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Old Henry

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Old Henry was introduced in 1994 as the second Hobsons beer, a stronger companion to the Best Bitter. The auburn to chestnut-coloured ale is brewed with Maris Otter and crystal malt and with Challenger and Goldings hops. Spice and dried fruit show on the nose, joined by caramel and a leafy hop note. The palate is rich and smooth, with warm, sweet dark fruit, a light bitter roast and a clean finish. It is bottle-conditioned all year and appears on cask in autumn.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2018
CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain (regional, West Midlands)
Dark Ales
★Gold — CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain (regional, West Midlands) (Dark Ales)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
dark fruitspicyclean
dark fruit
spicy
clean
caramel
roasted
fruity
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced spice and dried fruit notes, complemented by soft caramel sweetness from the crystal malt base.
also:herbal,malty
not found:hoppy,bready,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Old Henry

◎ Appearance

Auburn to chestnut in color, presenting a warm, glowing hue that reflects its malt-forward character. The beer shows good clarity with a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a refined visual presence.

auburn to chestnutclearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced spice and dried fruit notes, complemented by soft caramel sweetness from the crystal malt base. A leafy, herbal hop character emerges underneath, suggesting noble hop influence from the Goldings variety. The overall impression is warm and inviting, with no sharp edges.

spicedried fruitcaramelleafy hops

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with dark fruit notes developing through the mid-palate—plum and raisin tones sit comfortably alongside the malt sweetness. A light roast bitterness emerges without dominating, balanced by the underlying richness. The finish is clean and dry, allowing the beer's complexity to linger without heaviness.

dark fruitsmooth mouthfeelbalanced bitternessclean finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is dry and gently warming, with residual malt sweetness and a subtle roast note fading steadily. Bitterness resolves quickly, leaving the palate refreshed rather than parched.

dry finishwarming effect
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
80
Appearance
77
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 Old Henry

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About Strong Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Bitter?

Strong 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 Strong Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dark fruit, rich, spicy character as Old Henry will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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