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Bothy

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Bothy carries fruity hints of sweet summer berries and is bittered for a distinctive, traditional aftertaste, a strong, deep amber ale at 5.6% ABV. In 2026 it was named Overall Champion of the Bottle & Can competition at the SIBA awards for Scotland, and it also won Gold in the Amber, Brown & Red Ale class. The cask version took Bronze in 2025.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Clean, dry bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Overall Champion of the Bottle & Can Competition
Gold · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Bottle & Can Amber, Brown & Red Ale (up to 6.4%)
Bronze · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
★Gold — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland) (Overall Champion of the Bottle & Can Competition)
★Gold — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland) (Bottle & Can Amber, Brown & Red Ale (up to 6.4%))
★Bronze — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland) (Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruityberrymalty
fruity
berry
malty
hoppy
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent berry fruit—blackcurrant and dark stone fruit—layered beneath a warm, biscuited Malz character.
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bothy

◎ Appearance

Bothy displays a deep amber hue with excellent clarity and a rich, burnished glow. The head forms with moderate density and displays stable lacing that clings to the glass throughout the pour. Carbonation is lively yet restrained, appropriate to the ale's full-bodied character.

deep amberclearpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent berry fruit—blackcurrant and dark stone fruit—layered beneath a warm, biscuited Malz character. Gentle noble hop spice underpins the profile without dominating, while a subtle caramel sweetness rounds out the aromatic complexity. There is no aggressive oxidation or astringency.

dark berriesbiscuit maltnoble spice

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, delivering immediate berry fruitiness alongside a solid backbone of toffee and caramel Malz. The mid-palate maintains this balance, with a controlled bitterness arriving mid-sip to provide structure and prevent cloying sweetness. The finish builds toward a distinctive, tradition-forward herbal and earthy bitterness.

berry-forwardtoffee sweetnessherbal bitterness

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is long and assertive, lingering with dry herbal notes and a gentle astringency that frames the berry character. Bitterness carries through cleanly without harshness, leaving the palate refreshed rather than fatigued.

long, dry finishherbal aftertaste
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
85
Appearance
83
Finish
84
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 Bothy

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About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

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

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