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Castle Bitter

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Full flavoured with plenty of body: amber, balanced and gently bitter, with the fruity, slightly spicy aroma of a classic English pale ale. Castle Bitter is a copper-coloured Lakeland bitter at just 3.4 %, built on Maris Otter pale, amber, crystal and chocolate malts, with Fuggles for the bitterness and Challenger and Goldings for the aroma. It is named after the castle that towers above the brewery.

ABV
3.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted 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
fruitymaltyspicy
fruity
malty
spicy
noble hop
chocolate
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with ripe fruit notes—apple and stone fruit—layered with gentle spice from classic English hop character.
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Castle Bitter

◎ Appearance

Castle Bitter presents a clear copper hue with warm amber undertones, characteristic of its balanced Malz bill. The head forms with modest density and displays steady Schaumhaftung, creating fine lacing down the glass. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting a refined visual presence.

copper, amberclearpersistent head lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with ripe fruit notes—apple and stone fruit—layered with gentle spice from classic English hop character. Beneath sits a warm Malz foundation of caramel and subtle chocolate, with earthy undertones from Fuggles that ground the profile. The aromatic expression is inviting without aggression, balancing restraint with complexity.

fruity, stone fruitspice, herbalchocolate, caramel

◐ Taste

Entry is vollmundig and smooth, with fruity sweetness and caramel Malz flavors coating the palate immediately. Mid-palate sustains the malty core, introducing gentle chocolate notes and a subtle noble-hop spice that builds gradually. Bitterness arrives measured and poised, finishing with a dry edge that complements rather than overwhelms the underlying fruit and Malz character.

full-bodiedfruity, balancedclean bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length with a dry, gently bitter aftertaste that lingers with traces of caramel and earthy hop. The low ABV allows the flavors to fade cleanly without heat or alcohol burn.

dry, lingeringmoderate length
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
78
Appearance
76
Finish
77
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 Castle Bitter

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About Ordinary Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ordinary Bitter?

Ordinary Bitter 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 Ordinary Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, full-bodied, malty character as Castle Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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