Rsp: £1.99
Market size: £180m
The competition: Old Speckled Hen, Spitfire, Pedigree
The consumer
I love ale and am very open to trying many types. Suffolk Springer has classic packaging and looks good quality but as many ales have quirky labels, it could struggle to stand out. It's a dark colour and I wasn't expecting it to be so smooth. The taste was a very pleasant surprise and reminded me of fruitcake. The ale looks silky and shouts quality. It felt full but without a harsh aftertaste. It would go very well with a Sunday roast or sausage and mash. Four stars (out of five)
Richard Strehlau, mechanical engineer, Southampton
The retailer
Although 6% abv, Suffolk Springer is a blend of strong beer of about 12% with a much lighter ale. This gives quite a full body while retaining some freshness of character. There was good intensity of flavour with fruitcake, toffee and coffee notes and decent length to the finish. The attractive labels carry a nice story behind the name, although the tasting note is lost. A well-crafted product and a long-term rival for Greene King's Strong Suffolk Ale. Four stars
Henry Moran, trading manager, Musgrave Retail Partners
With its reddish clear glass bottle and appealing label, Suffolk Springer should stand out. I wasn't impressed by the back-of-bottle labelling, though. I don't care about its connection with Newmarket Races, so it would have been better to flag up its birth from a blend. The taste is surprisingly light for such a dark ale with a 6% abv it is well balanced with citrus and caramel notes. Unlikely to bring in converts but should appeal to premium ale fans. Four stars
Alex Black, features editor
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