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Simpkiss Bitter

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Bitter and refreshing, amber in colour, with a hint of caramel in the aroma. Simpkiss started as Simpkiss Ale, brewed by J P Simpkiss & Son in Brierley Hill; the Dennis brewery closed in 1985 but is warmly remembered by older drinkers across the West Midlands, and Enville bought the recipe to bring it back. A Midland bitter at 4.0% ABV, and on the brewery's own scale the bitterest beer in its range.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward 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
hoppycaramelmalty
hoppy
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with a soft caramel note that sits pleasantly above the malt foundation.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Simpkiss Bitter

◎ Appearance

Amber in color with a warm, burnished hue that catches the light clearly. The beer presents a bright clarity with a cream-colored head that forms readily and clings moderately to the glass as you drink. Carbonation is gentle and persistent, creating a fine bead throughout the pour.

amber, clearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with a soft caramel note that sits pleasantly above the malt foundation. Noble hop aromatics provide a restrained floral and herbal character without dominating the profile. A subtle earthy undertone rounds out the bouquet, inviting rather than assertive.

caramel sweetnessnoble hop floralsearthy restraint

◐ Taste

The palate opens with balanced malty sweetness and quickly develops a clean, assertive bitterness that defines the beer's character. Mid-palate shows biscuit and light toffee flavors that support the hop character without overwhelming it. Bitterness builds steadily toward the finish, marking this as the brewery's most bitter offering.

assertive bitternessbiscuit maltbalanced sweetness

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is dry and lingering, with bitter and herbaceous notes persisting cleanly on the palate. The finish remains crisp and refreshing despite the pronounced bitterness, encouraging another sip.

dry, bitter finishherbal persistence
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
80
Appearance
78
Finish
76
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 Simpkiss Bitter

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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 bitter, refreshing, hoppy character as Simpkiss Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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