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Yule Hog

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Drinkers describe a sweet and fruity Christmas ale at 3.8%, with the sweetness and the fruit standing out. Yule Hog is a seasonal winter ale from Hogs Back in Tongham, Surrey, where the family-owned brewery has made beer at Manor Farm since 1992 and grows its own hops beside the brewhouse. The brewery's Untappd listing files it as a Winter Ale.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitycleanroasted
fruity
clean
roasted
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with candied fruit and gentle sweetness—dried stone fruits and a hint of orange peel emerge first.
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Yule Hog

◎ Appearance

Yule Hog presents a copper-amber hue with a warm, inviting glow characteristic of its 20 SRM. The beer displays good clarity with gentle carbonation, and builds a substantial off-white head that shows solid retention and fine lacing on the glass.

copper-amberclearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with candied fruit and gentle sweetness—dried stone fruits and a hint of orange peel emerge first. Underlying notes of toasted grain and subtle spice from the malt bill provide complexity, while the 24 IBU hops remain in the background, never assertive.

dried fruitstone fruittoasted grainsubtle spice

◐ Taste

The palate opens with pronounced sweetness and ripe fruit character, balanced by moderate malty depth and a light roasted edge. The low bitterness integrates smoothly, allowing the fruity sweetness to remain the dominant voice without becoming cloying. The body is clean and approachable, typical of its modest 3.8% ABV.

sweet entryfruity midpalategentle bitternessmalt backbone

◑ Finish

The finish is medium-short and warm, fading gracefully into a lingering sweetness with light malt residue. A soft, slightly drying sensation concludes the experience without harshness.

warm fadelingering sweetness
77
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
78
Finish
75
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 Yule Hog

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About Winter Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Winter Ale?

Winter 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 Winter Ale

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

Compare with another beer →