Beers similar to Special Ale

Belgian Pale Ale·Italy·6% ABV·One of 28 Belgian Pale Ales in hopIQ·

hopIQ found 10 beers that share Special Ale's dark-fruity and malty character. Bruno Ribadi's most unique beer — medium-bodied and enveloping, brewed with Pantelleria sultana raisins and toasted carob. The raisins bring sweetness and dried fruit complexity; the carob adds a distinctive bitter-chocolate note unique to Sicilian cuisine. One of Italy's most original terroir beers.

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

sweetdark fruitrich

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HooDoo Belgian Pale Ale

10 beers like Special Ale

Black Sheep Riggwelter

Black Sheep Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 5.9%

WORTH A TRY

69%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Keeps sweetness and chocolate notes like Special Ale, adds roasted notes, softer carbonation, drops richness.

What carries oversweetdark fruitchocolatespicybitter

Structure: softer

Compared to Special Aleroastedcoffeeearthyrichcaramel

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

Structure: softer

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Theresianer Strong Ale

Theresianer Antica Birreria di Trieste

Italy · English Strong Ale · 8.5%

WORTH A TRY

67%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Mirrors Special Ale's richness and chocolate notes — plus roasted notes, softer carbonation, minus sweetness.

What carries overrichdark fruitchocolatecaramelmalty

Structure: softer, a touch fuller

Compared to Special Aleroastedcoffeeboozysweetbitter

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

Structure: softer, a touch fuller

View beer Alternatives to Theresianer Strong Ale

Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale

Cigar City Brewing

United States · Brown Ale · 5.4%

WORTH A TRY

64%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Like Special Ale on richness and sweetness — adds fullness, softer carbonation, but without the dark fruit notes.

What carries overrichsweetmaltychocolatecaramel

Structure: softer

Compared to Special Alefull-bodiedtoastyearthydark fruitbitter

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

Structure: softer

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Noire de Chambly

Unibroue

Canada · Belgian Dark Ale · 6.2%

63%

MATCH

As with Special Ale, same chocolate notes and caramel notes; adds banana notes, no sweetness.

Structure: very close

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Black Sheep Ale

Black Sheep Brewery

United Kingdom · Amber Ale · 4.4%

63%

MATCH

Same caramel notes and bitterness as Special Ale, adds orange notes, softer carbonation, but without the sweetness.

Structure: softer, a notch softer

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Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

United States · Pumpkin Sour Ale (Cacao, Oak-Aged) · 6.2%

62%

MATCH

Shares richness and sweetness with Special Ale; adds oak notes, drier, but drops caramel notes.

Structure: drier, a touch lighter

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Jackie O's Chomolungma

Jackie O's Pub & Brewery

United States · American Brown Ale · 6.5%

62%

MATCH

Alongside Special Ale on richness and caramel notes: adds nutty notes, softer carbonation, drops sweetness.

Structure: softer

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L'Una Rossa

Opperbacco

Italy · Belgian Amber Ale · 7%

62%

MATCH

A touch more yeast character, a notch stronger, no sweetness — richness and caramel notes as with Special Ale.

Structure: a notch stronger

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Corsendonk Pater

Brouwerij Corsendonk

Belgium · Belgian Dubbel · 7.3%

62%

MATCH

Fuller — same richness and sweetness as Special Ale, adds fullness, fuller-bodied, but without the chocolate notes.

Structure: a touch fuller, a notch stronger

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Printshop Baker Creek

Printshop Beer Co.

United States · American Brown Ale · 5.5%

62%

MATCH

Softer — same richness and chocolate notes as Special Ale, adds nutty notes, softer carbonation, but without the sweetness.

Structure: softer

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