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Carousel

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An amber bitter at 4.2%, late-hopped with three American hops that give a citrus aroma and a tropical fruit finish. Carousel takes the October slot in the seasonal calendar of Charnwood Brewery in Loughborough and is also sold in mini kegs.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
tropicalcitrusyhoppy
tropical
citrusy
hoppy
fruity
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus notes from the late American hops, bringing forward grapefruit zest and orange peel.
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Carousel

◎ Appearance

Carousel presents a warm amber hue with good clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a stable foam collar that gradually recedes to leave delicate residue on the rim.

amber, clearfine head retentionmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus notes from the late American hops, bringing forward grapefruit zest and orange peel. Supporting these are gentle Malz undertones—biscuit and light toffee—that ground the composition without overwhelming the hop-forward character.

citrus, zesttropical hopsbiscuit malt

◐ Taste

The palate opens with moderate body and a well-balanced entry of sweet malt and restrained bitterness. Mid-palate brings tropical fruit notes—pineapple and passion fruit—from the American hop blend, while a clean, controlled bitterness (28 IBU) maintains structure without harsh edges. The finish dries pleasantly toward the back of the mouth.

tropical fruitbalanced bitternessclean palate

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and moderate in length, with tropical fruit notes fading into a dry, slightly bitter aftertaste. The overall impression is refreshing and sessionable, characteristic of the Best Bitter style.

dry finishtropical faderefreshing
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
76
Appearance
75
Finish
74
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 Carousel

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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 tropical, citrusy, bitter character as Carousel will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →