hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Alexander Keith's Dark Ale

Alexander Keith's Brewery
Canada·Brown Ale
Tap to rate

Alexander Keith's Dark Ale is a Canadian classic from Halifax's historic Alexander Keith's Brewery, established in 1820. This approachable dark ale presents a deep amber to brown appearance with a subtle, grainy aroma and hints of roasted malt. The flavor profile is smooth and malty with delicate caramel notes, a light roasted character, and a clean, dry finish that avoids heaviness despite its darker color—making it an exceptionally drinkable session-style dark ale.

ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber18
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltyroastedcaramel
malty
roasted
caramel
chocolate
dark fruit
coffee
Aroma
The nose leads with grainy Malz character and subtle roasted undertones that avoid harshness.
also:bready,nutty,clean
not found:hoppy,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Alexander Keith's Dark Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to brown with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that adheres evenly to the glass. The color shows the characteristic depth of a session-style dark ale without opacity. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, presenting a clean visual profile.

deep amber-brownclearfine head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with grainy Malz character and subtle roasted undertones that avoid harshness. Hints of caramel sweetness emerge alongside delicate dark-fruit esters. The overall impression is restrained and approachable, with no aggressive hop or yeast notes dominating.

grainy maltsoft roastcaramel hints

◐ Taste

Malty and smooth on entry, with pronounced caramel and light roasted-malt flavors building through the mid-palate. Chocolate and subtle coffee notes provide depth without bitterness; the low IBU (24) allows sweetness to persist without cloying. A balanced, drinkable character prevails, with gentle dark-fruit undertones and a bready quality adding complexity.

malty-sweetchocolate, caramelclean, dry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and clean, shedding residual sweetness with grace and leaving no heaviness on the palate. Aftertaste is brief and unobtrusive, with faint roasted-malt whispers fading quickly.

dryclean exit
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
80
Appearance
78
Finish
76
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Alexander Keith's Dark Ale

More from Alexander Keith's

?
Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale
?
?
?

About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

Brown Ale 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 Brown Ale

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

Other Brown Ales in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →