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John Bull English Ale

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A distinctive spicy hop aroma and caramel malt, with crisp, fruity, peppery hops and a lasting finish. John Bull English Ale is an amber ale at 5.3%, hopped with Target, Hallertau and Styria Bled Aroma. The name uses the figure of John Bull, a personification of England, usually drawn as a stout man in a tailcoat and a Union Flag waistcoat.

ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicy hopfruitycaramel
spicy hop
fruity
caramel
hoppy
spicy
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with a distinctive peppery and spicy hop character, backed by warm caramel malt sweetness.
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for John Bull English Ale

◎ Appearance

John Bull presents a bright amber hue with excellent clarity and a well-defined copper cast. The head is dense and persistent, with fine lacing that clings to the glass through each sip. Carbonation is moderate and evenly distributed, creating a visibly active pour.

bright amberpersistent headwell-lacedclear

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with a distinctive peppery and spicy hop character, backed by warm caramel malt sweetness. Target and Hallertau hops deliver resinous, herbaceous notes with subtle fruity undertones from Styria Blend Aroma. The overall impression is inviting and complex, with no harsh or chemical edges.

peppery hopcaramel sweetnessherbal complexityfruity undertone

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and clean, with bright fruity notes up front and a building spice character across the palate. Mid-palate reveals balanced caramel malt depth without cloying sweetness, while the hop bitterness sits firmly at 40 IBU—enough to frame the malt but never dominate. The interplay between fruity esters and peppery spice remains the flavor anchor throughout.

crisp entryfruity-peppery balancebalanced bitternessmalt foundation

◑ Finish

The finish is lasting and dry, with peppery hop character lingering pleasantly on the palate. Aftertaste is clean with a gentle caramel echo and persistent spice that invites another sip.

dry finishlingering spiceclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with John Bull English Ale

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About English Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar English Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy-hop, fruity, crisp character as John Bull English Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all English Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →