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Wildcat

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Wildcat layers toffee and malt with dark orange marmalade and honey, then spicy hops that linger into a dry, bitter finish, in a deep amber ale at 5.1% ABV. It is named for the Scottish wildcat, of which as few as 400 may remain. In 2026 it won Silver in CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain and Gold in SIBA's national cask best bitter class.

ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 2026
Champion Beer of Britain
Overall
Gold · 2026
Champion Beer of Britain
Premium Bitter
Gold · 2025
Champion Beer of Britain
Premium Bitter
Bronze · 2025
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, Scotland)
Champion Beer of Scotland
Gold · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards
Cask British Best Bitter
Silver · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Bottle & Can British Best Bitters (4.5% to 6.4%)
Gold · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Cask British Best Bitter (4.5 to 6.4%)
★Silver — Champion Beer of Britain (Overall)
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (Premium Bitter)
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (Premium Bitter)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicy hopmaltyorange
spicy hop
malty
orange
honey
hoppy
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with caramel and rich Malz character, followed by notes of dark orange marmalade and floral honey.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Wildcat

◎ Appearance

Deep amber body with warm, burnished tones and excellent transparency. A dense, off-white head forms readily and clings to the glass with fine retention, leaving structured lacing on the sides. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated.

deep amberdense headstructured lacingclear body

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with caramel and rich Malz character, followed by notes of dark orange marmalade and floral honey. Herbal and spicy hop notes emerge underneath, suggesting noble varieties with a subtle pepper-like quality that invites deeper investigation.

caramel, Malzdark citrusherbal spicefloral honey

◐ Taste

Entry is malty and sweet, with toffee and honey providing a rounded opening. The mid-palate develops layers of orange marmalade complexity and warming spice, while clean bitterness builds steadily without sharpness. The finish turns notably dry, with hop bitterness asserting itself over the receding sweetness.

bitter, lingeringtoffee sweetnessorange marmaladespicy hops

◑ Finish

Dry and sustained, with spicy hop bitterness persisting through the aftertaste. A light astringency frames the conclusion, leaving the palate clean and ready for the next sip.

dry finishhop bitternessclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
85
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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 Wildcat

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About Strong Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Bitter?

Strong 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 Strong Bitter

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

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