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Ruddles County

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Ruddles County is a best bitter of 4.3% whose roots lie in Rutland, England's smallest county. Its flavour is marked by dark toffee and caramel, set against a crisp bitterness that comes from the rarely used Bramling Cross hop. Today the beer is brewed by Greene King in Bury St Edmunds.

ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelmalty
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent dark toffee and caramel notes derived from its malt bill, creating a sweet, slightly toasted character.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ruddles County

◎ Appearance

Ruddles County presents a deep amber to copper hue, reflecting its modest crystal malt content and moderate colour intensity. The beer achieves a fine, persistent head with good lacing retention along the glass. Carbonation is moderate and steady, lending a crisp visual impression appropriate to the Best Bitter style.

deep amberpersistent head lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent dark toffee and caramel notes derived from its malt bill, creating a sweet, slightly toasted character. Bramling Cross hops contribute a subtle herbal and spicy undertone, with faint citrus edges that add complexity without dominating. A light, clean yeast presence completes the aromatic profile without obscuring the malt-forward foundation.

dark toffeecaramel sweetnessherbal spice

◐ Taste

Entry brings forward the promised toffee and caramel character, developing a medium body with a slightly sticky mouthfeel. The mid-palate sustains malt sweetness while Bramling Cross delivers a measured, crisp bitterness—28 IBUs—that cleanses without asserting dominance. The interplay between sweet malt and restrained hop bitterness defines the beer's balanced character.

toffee-forwardcrisp bitternessmedium body

◑ Finish

The finish is moderately long, with residual caramel notes gradually giving way to a dry, slightly herbal aftertaste. Bitterness lingers gently, leaving the palate clean and inviting another sip.

dry finishlingering bitterness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
79
Appearance
77
Finish
77
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 Ruddles County

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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 caramel, bitter, crisp character as Ruddles County will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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