A silky-smooth premium ale, Horndean Special Bitter was originally the flagship beer of Gales Brewery in Hampshire. First launched in 1959, it's still brewed with the same passion and pride today – and the age-old recipe continues to go down a storm
Challenger, Fuggles and Goldings
Pale, Crystal Light, and Chocolate
Overall rating: 4.790979 / 5 from 909 reviews.
Gale's HSB 500ml Bottle is a premium ale praised for its great taste, smooth finish, and deep amber color. Customers enjoy its balanced bitterness and recommend it for various occasions. However, opinions vary on delivery and the bottle itself.
Review topics: [size, quality, delivery, colour, style, feel, value, service, finish, strength, balance, price, water, husband, case, order, depth, texture, summer, beer, staff, weather, ale, taste, brew, pint, drink, fullers, bottle, bitterness].
"Have reviewed previously but nothing changes with the quality of this premium English ale. Still tastes great, maybe not quite as good as the draught version but pretty close to it and so pleased that Fullers have been selling this by the bottle now after a long wait. Top notch👍"
"Lovely ale . Bottles are well appreciated after a hot day in the sun. Local pub has it on draught too. Been a fan for 4 decades 🎉🎉🎉🎉"
"500ml brown glass bottle. Clear, dark ruby red colour with one finger of off-white head. Black cherry, damson, raisin, very fruity with a lovely tangy aftertaste - gently bitter. Full bodied, smooth and dry. A proper English Bitter and now one of my favourites from Fullers"
"I know there are always different views on how much better HSB, made at the Gales Horndean brewery was 'back in the day', but I still think 'current day' HSB is blooming lovely compared to other modern day ales !! And the Fullers regular offers make the price very competitive compared to the shops, albeit you need to order enough to cover the postage, which is fine, because I end up with more bottles !!"
"I have really enjoyed drinking the Gales HSB its a really old school bitter bursting with flavour and you can really taste the quality. On pouring you get a really well presented beer with a lovely head retention overall its a fantastic beer."
"Every time HSB is on sale I always grab some for my grandad as it’s always been his favourite pint! As always he loved the birthday gift! Delicious beer as always! 🍻"
"This perfectly balanced ruby ale is a firm favourite of mine for more years than I care to remember. With plenty of body and a lasting aftertaste This beer will keep you coming back for more."
"A very pleasant aroma on removing the cap. Beautiful rich colour, full of promise. Ingredients: Water,malted barley and hops : absolutely no unwanted adjuncts to save on the cost of malt! I find the aftertaste is long lasting and extremely pleasurable. A wonderful beer to share with friends over conversation or even,^ as now, gently relaxing in solitude after 2 hours graft in the garden. A wonderful beer. Sadly not available in any Sheffield pub in case form"
"I don’t know because it still Hasn’t been delivered. Yet another experience of poor delivery. DHL I feel they are victimising me because I are a compliant to DHL. App they are delivering on the next working day but I have lost all faith in the local depot."
"A nice pint, but lacking in depth of flavour. Reading the description I was expecting more. Bought some Red Fox at the same time, a much fuller flavour beer."
