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Reverend James

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A mellow, malty original ale with a caramel sweetness and a moderate bitterness arriving at the end. The brewery uses an exclusive yeast for it. The name goes back to Reverend James Buckley, who took over the Llanelli Brewery in 1824 from his father-in-law. The line joined the Brains range in 1997. It has 4.5 % ABV.

ABV
4.5%
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
maltycaramel
malty
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with a warm, inviting malt character—toasted grain and subtle caramel sweetness dominate the opening.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Reverend James

◎ Appearance

Reverend James presents a clear, amber-golden body with a pale straw hue at the edges. A modest, lasting head forms and clings to the glass walls with gentle persistence. Carbonation is moderate and even, creating fine, steady bubbles that rise through the liquid.

amber-goldenclearmoderate carbonationpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with a warm, inviting malt character—toasted grain and subtle caramel sweetness dominate the opening. Noble hop notes emerge softly in the background, providing a light herbal and floral undertone without aggression. The exclusive house yeast contributes a clean fermentation profile with only gentle fruity whispers.

toasted graincaramel sweetnessherbal-floralclean yeast character

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a soft, malty sweetness that rolls across the tongue with a smooth, round texture. Mid-palate reveals the caramel and bread-like warmth, balanced by a restrained but building bitterness. The finish sees a moderate bitter bite arrive gracefully, cutting through the residual sweetness without harsh edges.

malty-sweet entrycaramel-bread notesrestrained bitternessbalanced body

◑ Finish

The aftertaste lingers for a moderate length with a dry, slightly bitter grip that gradually fades. A whisper of caramel sweetness persists in the background, leaving the palate clean and inviting.

moderate lengthdry aftertastelingering caramel
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
74
Finish
74
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 Reverend James

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About Original Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Original Ale?

Original 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 Original Ale

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

Other Original Ales in hopIQ

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