Hillside Brewery – Legless Cow

Hillside Brewery is a small, independent brewery based in Longhope in the Gloucestershire countryside — the kind of rural English setting that produces beers with a certain unhurried character. Legless Cow is one of their most popular ales and the name is, of course, exactly the kind of cheerful British pub humour that makes you pick something up off the shelf without knowing much else about it. The beer itself turns out to be a very solid reason to keep picking it up.

Tasting Notes

Legless Cow pours an attractive amber-copper colour with a creamy off-white head. The nose is malty and inviting — biscuit, a hint of toffee, and some earthy hop character that keeps it grounded. On the palate it’s smooth and well-balanced: the malt is the dominant note, with caramel and biscuit flavours, a gentle hop bitterness through the middle, and a clean, dry finish. It’s medium-bodied and very easy to drink without being thin or boring.

Verdict

Legless Cow is exactly the kind of dependable English country ale that you’d be delighted to find on cask in a good country pub. Serve at cellar temperature in a pint glass and let it breathe. It pairs perfectly with pub food — a proper ploughman’s, a steak and ale pie, or a Sunday roast. Hillside are a brewery worth knowing about, and Legless Cow is an excellent starting point.