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Maris the Otter

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Maris the Otter is Brew York's cask bitter at 3.9%, brewed since the company's first year in 2016. Five malts give flavours of malt loaf, caramel, biscuit and toffee, and New World hops lead into a classic bitter finish; the stated bitterness is 35 IBU. The name combines Maris Otter barley with the otter seen in the River Foss behind the Walmgate brewhouse. It belongs to the Signature cask beers and is available on cask only.

ABV
3.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter35 IBU
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
maltycaramelbready
malty
caramel
bready
hoppy
toasty
Aroma
The nose opens with toasted grain and malt loaf, backed by a subtle caramel sweetness that suggests toffee and biscuit notes.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Maris the Otter

◎ Appearance

A deep amber hue with copper undertones, characteristic of a well-kilned pale ale malt bill. The cask conditioning produces a soft, natural carbonation with a fine cream-coloured head that settles to a persistent collar around the glass rim. Bright and clean despite the living nature of the beer.

deep amberfine head retentionnaturally carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with toasted grain and malt loaf, backed by a subtle caramel sweetness that suggests toffee and biscuit notes. New World hop character emerges as floral and slightly herbal, offering gentle citrus undertones without dominating the composition. The interplay remains balanced, with the five-malt foundation providing the dominant voice.

toasted grainmalt loaf, caramelherbal hop character

◐ Taste

The palate enters soft and malty, with biscuit and breadiness giving way to a caramel-toffee centre that sits comfortably at moderate sweetness. The 35 IBU bitterness emerges in the mid-palate as a clean, herbaceous bite, building gradually without harsh edges. A smooth mouthfeel carries the malt-driven profile through, allowing each element—bread, toffee, and hop—to be tasted distinctly.

biscuit-driven entrybalanced bitter-malt tensionsmooth body

◑ Finish

The finish settles into a classic bitter dryness, with lingering herbal and toasted notes that fade gradually over several minutes. No harsh aftertaste; instead, a clean, slightly grainy residue that invites the next sip.

dry bitter finishclean, grainy fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
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 Maris the Otter

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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 bitter, malty, caramel character as Maris the Otter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Ordinary Bitters in hopIQ

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