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Fairytale of New Pork

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A smoky amber ale with cinder toffee, caramel and biscuit notes and a warm smokiness throughout. The smoke comes from beechwood-smoked German malt, which gives the 4.0% beer a gentle campfire edge instead of a heavy one. It is one of Hogs Back's seasonal pun-named ales, brewed in Tongham, Surrey, where Hogs Back has made beer since 1992.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
smokycaramelmalty
smoky
caramel
malty
toasty
hoppy
Aroma
Prominent beechwood smoke dominates the nose, reminiscent of a dying campfire with warm wood ash.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fairytale of New Pork

◎ Appearance

Deep amber hue with reddish-brown undertones, clear and bright. A dense, creamy head forms and recedes to a persistent collar. Moderate carbonation creates a fine bead that rises steadily through the glass.

deep amberclearcreamy head

◌ Aroma

Prominent beechwood smoke dominates the nose, reminiscent of a dying campfire with warm wood ash. Beneath lies sweet caramel and toffee, supported by biscuit and bread crust notes. The smoke is refined and gentle rather than acrid or overpowering.

beechwood smokecarameltoasted bread

◐ Taste

The palate opens with soft caramel sweetness and cinder toffee, followed by a toasted malt backbone that feels substantial despite the modest ABV. Smoke persists throughout the mid-palate as a warming, integrated element. Bitterness is restrained at 28 IBU, allowing the malt character and smoke to lead.

smooth carameltoasted maltsubtle smokelow bitterness

◑ Finish

Medium-length finish with lingering warmth from the smoke and a gentle drying quality from the malt. No harsh edges; instead, a pleasant campfire-like aftertaste fades gradually.

warm, smoky finishmoderate length
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
78
Appearance
81
Finish
75
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 Fairytale of New Pork

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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 smoky, caramel, malty character as Fairytale of New Pork 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 →