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Gem

Bath Ales
United Kingdom·Best Bitter
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Gem is the flagship of Bath Ales, an English best bitter brewed from floor-malted Maris Otter barley, wheat and Goldings hops grown in East Kent. Hops and malt share the aroma; soft fruit and bittersweet caramel follow on the palate, framed by a smooth bitterness that runs into a long, bittersweet finish. On cask Gem is 4.1%, in the bottle 4.8%. The bottled version is fine filtered, certified gluten free and suitable for vegans.

ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelmaltyfruity
caramel
malty
fruity
hoppy
noble hop
wheat
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.
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

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
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 Gem

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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, caramel, malty character as Gem will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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