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Three Sheets To the Wind

Cliff Quay Brewery
United Kingdom·Golden Ale
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Three Sheets To the Wind is a golden ale of 3.9% from Cliff Quay, the Suffolk brewery that grew out of Earl Soham. Its defining trait is a firm bitterness. It has been brewed since at least 2017 and is poured on cask in East Anglian pubs and at regional festivals, including the Thurrock beer festival in 2026.

ABV
3.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Clean, dry bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycleanmalty
hoppy
clean
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with restrained noble hop character—herbal and slightly floral notes without aggression.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Three Sheets To the Wind

◎ Appearance

Three Sheets To the Wind presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a pale straw tint throughout. The head is modest but persistent, with fine carbonation rising steadily through the glass. Lacing adheres cleanly to the sides with each sip.

bright goldenclearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with restrained noble hop character—herbal and slightly floral notes without aggression. Beneath lies a delicate malt backbone offering light grain and subtle biscuit notes. The overall profile remains clean and approachable, with no yeast-driven esters dominating.

noble hopsherbal, floralsubtle malt sweetness

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and well-balanced, with the defining firm bitterness emerging quickly on the mid-palate. The malt provides a gentle cereal sweetness that grounds the hop bite without overwhelming it. Finish is dry and moderately bitter, with lingering hop resin that persists without harshness.

firm bitternessdry palatehoppy backbone

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is clean and enduring, with the bittering hops holding center stage into the fade. A slight mineral dryness complements the lasting hop character, encouraging another sip.

dry, bitter finishmineral edge
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
80
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C. Light and refreshing — serve cold to keep the delicate hop and malt balance intact.

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 Three Sheets To the Wind

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About Golden Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Golden Ale?

Golden 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 Golden Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same bitter, hoppy, crisp character as Three Sheets To the Wind will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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