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Cloudwater Fest Bier

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A rustic route with an assertive bitterness and an incredible malt profile that drives the flavour forward. Where earlier Festbiers strayed closer to an amped-up, German-inspired Helles, this annual 5% lager for Oktoberfest 2026 is a true Manchester-inspired Festbier. The brewery returns to it every year.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber9
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltybreadyclean
malty
bready
clean
Aroma
Noble hop character leads the nose with restrained, herbal notes that frame rather than dominate.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Cloudwater Fest Bier

◎ Appearance

Clear pale gold with a bright, luminous quality typical of the Festbier style. A dense, creamy head forms quickly and clings persistently to the glass walls, leaving thick lacework on each sip. Carbonation is lively and visible, sustaining the visual liveliness throughout the drinking experience.

pale golddense lacingbright claritylively carbonation

◌ Aroma

Noble hop character leads the nose with restrained, herbal notes that frame rather than dominate. The Malz foundation is substantial—toasted grain and subtle bread crust emerge alongside a faint honey sweetness. Clean fermentation contributes a mineral, slightly grainy undertone without any yeast harshness.

noble hopstoasted grainherbal edgeclean fermentation

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and malty, with bready cereal notes establishing immediate presence on the palate. Mid-palate develops an assertive but well-integrated bitterness (22 IBU providing structure rather than aggression), balanced by the Malz's slightly sweet, biscuit-like body. The finish remains dry and clean, with lingering herbal and grain notes.

assertive bitternessbready maltcrisp palatedry finish

◑ Finish

The bitterness persists into a medium-length finish with a pleasant, slightly dusty grain character that invites another sip. Aftertaste is clean and refreshing, leaving no harshness or residual sweetness.

medium lengthgrain-forwardrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
81
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°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 Cloudwater Fest Bier

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About Festbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Festbier?

Festbier 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 Festbier

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

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