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Fuller's 1845

Fuller's Griffin Brewery
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🌍 United Kingdom · English Strong Ale · One of 13 English Strong Ales in hopIQ

Fuller's 1845 was first brewed in 1995 as an anniversary beer, following a recipe drawn from the old Fuller's brewing books. Amber malt joins Pale, Crystal and Chocolate malt, and Goldings is the only hop. It pours a dark tawny and is conditioned in the bottle. Sweet fruit cake leads the aroma, backed by biscuit and a touch of nutmeg. Raisin and dried fruit meet biscuity malt on the palate, and the finish is dry and spicy.

ABV
6.3%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber15

AWARDS

Gold · 1998
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Bottle-Conditioned Beers
Gold · 2002
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Bottle-Conditioned Beers
Gold · 2018
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Bottle-Conditioned Beers
Silver · 2003
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Bottle-Conditioned Beers
Silver · 2008
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Bottle-Conditioned Beers
Bronze · 1997
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Bottle-Conditioned Beers
Bronze · 2001
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain
Bottle-Conditioned Beers
★Gold — Champion Bottled Beer of Britain (Bottle-Conditioned Beers)
★Gold — Champion Bottled Beer of Britain (Bottle-Conditioned Beers)
★Gold — Champion Bottled Beer of Britain (Bottle-Conditioned Beers)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another English Strong Ale.
Malt character
malty
bready
nutty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
spicy
Fermentation & yeast
fruity

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fuller's 1845

◎ Appearance

Dark tawny in color with good depth and clarity. The beer forms a stable, creamy head that clings to the glass with fine lacing. Bottle conditioning provides a gentle effervescence and slight haziness that settles quickly.

dark tawnystable headbottle-conditioned

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with distinct sweet fruit cake and candied fruit notes, supported by biscuity malt undertones. A subtle spice character emerges, reminiscent of nutmeg and warming spices, while the Goldings hop contributes mild herbal and floral nuance without assertiveness.

sweet fruit cakebiscuit maltsubtle spice

◐ Taste

The palate opens with raisin and dried fruit complexity that integrates seamlessly with biscuity malt sweetness. The mid-palate develops warmth from the 6.3% ABV, while moderate bitterness (35 IBU) provides gentle balance without dominating. The beer remains full-bodied and gently warming throughout.

raisin, dried fruitbiscuit sweetnessmoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish turns distinctly dry with lingering spice notes and a gentle astringency. A pleasant warmth persists in the aftertaste, with the dried fruit character fading gradually into subtle malt dryness.

dryspicy finish
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
79
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Fuller's 1845

Serve at 12–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 12–16°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Fuller's 1845

About English Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Strong Ale?

English Strong 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 English Strong Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same sweet, dry, dark fruit character as Fuller's 1845 will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other English Strong Ales in hopIQ

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