Brewery: Fuller’s
Location: London, England
ABV: 3.5%
Version: Draught
Source: The Red Lion, Duke of York St, London

After our company conference last week, which was held at BAFTA HQ in Piccadilly, a gang of us trooped round the corner to the Red Lion on Duke of York St for a swift half on the way to the after-conference meal. Perusing the selection of all-Fuller’s pumps, I opted for a pint of Chiswick Bitter on the grounds that I’d never tried it before.

And I’ll never try it again, I can promise you. It was bodiless, headless and tasted of little more than vaguely hop-flavoured water. I can only guess that Fuller’s must have done terrible things to the recipe since this stuff won the Great British Beer Festival Beer of the Year award back in 1989. Either that or the staff at The Red Lion are in need of urgent beer-care training.

I should have stuck to the London Pride or ESB. I’ll know better next time.