Beers similar to Joseph Holt Bitter

Ordinary Bitter·United Kingdom·4% ABV·One of 55 Ordinary Bitters in hopIQ·

hopIQ found 10 beers that share Joseph Holt Bitter's bitter and dry character. Big bitterness, biting but balanced, sits on a dry malt base with light caramel and malty notes and punchy, earthy hops; the finish is silky smooth. The cask recipe dates to 1849, brewed with the same ingredients and method, and with a yeast strain that has been re-grown ever since. At 4.0% ABV, Bitter took gold at the 2026 International Brewing Awards.

Similar beers ranked by flavour match rather than popularity.Similar beers ranked by flavour, not popularity.

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10 beers like Joseph Holt Bitter

Forward's Choice

Harvey's Brewery

United Kingdom · Ordinary Bitter · 3.4%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

91%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Mirrors Joseph Holt's earthy notes and hop character, plus toasty notes, noticeably less bitter.

What carries overbitterdrysmoothearthymalty

Structure: less bitter, a notch softer

Compared to Joseph Holttoastyfloral

Structure: Very close — a touch less bitterness, a touch more sweetness.

Structure: less bitter, a notch softer

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Portland Poster

Hall & Woodhouse

United Kingdom · Ordinary Bitter · 3.4%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

83%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Keeps earthy notes and malt character like Joseph Holt, adds noticeably less bitter, drops dryness.

What carries overbitterearthysmoothmaltyhoppy

Structure: less bitter, a notch softer

Compared to Joseph Holtlightsmooth-drinkingrefreshingdry

Structure: Very close — a touch less bitterness, a touch more sweetness.

Structure: less bitter, a notch softer

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Black Sheep Ale

Black Sheep Brewery

United Kingdom · Amber Ale · 4.4%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

82%

FLAVOUR MATCH

A touch more orange notes, fuller-bodied — earthy notes and hop character as with Joseph Holt.

What carries overbitterdrymaltysmoothearthy

Structure: a touch fuller, less bitter

Compared to Joseph Holtorangefruitydark fruit

Structure: Very close — a touch more body, a touch less bitterness.

Structure: a touch fuller, less bitter

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My Wife's Bitter

Burleigh Brewing Company

Australia · Extra Special Bitter · 5.3%

82%

MATCH

Alongside Joseph Holt on earthy notes and malt character: adds nutty notes, a notch stronger.

Structure: a notch stronger

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Master Brew

Shepherd Neame

United Kingdom · Ordinary Bitter · 4%

80%

MATCH

Shares hop character and malt character with Joseph Holt; adds herbal notes, but drops earthy notes.

Structure: very close

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Furious Gnome

Wayward Brewing Co.

Australia · Extra Special Bitter · 5.6%

79%

MATCH

Same earthy notes and malt character as Joseph Holt, adds dark fruit notes, a notch stronger.

Structure: a notch stronger

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Northern Pub Ale

Yukon Brewing

Canada · Extra Special Bitter · 5%

77%

MATCH

As with Joseph Holt, same earthy notes and malt character, plus toasty notes, a notch stronger.

Structure: a notch stronger

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Black Sheep Best Bitter

Black Sheep Brewery

United Kingdom · Best Bitter · 3.8%

77%

MATCH

Like Joseph Holt on earthy notes and hop character — adds grass notes, lighter-bodied, but without the dryness.

Structure: a touch lighter, less bitter

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Butcombe Original

Butcombe Brewing Co.

United Kingdom · Ordinary Bitter · 4%

77%

MATCH

Less bitter — same hop character and malt character as Joseph Holt, adds spiciness, noticeably less bitter, but without the earthy notes.

Structure: less bitter

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Tetley's Original Bitter

Marston's Brewery

United Kingdom · Ordinary Bitter · 3.6%

77%

MATCH

Less bitter — same hop character and caramel notes as Joseph Holt, adds sweetness, noticeably less bitter, but without the earthy notes.

Structure: less bitter

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