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Hawkshead Bitter

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The brewery’s original bitter: hoppy and easy-going at 3.6%, with a slight elderflower aroma that comes from Slovenian Celeia hops, a gentle floral note on top of the bitterness. Hawkshead has brewed in Flookburgh in Cumbria since 2024, with water that falls on the Lake District hills.

ABV
3.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
cleanhoppymalty
clean
hoppy
malty
Aroma
The Slovenian Celeia hops deliver a distinctive elderflower character that sits gracefully atop a clean, subtle malt base.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hawkshead Bitter

◎ Appearance

A pale amber hue with bright clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a gentle cascade that sustains throughout the drink.

pale amberbright and clearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The Slovenian Celeia hops deliver a distinctive elderflower character that sits gracefully atop a clean, subtle malt base. The nose is herbaceous and floral rather than aggressive, inviting without dominating the sensory experience.

elderflowerherbal and floralCeleia hopsclean malt backdrop

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a crisp, clean malt sweetness that provides foundation before a gentle, well-balanced bitterness emerges in the mid-palate. The floral hop character weaves through without overwhelming, creating a dry, refreshing finish that feels approachable despite the 40 IBU profile.

balanced bitternesscrisp maltdry and refreshinghoppy without aggression

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is clean and moderately short, leaving a pleasant dryness and a whisper of herbal hop residue. The beer's low ABV allows the finish to feel light and easy-going rather than lingering.

clean dry finishherbal echobrief and refreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
77
Finish
76
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°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 Hawkshead Bitter

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About Ordinary Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ordinary Bitter?

Ordinary 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 Ordinary Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clean, crisp, hoppy character as Hawkshead Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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