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Felinfoel ESB

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A robust bitter ale with lots of body, a fruity aftertaste and a long finish carrying hints of toffee apple. At 4.6% this ESB, sold in 500 ml bottles, is brewed with British WGV and Challenger hops and the natural spring water of the Felinfoel brewery site in Llanelli, where beer has been brewed since 1878.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruityhoppymalty
fruity
hoppy
malty
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with earthy, herbaceous hop character from WGV and Challenger, grounded by warm malt notes.
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Felinfoel ESB

◎ Appearance

A deep amber to copper hue, brilliantly clear with excellent clarity. The head forms a dense, off-white foam that adheres firmly to the glass, leaving well-defined lacing on the descent. Carbonation is moderate and steady.

deep amberclearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with earthy, herbaceous hop character from WGV and Challenger, grounded by warm malt notes. Beneath lie subtle stone fruit esters and a gentle suggestion of toffee sweetness, creating a balanced and inviting bouquet without aggression.

herbal hopsstone fruit esterstoffee sweetnessearthy

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and malty, with pronounced caramel and biscuit flavours developing quickly on the mid-palate. Hop bitterness is restrained but present, weaving through the malt sweetness without dominating. The ale maintains excellent balance between fruity complexity and structured bitterness.

maltycaramel notesfull-bodiedbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with toffee apple notes lingering pleasantly into the aftertaste. Bitterness fades gradually, leaving a dry, slightly sweet malt impression that invites the next sip.

toffee applelong finishwarming
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
82
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 Felinfoel ESB

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About Strong Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Bitter?

Strong 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 Strong Bitter

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

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