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Low Alcohol Old Ale

United Kingdom·Alcohol-Free Brown Ale
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Old Ale with the alcohol removed before bottling, leaving 0.5%; it was formerly sold as 'Bill Brewer'. Rich and near-black, it keeps the soft, full body of the original: a sweet, nutty nose, then toffee, dates and dried fruit, roast notes and a touch of smoke. Burnt sugars and roasted malts over Maris Otter barley push the light hop bitterness into the background.

ABV
0.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSession

AWARDS

Bronze · 2026
World Beer Awards
★Bronze — 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
nuttyroastedmalty
nutty
roasted
malty
dark fruit
toasty
smoky
Aroma
The nose leads with sweet, nutty character—dried fruit, dates, and toffee notes blend seamlessly with soft malt sweetness.
also:clean
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Low Alcohol Old Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep brown to near-black in the glass, showing the rich color of a traditional Old Ale despite alcohol removal. The body is full and substantial, with a modest off-white head that settles into fine lacing. Carbonation is gentle, appropriate to the style.

deep brownfull-bodiedfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with sweet, nutty character—dried fruit, dates, and toffee notes blend seamlessly with soft malt sweetness. Beneath these lie subtle roast and smoke impressions, grounded by the deep Maris Otter barley base. No sharp alcohol vapors intrude; the aromatics remain warm and inviting.

sweet, nuttytoffee, datesroast, smoke

◐ Taste

Entry brings gentle malt sweetness and burnt sugar character that define the mid-palate experience. Roasted malts and dried fruit continue through the body, while modest hop bitterness (24 IBU) remains restrained, never dominating. The full, soft mouthfeel persists despite the low alcohol, maintaining the impression of a proper Old Ale.

burnt sugarroasted maltrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length, fading gently into lingering toffee and roast notes. A touch of smoke persists in the aftertaste, leaving a warm, satisfying impression.

toffee aftertastewarm, dry
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
78
Finish
76
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°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 Low Alcohol Old Ale

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About Alcohol-Free Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Alcohol-Free Brown Ale?

Alcohol-Free Brown 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 Alcohol-Free Brown Ale

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

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