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A Cut Above

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March's monthly cask is a dark golden English ale at 4.0% ABV. Vienna and Cara malts give colour and depth, while English Boadicea hops lend a light floral lift; hops and light malt show on the nose, and the palate carries a gentle blend of spicy and floral notes. A well-groomed entry in Hydes' 2026 hairstyle series.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
floralspicyhoppy
floral
spicy
hoppy
malty
noble hop
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with clean, herbaceous English hop character—subtle floral and grassy notes layered with a light spice.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for A Cut Above

◎ Appearance

A clear dark golden hue, bright and luminous in the glass. The head is moderate and persistent, with fine white foam that clings to the glass with delicate lacing. Carbonation is gentle, appropriate to the cask format, with a steady stream of small bubbles rising through the body.

dark goldenclearfine lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with clean, herbaceous English hop character—subtle floral and grassy notes layered with a light spice. Beneath lie soft Vienna and Cara malt impressions, bringing a warmth of biscuit and light caramel without heaviness. The overall effect is restrained and elegant, inviting rather than assertive.

floral hopsherbaceousbiscuit maltlight spice

◐ Taste

The palate enters smoothly with a gentle malt sweetness that develops into nuanced spicy and floral impressions from Boadicea hops. Mid-palate holds a fine balance between noble hop bitterness and malt depth; the 20 IBU sits comfortably, refreshing rather than aggressive. The body is clean and lean, finishing with a whisper of malt and lingering floral dryness.

smooth entrybalanced bitternessfloral-spicy blendclean body

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and relatively short, fading to a dry, slightly floral aftertaste that leaves the palate refreshed. No astringency or cloying residue—just a gentle fade befitting a well-crafted session ale.

crispdry floral faderefreshing
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
77
Appearance
75
Finish
73
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C. Light and refreshing — serve cold to keep the delicate hop and malt balance intact.

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 A Cut Above

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About Golden Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Golden Ale?

Golden 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 Golden Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same floral, spicy, hoppy character as A Cut Above will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →