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Cornamusa

Cervezas Althaia
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🌍 Spain · Amber Ale · One of 36 Amber Ales in hopIQ

Cornamusa is the Spanish nautical word for a cleat, and the beer honours Mary Read, the English sailor and soldier who sailed with Calico Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny before her capture in 1720. The brewery calls it an American amber ale. It pours bright copper with reddish glints under a prominent, creamy head. Tropical papaya and passion fruit sit in balance with caramel malt on the nose. Fresh yet full-bodied, it weighs hop freshness against the sweetness of crystal malts. At the Barcelona Beer Challenge it has won silver twice and bronze twice.

ABV
5.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
See all Amber Ale alternatives →

AWARDS

Silver · 2020
Barcelona Beer Challenge
Silver · 2021
Barcelona Beer Challenge
Bronze · 2019
Barcelona Beer Challenge
Bronze · 2023
Barcelona Beer Challenge
★Silver — Barcelona Beer Challenge
★Silver — Barcelona Beer Challenge
★Bronze — Barcelona Beer Challenge
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Amber Ale.
Hop character
tropical
hoppy
Malt character
caramel
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Cornamusa

◎ Appearance

Cornamusa presents a bright copper hue with reddish glints that catch the light beautifully. The beer displays excellent clarity and is crowned by a prominent, creamy head that adheres well to the glass, leaving distinct lacing as you drink.

bright copperreddish glintscreamy headstrong lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with tropical stone fruit notes—papaya and passion fruit—that sit in pleasant balance with warm caramel malt undertones. These aromatic layers suggest restrained noble hop character working in concert with the malt base, creating an inviting, rounded bouquet.

tropical papayapassion fruitcaramel maltnoble hop

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with hop bitterness and fresh herbal notes cutting cleanly across the palate. The mid-palate reveals the sweetness of crystal malts, creating an engaging tension between the beer's full body and its hop-forward character that persists through the tasting.

hop freshnesscrystal malt sweetnessfull-bodiedbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering herbal hop notes and a subtle malt sweetness that extends pleasantly without becoming cloying.

clean finishherbal aftertaste
81
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
84
Finish
79
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Cornamusa

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Cornamusa

About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

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

Other Amber Ales in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Amber Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Spain beers →