden color, high drinkability, and typically low alcohol content of about 4-6%. We will be highlighting this style of beer this week with Old Speckled Hen. This beer has more of an amber color to it than the typical golden color associated with the style, but the taste is completely appropriate. Up front, it is very malty and sweet, but finishes dry with very little residual aftertaste. It weighs in at only 3.5% abv, but is perfect for drinking while watching the games on the weekend, or for eating some fish and chips. If you are unfamiliar with a proper British pint, come on in this weekend and give them whirl at the tasting, you won’t be disappointed.