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Hövels Original

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A gently bitter opening, then roasted and caramel aromas, malt, a balanced hop note and the fruitiness of top fermentation: Hövels Original is red-gold, with a soft, slim body. Four malts go into the slow, gentle mash: pale and dark barley malt, wheat malt and roasted malt. Launched in 1893 as a more bitter alternative to the sweet beers of the time, hence its first name, Original Bitterbier. 5.5% ABV.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedcaramelmalty
roasted
caramel
malty
fruity
hoppy
toasty
Aroma
The nose opens with roasted grain and caramel notes, followed by soft fruity esters characteristic of top fermentation.
also:nutty,bready
not found:juicy,chocolate,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hövels Original

◎ Appearance

Hövels Original presents a red-gold hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a soft visual presence that reflects the beer's gentle character. The color depth suggests a careful balance of pale and roasted malts without excessive darkness.

red-goldclearfine lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with roasted grain and caramel notes, followed by soft fruity esters characteristic of top fermentation. A restrained, noble hop presence sits beneath, adding herbal complexity without dominating. The overall impression is of warm, toasted malts in harmony with a gentle fruit and hop backdrop.

roasted graincaramelfruity estersnoble hops

◐ Taste

Entry brings a gently bitter character that immediately mellows into caramel and roasted malt sweetness across the mid-palate. The body remains slim and smooth-drinking, allowing the interplay of malt depth and restrained hop bitterness to develop clearly. Nutty and toasty undertones emerge, balanced by a touch of bread-like maltiness that prevents heaviness.

gentle bitternessroasted maltsmooth bodynutty undertones

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with roasted and caramel notes persisting gently into the aftertaste. Bitterness fades gracefully without astringency, leaving a balanced memory of malt and subtle hop character.

clean finishmoderate dryness
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
77
Appearance
78
Finish
74
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 Hövels Original

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About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

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 Brown Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, caramel, malty character as Hövels Original will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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