Gibraltar Barbary Beer is a Best Bitter brewed by Bushy’s, and for the purposes of this craft beer review, the ale was served in a nonic pint glass from a bottle.

Appearance

The ale pours a crystal clear copper and is topped by an inch-thick cap of dense, mousse-like off-white foam that shows modest retention. The reduction leaves a thin film on the sides and a soapy ring around the glass.

Aroma

The aroma has a pleasant scent of toasted bread.

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Flavor

Bitterness is mild but its hop-forward palate begins with an earthy and herbal character. Malt takes over from there with flavors of biscuit and a light caramel. The finish is again mildly bitter with a brief pop of lemon and an earthy note of black tea.

Mouthfeel

Its feel is smooth with a medium body and low carbonation. Finishes somewhat dryly.

Overall

The Gibraltar Barbary Beer meets the expectations of the style. Perhaps its feel could be a little dryer but otherwise, its appearance, aroma, and palate are well represented. Taste leans bitter but there’s more than enough malt for balance.

This may not be a remarkable brew, but should you travel to Gibraltar, this beer is worth a look.

Hops Grown on Gibraltar

Freshwater is scarce on Gibraltar and therefore it’s very difficult to produce any of the ingredients necessary to brew a beer. But Martin Brunnschweiler, the brewmaster behind Bushy’s has worked hard to find a few spots on the Rock to grow hops. And it’s those hops that are used in this beer. This Bitter, however, is actually brewed far away by Bushy’s on the Isle of Man.