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Oak - Oaked Bitter

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Oak is an oaked bitter brewed in July 2026 for the 20th birthday of The Rake, the small beer bar behind Borough Market that has championed Anspach & Hobday from the start. Toasted oak, vanilla, marshmallow and woody spice meet the caramel and toffee of crystal malt, and the sweet, woody, malty character carries onto the palate. A touch of tannin gives structure and balances the malt against the hop bitterness from Admiral, Ernest and Bramling Cross.

ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
oakvanillacaramel
oak
vanilla
caramel
malty
toasty
spicy
Aroma
Toasted oak and vanilla lead the nose, joined by subtle marshmallow and woody spice character.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Oak - Oaked Bitter

◎ Appearance

Oak presents a deep amber to light copper hue, reflecting its moderate crystal malt bill and oak influence. The beer shows good clarity with a creamy, persistent head that leaves distinct lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting a soft, inviting visual presence.

deep amberclearcreamy headgood lacing

◌ Aroma

Toasted oak and vanilla lead the nose, joined by subtle marshmallow and woody spice character. Beneath these wood-derived notes, warm caramel and toffee from crystal malt emerge, creating a rounded malty foundation. A gentle herbal and woody note from Admiral and Bramling Cross hops provides balance without dominating the bouquet.

toasted oakvanillacaramelwoody spice

◐ Taste

The palate opens with soft malt sweetness—caramel and toffee flavours with a marshmallow smoothness—before mid-palate tannin structure becomes apparent from the oak. Admiral, Ernest and Bramling Cross bitterness integrates gradually, offering a herbal, woody character that complements rather than overwhelms the malt. The finish carries the sweet, woody, malty profile forward with a balanced interplay between wood tannin and hop bitterness.

malt sweetnessoak tanninbalanced bitternesswoody finish

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length, with lingering caramel, toffee and woody notes tapering gradually. A light, pleasant tannin dryness persists, leaving a warm, structured aftertaste that invites another sip.

medium lengthwoody drynesstannin grip
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
80
Appearance
76
Finish
75
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 Oak - Oaked 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 oak, vanilla, caramel character as Oak - Oaked Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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