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Fireside

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Fireside is a ruby winter ale of 4.5% that Greene King brings back as a seasonal for the first months of the year. It is full-bodied and ends on a mellow, fruity finish; grapefruit and lemon give it a citrus side, and a little black malt keeps the beer fresh rather than heavy.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyfruitycaramel
citrusy
fruity
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced citrus notes—grapefruit and lemon zest dominate the top register, overlaid with a subtle toasted malt character.
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fireside

◎ Appearance

Fireside presents a deep ruby hue with warm amber undertones, characteristic of its black malt composition. The beer shows good clarity with a modest, cream-colored head that settles to a thin collar, displaying gentle lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, giving the beer a composed visual presence.

deep rubyamber undertonesmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced citrus notes—grapefruit and lemon zest dominate the top register, overlaid with a subtle toasted malt character. Beneath the citrus sits a gentle warming quality typical of the 4.5% ABV, with no aggressive hop bite. The black malt contributes a faint cocoa-like earthiness that grounds the fruity impression without heaviness.

grapefruitlemon zesttoasted maltsubtle cocoa

◐ Taste

The palate is full-bodied and substantial for its strength, with the citrus theme carrying through from the nose into the mid-palate. Bitterness registers as restrained at 28 IBU, providing structure rather than dominance. The black malt lends a subtle drying quality on the tongue, keeping the beer fresh and preventing any cloying sweetness despite the full mouthfeel.

full-bodiedcitrus forwardrestrained bitternessmalt-driven freshness

◑ Finish

The finish is mellow and fruity, with the citrus notes fading gracefully into a warm, slightly drying aftertaste. The beer concludes with an inviting roundness that encourages another sip rather than lingering harshness.

mellowfruity aftertastewarming finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
78
Appearance
76
Finish
78
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 Fireside

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About Winter Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Winter Ale?

Winter 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 Winter Ale

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

Other Winter Ales in hopIQ

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