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Bonfire Boy

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A mahogany, 5.8% amber ale brewed each November for the Bonfire Night celebrations in Lewes. It began as 'Firecracker', a thank-you to the fire brigade after the brewery fire of July 1996. A small share of black malt gives the suggestion of smoke: bonfire and roast on the nose, toffee and caramel behind, a full malty palate with rich, fruity sweetness and toastiness, and a burnt, bitter finish.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 2026
World Beer Awards
★Silver — World Beer Awards
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedcaramelfruity
roasted
caramel
fruity
smoky
malty
toasty
Aroma
Prominent bonfire and roasted grain notes lead the nose, with a distinct suggestion of smoke from the black malt addition.
also:hoppy
not found:juicy,bready,clean,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bonfire Boy

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany hue with excellent clarity and a dense, persistent head. The color reflects the presence of crystal and black malts, creating a rich, warm appearance that suggests both caramel sweetness and subtle roasted character.

deep mahoganypersistent headclear, warm

◌ Aroma

Prominent bonfire and roasted grain notes lead the nose, with a distinct suggestion of smoke from the black malt addition. Underneath lies a bed of toffee and caramel sweetness, complemented by gentle fruity notes typical of the ale yeast.

smoke, roasttoffee, caramelfruity esters

◐ Taste

Full-bodied and malty on entry, with layers of caramel and toasted grain across the mid-palate. Rich, fruity sweetness dominates the center, before a burnt and bitter finish emerges, cutting through the malt sweetness with noticeable drying effect.

full, malty palatecaramel, toastburnt bitterness

◑ Finish

The burnt, bitter finish persists with moderate length, leaving a dry, smoky character in the aftertaste. Roasted notes linger alongside a pleasant astringency that echoes the bonfire theme.

burnt, drylingering smoke
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
78
Appearance
80
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 Bonfire Boy

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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 roasted, caramel, fruity character as Bonfire Boy 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 Kingdom beers →