Beers similar to Hicks

Scottish Ale·United Kingdom·5% ABV·One of 23 Scottish Ales in hopIQ·

hopIQ found 10 beers that share Hicks's caramel and malty character. Toffee and raisin greet the nose, then layers of fruity biscuit and dried fruit fill a full-bodied palate, with bitter hops and a robust finish. It pours dark ruby from Maris Otter, crystal and black malt, with Progress and Golding hops. Hicks carries the name of the brewery's founder, Walter Hicks, and as a traditional strong ale at 5% it turned 50 in 2025.

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

full-bodiedfruitycaramel

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10 beers like Hicks

Boréale Cuivrée

Les Brasseurs du Nord

Canada · Scottish Ale · 6.9%

ALTERNATIVE

77%

FLAVOUR MATCH

A touch more sweetness, noticeably less bitter, no fruit notes — fullness and dark fruit notes as with Hicks.

What carries overfull-bodiedcaramelbittermaltydark fruit

Structure: less bitter, a notch stronger

Compared to Hickssweetboozyfruityroasted

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

Structure: less bitter, a notch stronger

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Old Timer

Wadworth

United Kingdom · Old Ale · 5.8%

ALTERNATIVE

73%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Like Hicks on fullness and dark fruit notes — adds dryness, fuller-bodied, but without the fruit notes.

What carries overfull-bodiedcaramelbittermaltydark fruit

Structure: a touch fuller, sweeter

Compared to Hicksdryboozyfruitybready

Structure: Very close — a touch more body, a touch more sweetness.

Structure: a touch fuller, sweeter

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Dark Side of the Moose

Purple Moose Brewery

United Kingdom · Brown Ale · 4.6%

ALTERNATIVE

73%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Mirrors Hicks's fruit notes and bitterness — plus nutty notes, noticeably less bitter, minus toasty notes.

What carries overfull-bodiedmaltyroastedfruitycaramel

Structure: less bitter

Compared to Hicksnuttytoasty

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

Structure: less bitter

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Belhaven Scottish Ale

Belhaven Brewery

United Kingdom · Scottish Ale · 5.2%

73%

MATCH

Same bread notes and bitterness as Hicks, adds herbal notes, noticeably less bitter, but without the fullness.

Structure: less bitter

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Yabai Yabai Strong Scotch Ale

Baird Brewing Company

Japan · Scottish Ale · 8%

73%

MATCH

As with Hicks, same fullness and roasted notes; adds booziness, fuller-bodied, no fruit notes.

Structure: a touch fuller, a notch stronger

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The Smoked Brown

Anspach & Hobday

United Kingdom · Brown Ale · 5.5%

72%

MATCH

Alongside Hicks on dark fruit notes and roasted notes: adds smokiness, noticeably less bitter, drops fruit notes.

Structure: less bitter

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Lowlander

Tempest Brewing Co

United Kingdom · Scottish Ale · 4.4%

72%

MATCH

Shares dark fruit notes and bread notes with Hicks; adds dryness, noticeably less bitter, but drops fruit notes.

Structure: less bitter

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Odell 90 Shilling

Odell Brewing Company

United States · Scottish Ale · 5.3%

71%

MATCH

Keeps bitterness and richness like Hicks, adds sweetness, noticeably less bitter, drops fruit notes.

Structure: less bitter

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Back Country Scottish Ale

Lewis & Clark Brewing Company

United States · Scottish Ale · 5.8%

70%

MATCH

Less bitter — same roasted notes and richness as Hicks, adds smokiness, noticeably less bitter, but without the fruit notes.

Structure: less bitter, a notch stronger

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The Gloaming

Loch Lomond Brewery

United Kingdom · Scottish Ale · 4.4%

70%

MATCH

Less bitter — same roasted notes and bread notes as Hicks, adds sweetness, noticeably less bitter, but without the fruit notes.

Structure: less bitter

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