hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Triple XB (XXXB)

Tap to rate

Tawny, with a peppery aroma and a fruity, biscuity flavour on a lush, balanced malt body. Maris Otter, crystal, wheat and pale chocolate malts meet Goldings, spicy Challenger and floral Bobek hops. Head brewer Ken Dixon introduced it in 1977, and it became a best-seller. It took Bronze in the Premium Bitter category at CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain 2023.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter36 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber19
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Bronze · 2023
Champion Beer of Britain
Premium Bitter
★Bronze — Champion Beer of Britain (Premium Bitter)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruityspicymalty
fruity
spicy
malty
spicy hop
floral
chocolate
Aroma
The nose leads with peppery spice from Challenger hops, underpinned by floral notes of Bobek that add brightness.
also:bready,clean,hoppy
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Triple XB (XXXB)

◎ Appearance

A tawny ale displaying a warm, burnished amber hue with good clarity. The head forms persistently and clings to the glass with fine lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting the beer's presence without dominance.

tawny amberpersistent headclearfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with peppery spice from Challenger hops, underpinned by floral notes of Bobek that add brightness. Beneath lies a rounded malty foundation—biscuit and light chocolate notes from the carefully balanced malt bill suggest warmth and depth without heaviness.

peppery spicefloral Bobekbiscuity maltchocolate undertone

◐ Taste

The palate opens with fruity character balanced against spicy hop bite. The malt body—built on Maris Otter, crystal, wheat, and pale chocolate malts—provides a lush, bready structure that remains clean and focused. Bitterness sits at 36 IBU, present but never aggressive, allowing the interplay of fruit, spice, and malt to develop fully across the mid-palate.

fruity entryspicy-hoppy mid-palatefull malt bodybalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and crisp, with lingering peppery spice and a gentle malty sweetness that fades cleanly. A refreshing character emerges as the beer warms slightly in the glass.

dry finishpeppery faderefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°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 Triple XB (XXXB)

More from Batemans Brewery

Batemans x Titanic – Stoke'd
Batemans x Titanic – Stoke'd
American Brown Ale
5%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Batemans x Titanic – Wainfleet
Batemans x Titanic – Wainfleet
Amber Ale
4.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Batemans XB
Batemans XB
Best Bitter
3.7%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Combined Harvest
Combined Harvest
Golden Ale
4.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Dark Fruits Porter
Dark Fruits Porter
Porter
4.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Dark M
Dark M
Dark Mild
3.4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
England Expects
England Expects
Pale Ale
4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Five Generations (5G)
Five Generations (5G)
Session IPA
4.2%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →

About Strong Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Bitter?

Strong 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 Strong Bitter

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

FEATURED IN

Compare with another beer →