hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Gem

Bath Ales
Tap to rate
🌍 United Kingdom · Extra Special Bitter · One of 16 Extra Special Bitters in hopIQ

Bath Ales' award-winning flagship Best Bitter — "full-flavoured and satisfying." Rich toffee and caramel malt with complex hop character. SIBA South West Gold. CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain finalist. "The best bitter in the South West." Available in cask across the region and nationally in bottle.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Extra Special Bitter.
Hop character
hoppy
floral
Malt character
caramel
malty
toasty
bready
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Gem

Appearance

Gem presents a warm amber hue with excellent clarity and a dense, persistent head that clings to the glass throughout service. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, producing fine bubbles that sustain good lacing on the side walls as the beer is consumed.

warm amberclearpersistent headfine carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with rich toffee and caramel sweetness characteristic of well-developed crystal malts, layered beneath a complex floral and herbal hop presence. Subtle toasted grain notes emerge in the background, adding depth without dominating the overall aromatic profile.

caramel, toffeefloral hopstoasted grain

Taste

The palate opens with pronounced caramel and malt sweetness, building into a toasted, bready character that fills the mid-mouth with satisfying body. Bitterness arrives gradually, structured and measured at 40 IBU, balancing the malt backbone without aggressive hop bite; the finish remains smooth and never harsh.

caramel malttoasted, breadybalanced bitternesssmooth

Finish

The aftertaste lingers with residual toffee and a gentle hoppy dryness, fading to a clean, slightly bitter drying on the palate that invites another sip.

toffee notesdry finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
81
Taste
84
Appearance
83
Finish
80
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Gem

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 7–10°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 Gem

About Extra Special Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Extra Special Bitter?

Extra Special 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 Extra Special Bitter

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

Other Extra Special Bitters in hopIQ