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Mistletoe & Swine

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A full-bodied, deep amber ale with subtle hints of sultana, peppery ginger, warm cinnamon and orange zest. It is made with a mulling recipe for a real Christmas taste and feel. Mistletoe & Swine is 4.2% and a festive seasonal from Hogs Back in Tongham, Surrey, with a name that plays on the Christmas song.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop 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
spicyorangemalty
spicy
orange
malty
hoppy
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with warm spice—prominent peppery ginger and cinnamon—layered beneath bright citrus notes of orange zest and dried sultana.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Mistletoe & Swine

◎ Appearance

Deep amber hue with rich copper undertones, showing good clarity and a fine, persistent head. Carbonation appears moderate, with steady fine bubbles rising through the glass. The foam displays notable retention and forms a thin, adhesive lacing on the walls.

deep ambercopper tonespersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with warm spice—prominent peppery ginger and cinnamon—layered beneath bright citrus notes of orange zest and dried sultana. Underlying malt sweetness provides backbone, with subtle toasted and caramel-like undertones that reinforce the festive character. A gentle herbal hop presence grounds the composition without dominating.

ginger, cinnamonorange zestdried sultanawarm spice

◐ Taste

Full-bodied entry with a rounded malt foundation, quickly joined by pronounced spice warmth and dried fruit character. Mid-palate develops pleasant caramel notes and a subtle bittersweet orange finish that frames the spice without harsh edges. The 28 IBU bitterness remains measured and integrated, never aggressive, allowing the mulling spice profile to remain the focal point.

malt-forwardspiced warmthcaramel sweetness

◑ Finish

The finish is medium-length, tapering gradually with lingering warmth from cinnamon and ginger. A gentle drying sensation emerges from mild hop bitterness, leaving behind pleasant spice and subtle citrus notes.

medium lengthlingering spice
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
76
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 Mistletoe & Swine

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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 full-bodied, spicy, orange character as Mistletoe & Swine 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 →