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Heliades' Tears

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A full-bodied amber ale built on a blend of caramel and Carastan malts with notes of caramel and toffee. It is hopped with Northern Brewer and also uses Brewers malt and C120. The name comes from Greek myth, in which the Heliades, daughters of the sun god Helios, wept tears that turned to amber. The brewers joke that if your own tears turned to amber you would not need this ale, and since they do not, they put this blend together instead.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter24 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
caramelmaltytoasty
caramel
malty
toasty
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced caramel and toffee notes, layered with a subtle toasted maltiness.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Heliades' Tears

◎ Appearance

A clear amber pour with a warm, burnished copper hue. The head forms with moderate density and settles to a thin collar, leaving fine lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is gentle and persistent, creating a soft visual texture.

copper-burnishedclearmoderate head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced caramel and toffee notes, layered with a subtle toasted maltiness. Northern Brewer hops contribute a restrained herbal backdrop without dominating, allowing the candy-like sweetness to remain central. No sharp alcohol heat; the aromatics remain soft and inviting.

caramel, toffeeherbal hopstoasted grain

◐ Taste

Entry is full and malty, with caramel and Carastan malts providing rich, candy-forward sweetness across the mid-palate. C120 adds a toasted complexity that prevents cloying character. Bitterness is low and measured at 24 IBU, allowing malt to lead throughout; hop bitterness is barely perceptible.

sweet malt-drivenlow bitternesssmooth body

◑ Finish

The finish lingers gently with residual caramel and a whisper of toast, tapering to a soft, slightly sticky sweetness. Aftertaste is clean and malty, with no harsh edges.

lingering caramelmalty fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
76
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 Heliades' Tears

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About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Amber Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →