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Hibernation Ale

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Malty richness meets a complex dry-hopped hop profile in this English-style old ale, hearty and warming, with no holiday spices. A winter tradition since 1995, it uses Cascade and Centennial with brown malt, chocolate malt and dark crystal. 8.7% ABV and 37 IBU, back as winter approaches. Silver at the 1998 World Beer Cup, Strong Ale category.

ABV
8.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter37 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Silver · 1998
World Beer Cup
Strong Ale
★Silver — World Beer Cup (Strong Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltychocolatehoppy
malty
chocolate
hoppy
roasted
dark fruit
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted and chocolate malt notes, supported by subtle dark fruit esters and caramel sweetness.
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hibernation Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to brown in color, displaying the characteristic hue of roasted and chocolate malts. The beer presents good clarity with a persistent, tan head that maintains fine lacing down the glass. Moderate carbonation creates a composed visual presentation befitting the style.

deep ambertan head lacingclear to brightmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted and chocolate malt notes, supported by subtle dark fruit esters and caramel sweetness. Noble Cascade and Centennial hops contribute a restrained herbal and citrus character without overwhelming the malt foundation. The overall impression is warming and complex, with a faint alcohol warmth in the background.

chocolate maltnoble hop characterdark fruit esterstoasted grain

◐ Taste

The palate is full-bodied and malty, with prominent chocolate and roasted grain flavors that build immediately on entry. Mid-palate reveals rich caramel sweetness balanced by moderate bitterness and hop dryness from the Cascade and Centennial profile. The 37 IBU provides sufficient grip without harsh edges, allowing the malt complexity to remain the focal point.

full-bodiedchocolate forwardbalanced bitternessdry-hopped finish

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with lingering roasted and chocolate malt notes that fade gradually into a dry, gently bitter aftertaste. The 8.7% ABV contributes a pleasant warming sensation without sharpness.

warming alcoholdry finishlingering malt
85
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
87
Appearance
84
Finish
83
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°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 Hibernation Ale

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About Old Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Old Ale?

Old 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 Old Ale

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

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