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Preservation

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Deep amber best bitter with a roasted caramel nose; the palate is sweet and malty with some residual sweetness and a satisfying bitterness, balanced by a resinous hop character. Brewed to the traditional East Midlands style with the English hops Challenger and Phoenix over Maris Otter, crystal, amber and black malts. One of the long-standing core beers, it won Gold in Best Bitter at Champion Beer of Britain in 2019. Cask, 4.4 %.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 2024
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Midlands)
Cask British Bitter
Bronze · 2023
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Midlands)
Cask British Beer
Gold · 2019
Champion Beer of Britain
Best Bitter
Bronze · 2011
Champion Beer of Britain
Best Bitter
★Silver — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Midlands) (Cask British Bitter)
★Bronze — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Midlands) (Cask British Beer)
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (Best Bitter)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelmaltyresinous
caramel
malty
resinous
roasted
hoppy
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted caramel notes, backed by warm toasty undertones from the black and crystal malts.
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Preservation

◎ Appearance

Deep amber hue with excellent clarity and a firm, cream-colored head that clings to the glass with good persistence. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a composed and inviting visual presence typical of a cask-conditioned ale.

deep amberclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted caramel notes, backed by warm toasty undertones from the black and crystal malts. English hop character emerges subtly—earthy and resinous—without overwhelming the rich malt foundation, creating a balanced and traditional East Midlands profile.

roasted carameltoasty maltearthy hopsresinous

◐ Taste

Sweet and malty on entry, with pronounced caramel and biscuit notes from the Maris Otter and crystal malts. Residual sweetness persists into the mid-palate before a satisfying bitterness and resinous hop character assert themselves, creating a well-resolved interplay between malt sweetness and hop definition.

malty sweetnesscaramelbiscuitbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with resinous hop notes and a gentle astringency that frames the underlying malt character. Aftertaste remains clean and composed without harshness.

dry finishresinous aftertastelingering
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
85
Appearance
84
Finish
82
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 Preservation

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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 caramel, malty, resinous character as Preservation will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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