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Draught Bass

United Kingdom·Best Bitter
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Once Britain's best-selling premium cask ale, Draught Bass greets the nose with malt, fruit and a nutty note, then finishes bittersweet. The red triangle on its hand-pump badges is Britain's first registered trademark, and fans have marked Drink Bass Day every April to nudge pubs into stocking it.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltynuttyfruity
malty
nutty
fruity
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced malt character, displaying toasted grain and a distinctive nutty undertone that anchors the profile.
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Draught Bass

◎ Appearance

Draught Bass presents a deep amber to copper hue, transparent and bright under light. The head forms readily and clings to the glass with steady retention, displaying fine Schaumkleiden down the sides. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, lending a soft effervescence without excessive aggression.

deep amberbright claritypersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced malt character, displaying toasted grain and a distinctive nutty undertone that anchors the profile. Soft fruity esters emerge—suggestions of orchard fruit and dried apricot—while a gentle herbal spice from the Edelhopfen provides subtle backbone without dominating the bouquet.

nutty maltorchard fruit esterstoasted grainsoft herbal spice

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malty, with caramel sweetness establishing itself on the mid-palate before a restrained bitterness emerges cleanly. The nutty character persists throughout, balancing the residual sweetness with pleasant earthiness. Body is light to medium, allowing the malt and noble hop character to speak without heaviness.

smooth malt entrycaramel sweetnessnutty backbonerestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is bittersweet and medium in length, fading gracefully into a dry, slightly astringent aftertaste. The nutty note lingers gently, leaving the palate refreshed rather than fatigued.

bittersweet finishmedium lengthgentle nuttiness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
79
Appearance
77
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 Draught Bass

About Best Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Best Bitter?

Best 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 Best Bitter

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

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