Timothy Taylor
Timothy Taylor Landlord
The pale, hop-forward Yorkshire bitter most often named by British brewers when asked what a well-made cask beer should taste like.
- Strength
- 4.1–4.3% ABV
- Style
- Strong bitter
- Brewery
- Timothy Taylor
Also called Landlord.
Landlord is repeatedly named by British drinkers and brewers as the best cask bitter in the country, and the reason is balance rather than intensity. Pale, dry and floral, with an unusually complex hop character over a light biscuit malt base — it is a 4.3% beer that rewards attention.
It is also notoriously difficult to keep. Landlord needs a well-run cellar and a fast turnover to show what it is, which is why the same beer can be revelatory in one pub and ordinary in another.
What it tastes like
This beer differs from a typical strong bitter, so the profile below describes the product rather than the category. BeerHQ’s comparative scale, not a measurement.
Why BeerHQ carries this beer
| Reason | Carried as a reference example of its style |
|---|---|
| Strength | 4.1–4.3% ABV — checked 2026-08-16. Strengths differ by market and change without announcement, so this is dated rather than absolute. |
| Record stability | Stable — this product has changed little and is not expected to. |
BeerHQ records no recipe, hop bill, malt bill, yeast strain, IBU or calorie figure for any commercial beer unless it is sourced. Nothing on this page is inferred from what the beer tastes like.
What is distinctive about it
- Pale and hop-led where most best bitters are malt-led
- Fermented in Yorkshire squares, which shapes its yeast character
- Widely regarded as demanding of cellarmanship — poorly kept examples are noticeably worse than the beer deserves
If you like Timothy Taylor Landlord
Worked out from what this beer actually tastes like rather than from what its style typically does. Three kinds of move, because “what should I try next” is three different questions.
Closest to it
Very similar in structure and flavour. Safe ground rather than discovery.
English pale ale — try Bass Pale Ale
A close structural match for Timothy Taylor Landlord — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly more herbal (low → moderate).
May not suit: Very close to Timothy Taylor Landlord; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Ordinary bitter — try Greene King IPA or Adnams Southwold Bitter
A close structural match for Timothy Taylor Landlord — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less hop aroma (moderate → low).
May not suit: Very close to Timothy Taylor Landlord; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Best bitter — try Fuller's London Pride or Marston's Pedigree
A close structural match for Timothy Taylor Landlord — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less hop aroma (moderate → low).
May not suit: Very close to Timothy Taylor Landlord; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Similar, but different
Keeps what you probably like about it and changes one or two things. Usually the most useful answer.
Belgian pale ale — try Orval or Pauwel Kwak
Keeps most of what Timothy Taylor Landlord does and shifts dryness.
Different: noticeably less dryness (moderate → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less dryness than Timothy Taylor Landlord.
English IPA — try Thornbridge Jaipur or St Austell Proper Job
Keeps most of what Timothy Taylor Landlord does and shifts bitterness.
Different: slightly more bitterness (moderate → high).
May not suit: Very close to Timothy Taylor Landlord; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Irish red ale — try Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale
Keeps most of what Timothy Taylor Landlord does and shifts hop aroma.
Different: noticeably less hop aroma (moderate → trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less hop aroma than Timothy Taylor Landlord.
A bigger jump
Genuinely different, but connected by something specific — the shared trait is named so you can judge whether the bridge holds.
Kellerbier — try Mahrs Bräu Ungespundet
Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Timothy Taylor Landlord.
Different: slightly less nutty (low → none–trace).
May not suit: Very close to Timothy Taylor Landlord; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Vienna lager — try Samuel Adams Boston Lager or Brooklyn Lager
Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Timothy Taylor Landlord.
Different: slightly more carbonation (trace–low → moderate).
May not suit: Very close to Timothy Taylor Landlord; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
California Common — try Anchor Steam Beer
Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Timothy Taylor Landlord.
Different: slightly more carbonation (trace–low → moderate).
May not suit: Very close to Timothy Taylor Landlord; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Likely fits rather than promises. Taste varies, and a recommendation engine that claims certainty is claiming something it cannot know.
What to eat with it
Inherited from Strong bitter. BeerHQ does not duplicate pairings onto individual products unless the product genuinely differs from its style.
- Adobo
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
- Smørrebrød
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
- Bánh mì
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
- Ham
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Keeping it
Strong bitter shows best within 1–4 months of packaging. After that it declines in quality rather than becoming unsafe.
Drink fresh. Buy it as young as you can and drink it soon. What makes this beer worth drinking is the first thing to leave it.
Derived from Strong bitter. See storage and freshness for the full model.
BeerHQ carries a small set of reference beers to anchor styles, not a catalogue. There is no rating here and there will not be one. Last reviewed 2026-08-16.