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Carlton Black

Carlton & United Breweries
Australia·Brown Ale
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Carlton Black is a dark ale, brewed from pale malt and roasted barley and fermented with an ale yeast. The roasted grain gives it a ruby tint and a mocha aroma; on the palate come rich malt sweetness, toffee and a fruity note, with a subtle resinous hop tone from Pride of Ringwood and low bitterness. The body is fuller than that of the company's lagers but lighter than a stout, and the finish is smooth. In 2025 a version brewed at the Cascade brewery in Tasmania was named best amber or dark ale at the national beer awards.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Best Amber / Dark Ale · 2025
Australian International Beer Awards
Amber / Dark Ale
★Best Amber / Dark Ale — Australian International Beer Awards (Amber / Dark Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedmaltyfruity
roasted
malty
fruity
resinous
coffee
nutty
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced mocha and roasted grain character, underpinned by subtle resinous notes from Pride of Ringwood hops.
also:caramel,bready
not found:hoppy,chocolate,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Carlton Black

◎ Appearance

Carlton Black presents a deep mahogany to ruby-brown hue, translucent and well-defined. The head forms with moderate density and exhibits good retention, settling into a fine collar around the glass rim. Carbonation appears moderate, delivering a gentle visual liveliness appropriate to the style.

ruby-browntranslucentmoderate carbonationgood head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced mocha and roasted grain character, underpinned by subtle resinous notes from Pride of Ringwood hops. Beneath the roast sits a soft malt sweetness with faint fruity esters emerging from the ale yeast fermentation. The aromatic profile is restrained and well-integrated, avoiding any harsh roasted edges.

mocharoasted grainresinous hop tonesoft malt sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate enters with rich malt sweetness and toffee character that builds through the mid-palate. A subtle fruity note develops alongside the grain sweetness, while Pride of Ringwood contributes a faint, dry resinous bite without aggressive bitterness. The body is fuller than a standard lager yet restrained compared to a stout, allowing the malt-forward flavours to dominate.

malt sweetnesstoffeefruitylow bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and gently lingering, with toffee and roasted grain notes fading to a dry, subtle hop tone. No harsh residue remains; the aftertaste is warm and inviting.

smoothclean finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
80
Appearance
76
Finish
78
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 Carlton Black

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 roasted, malty, sweet character as Carlton Black will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Brown Ales in hopIQ

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