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Anchor Bitter

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Anchor Bitter is a chestnut coloured British ale of 4.0% from Cliff Quay. The aroma is fruity with a citrus edge, and the palate brings more fruit with a hint of roasted malt. A bitter-sweet balance holds the flavours together through to the finish. The beer has been part of the Cliff Quay line-up since the early years in Ipswich and still appears on cask in East Anglia.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber10
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitycitrusyroasted
fruity
citrusy
roasted
malty
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with earthy, herbal English hop character — restrained and refined rather than assertive.
not found:hoppy,bready,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Anchor Bitter

◎ Appearance

Pale amber to light copper in color, with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate and even, typical of a well-conditioned cask ale. The beer presents a clean, inviting visual profile.

pale amberclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with earthy, herbal English hop character — restrained and refined rather than assertive. Beneath lies a clean Malz foundation with biscuity, bready undertones. A light mineral quality rounds out the bouquet, with no dominant fruit or yeast esters.

earthy hopsbiscuitmineralclean Malz

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with bright hop bitterness balanced by a gentle Malz sweetness that doesn't linger. The mid-palate develops earthy, herbal hop notes alongside a light, slightly grainy character. Finish is dry and clean, with a persistent but measured bitterness that invites the next sip.

balanced hop bitternesslight Malzdry finishsessionable

◑ Finish

The aftertaste fades cleanly with a gentle earthy hop impression and mineral dryness. A true session beer that leaves no heaviness or cloying residue.

clean dryingmineral aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°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 Anchor Bitter

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About Ordinary Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ordinary Bitter?

Ordinary Bitter 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 Ordinary Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, bitter, sweet character as Anchor Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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