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Stag

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Stag opens with an initial bitterness from plentiful Challenger and Fuggles hops and settles into a caramel finish from roast malts, a mahogany ale of medium to light body at 4.1% ABV. The label shows a red deer stag, Britain's largest land mammal, awe-inspiring in the autumn rut. In 2026 the cask version won Gold at the SIBA awards for Scotland.

ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Cask British Bitter (up to 4.4%)
Bronze · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Cask British Bitter (up to 4.4%)
★Gold — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland) (Cask British Bitter (up to 4.4%))
★Bronze — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland) (Cask British Bitter (up to 4.4%))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelroastedhoppy
caramel
roasted
hoppy
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with herbal and earthy notes from Challenger and Fuggles hops, assertive without being aggressive.
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Stag

◎ Appearance

Stag presents a mahogany hue with bright clarity and a warm amber-brown tone characteristic of its 12 SRM. The head forms with modest density and demonstrates solid retention, leaving delicate lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation appears moderate, appropriate to the Best Bitter style.

mahogany, clearfine lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with herbal and earthy notes from Challenger and Fuggles hops, assertive without being aggressive. Beneath the hop character lies a warm caramel sweetness from roasted malts, with subtle toasted grain undertones that ground the bouquet. The overall aromatic profile balances hop bite with malty depth.

herbal Fugglescaramel malttoasted grain

◐ Taste

Entry strikes with crisp bitterness from the dual hop blend, establishing the beer's signature character at 28 IBU. The mid-palate reveals caramel and light roasted malt flavors that provide backbone and sweetness, tempering the initial bite without obscuring it. Body remains lean and clean, allowing both bitterness and malt to speak clearly.

assertive bitternesscaramel malt sweetnessdry finish

◑ Finish

The finish fades with lingering hop bitterness that gradually yields to a subtle roasted malt dryness. Aftertaste remains balanced and refreshing, encouraging another sip without heavy residue.

dry, lingeringrefreshing fade
81
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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 Stag

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About Best Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Best Bitter?

Best 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 Best Bitter

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

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