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Black Beer

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A clean, simple dark ale brewed with flaked barley, Maris Otter and East Kent Goldings. Black Beer is a seasonal at Holy Mountain, and its comeback was announced in the brewery's own mythic style, as if it had fallen through fire and water, from the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, before returning to finish its task.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
cleanmaltynoble hop
clean
malty
noble hop
dark fruit
toasty
nutty
Aroma
The nose leads with clean, grainy malt notes enhanced by toasty and bready undertones.
also:caramel,bready
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Beer

◎ Appearance

Deep brown with mahogany highlights, presenting a translucent body characteristic of the style. The head forms with moderate density and exhibits solid retention, with fine lacing adhering to the glass as the beer settles. Carbonation is gentle and well-integrated, supporting a refined visual presence.

deep mahoganytranslucent bodyfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with clean, grainy malt notes enhanced by toasty and bready undertones. East Kent Goldings contribute a subtle noble-hop character—softly herbal and floral without assertiveness. Dark fruit esters emerge in the background, alongside a whisper of nuttiness that rounds the aromatic profile.

grainy maltnoble hopsdark fruit esterstoasty grain

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a clean, malty foundation that transitions smoothly through caramel and nutty mid-palate notes. Bitterness remains restrained at 24 IBU, allowing the bready and toasted character to flourish without obstruction. The flaked barley and Maris Otter malt deliver a soft, accessible sweetness balanced by gentle herbal spice from the hops.

malty sweetnessrestrained bitternesssmooth drinking

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately short, fading gracefully without harshness. A lingering impression of toasted malt and subtle dark fruit remains, with no rough edges or alcohol warmth.

clean fadetoasted malt aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
77
Finish
76
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 Black Beer

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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 clean, malty, noble-hop character as Black Beer will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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