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Kingsdown

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Ripe fruit on the nose and a traditional bitterness underneath, wrapped in a rich colour: Kingsdown is a fruity dark ale named after Upper Stratton, the part of Swindon where the brewery stands. At 5% it is one of the regular bottled beers Arkell's lists next to 3B, Moonlight and Wiltshire Gold.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Clean, dry bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitydark fruitmalty
fruity
dark fruit
malty
toasty
nutty
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with ripe stone fruit and dark berry notes, offering a fruity introduction that sits comfortably above a traditional, gentle hop bitterness.
also:bready
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kingsdown

◎ Appearance

Deep amber-brown with a rich, full colour that catches light with a warm glow. The head forms with moderate density and holds reasonably well, leaving fine lacing on the glass. Clarity is good, with the beer presenting a clean, inviting appearance.

deep amber-brownmoderate head retentionclean and bright

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with ripe stone fruit and dark berry notes, offering a fruity introduction that sits comfortably above a traditional, gentle hop bitterness. Beneath the fruit, subtle toasted and nutty undertones emerge, with a hint of caramel sweetness that suggests careful Malz selection and treatment.

ripe dark fruittoasted malt notestraditional hop character

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malty, with the fruit character following through on the palate in a balanced, integrated way. Mid-palate reveals layers of caramel and subtle nuttiness, while a measured bitterness builds steadily without overwhelming. The 24 IBUs provide authentic structure without harshness, allowing the rich, dark Malz base to remain prominent.

fruity and balancedclean bitternesssmooth malt base

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length, with the bitterness lingering gently alongside fading fruit and a dry, toasty aftertaste. The beer closes with a pleasant warming sensation appropriate to its 5% strength.

medium dry finishtoasty aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
80
Appearance
75
Finish
74
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 Kingsdown

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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 fruity, bitter, dark fruit character as Kingsdown will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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