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Adnams Old Ale

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A dark red-brown winter beer based on one of the brewery's oldest recipes, dating from 1890. In style it sits close to a mild, so malt leads and hops stay in the background: caramel and nutty chocolate on the nose, the same on the palate with liquorice, red fruit and a touch of roasted grain. East Anglian pale ale and crystal malt are hopped with First Gold, and a smooth bitterness closes it. Brewed in the colder months.

ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2020
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Anglia)
Old Ales/Strong Milds
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Anglia) (Old Ales/Strong Milds)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelnuttymalty
caramel
nutty
malty
chocolate
dark fruit
roasted
Aroma
Malt dominates the nose with caramel and roasted grain notes backed by subtle nuttiness and chocolate character.
also:clean
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Adnams Old Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep red-brown color with substantial clarity and a dense, persistent head that clings to the glass. Moderate carbonation supports fine Schaumhaftung throughout the drinking experience. The color reflects the generous use of crystal and roasted malts characteristic of the style.

deep red-browncleardense headpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

Malt dominates the nose with caramel and roasted grain notes backed by subtle nuttiness and chocolate character. First Gold hops add a restrained herbal and floral undertone, never aggressive. Slight liquorice and dried red fruit notes emerge on closer inspection, grounding the profile in traditional English ale tradition.

caramel, nuttyroasted grainchocolate undertonesrestrained hops

◐ Taste

Sweet malt entry carries toffee and caramel across the palate, supported by chocolate and liquorice development. Red fruit and subtle roasted grain appear mid-palate, creating complexity without heaviness at 4.1% ABV. A smooth, refined bitterness closes cleanly, allowing the malt character to dominate while hops provide structure rather than assertion.

sweet malttoffee, liquoriceroasted finishsmooth bitterness

◑ Finish

Medium-length finish with lingering caramel and chocolate notes that gradually fade. A dry, gentle bitterness persists without harshness, leaving the palate clean and inviting another sip.

medium-lengthcaramel aftertastedry close
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
78
Finish
77
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Adnams Old Ale

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About Dark Mild

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dark Mild?

Dark Mild is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Dark Mild

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, nutty, malty character as Adnams Old Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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