>>Interestingly, one of my favourite bitters over here is HSB, of an originally Hampshire brewery, Gales (which has recently been taken over by Fullers). The Gales brewery was at Butser Hill, and one of their brews is BBB - Best Butser Bitter. I wonder if the Boston Brewery company pinched the reicpe/name/idea.
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>For all of the lurkers on this side of the pond, "bitters" is "pale ale".

Well, actually, it's just called "bitter", as in "a pint of ...". Yes, sort of pale ale but that only comes in bottles, whereas bitter is on draught.

>BTW this is one of my favorite types a bear. I reach for it by default. Though right now I'm drinking a Shaftebury Black and Tan. Yup... pre-blended beer.

Black & Tan is Guinness (or, I guess, any "milk stout") with, dep. on person, mild or bitter
Mild is almost black, but not like Guinness, and can be quites sweet.