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Wilder Ness

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Wilder Ness opens with toasted malt and berry aromas that give way to full fruit flavours and a bittersweet aftertaste, a chestnut brown ale at 5.1% ABV. Wheat, amber and chocolate malts are brewed with clear Highland water. Cairngorm Brewery took on the Loch Ness brands in late 2016 and has since extended the range.

ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruityberrytoasty
fruity
berry
toasty
roasted
chocolate
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with toasted grain and warm chocolate malt, followed by distinct berry and dark fruit notes that develop as it warms.
also:dark fruit,nutty,caramel
not found:hoppy,bready,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Wilder Ness

◎ Appearance

Wilder Ness displays a chestnut brown hue with solid clarity and a modest tan head that settles into fine lacing around the glass. The body shows good weight without opacity, and carbonation is gentle and persistent, lending structure without aggression.

chestnut brownclearfine head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with toasted grain and warm chocolate malt, followed by distinct berry and dark fruit notes that develop as it warms. Subtle nuttiness and caramel undertones complete a rounded, inviting bouquet with no harsh hop character.

toasted maltberry and dark fruitchocolatecaramel notes

◐ Taste

The palate enters soft and malty, revealing layers of fruit—ripe berries and dried stone fruit—against a base of chocolate and roasted grain. Bitterness builds gradually toward the mid-palate, restrained yet present at 24 IBU, creating a bittersweet tension that keeps the beer balanced and engaging.

fruity, berry-forwardroasted chocolatebittersweet balance

◑ Finish

The aftertaste trails long with lingering malt sweetness and gentle bitterness in equal measure, leaving a dry, slightly nutty impression on the palate.

dry finishlingering malt sweetness
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
82
Appearance
78
Finish
76
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°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 Wilder Ness

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About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

Brown Ale 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 Brown Ale

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

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