Here are a couple of bottle-conditioned beers from Wells & Young’s that are worth trying.
Young’s Bitter (4.5%). The cask version of this beer is a very pleasant 3.7% session beer (see A bit of a pickle). The bottled version – a bit stronger – is also very pleasant. It has a slightly sweet smell and initial taste, and it takes a while for the bitterness to kick in. It’s a light, uncomplicated beer. The bottle notes claim it is perfect with bangers and mash or roast beef, but I drank it on its own.
Young’s Special London Ale (6.4%). Although bottle-conditioned, and quite strong, it didn’t seem to have any sediment, and poured very clear. It has a hoppy smell and a fruity flavour – and not as sweet as I expected it to be – quite bitter, in fact, which was s very nice surprise as I don’t go much on strong sweet beers. The bottle notes claim it is “perfect with cured hams or smoked salmon”, but I found that it went well with some Lindt dark chocolate.