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Joseph Holt Bitter

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Big bitterness, biting but balanced, sits on a dry malt base with light caramel and malty notes and punchy, earthy hops; the finish is silky smooth. The cask recipe dates to 1849, brewed with the same ingredients and method, and with a yeast strain that has been re-grown ever since. At 4.0% ABV, Bitter took gold at the 2026 International Brewing Awards.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter40 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2026
International Brewing Awards
Cask Conditioned Beer – Class 2 (abv range 3.9%-4.3%)
★Gold — International Brewing Awards (Cask Conditioned Beer – Class 2 (abv range 3.9%-4.3%))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
earthymaltyhoppy
earthy
malty
hoppy
caramel
Aroma
Earthy and herbal hop character dominates the nose, grounded in a warm, biscuity Malz foundation.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Joseph Holt Bitter

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light copper in color, presenting a clear and bright character. A firm, off-white head forms and clings to the glass with good retention. Carbonation is moderate and even, appropriate to the cask-conditioned tradition.

deep amberclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

Earthy and herbal hop character dominates the nose, grounded in a warm, biscuity Malz foundation. Light caramel sweetness emerges beneath the hop-forward profile, with a subtle woody undertone that suggests the age and stability of the yeast strain.

earthy hopsbiscuit Malzlight caramelherbal

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a punchy bitterness that frames a lean, dry Malz backbone. Mid-palate develops subtle caramel notes and a smooth, silky texture that belies the aggressive entry. The bitterness remains integrated throughout, never harsh, and the earthy hop character persists as a dry, grounding thread.

punchy bitternessdry Malzsilky mouthfeelearthy

◑ Finish

A long, clean finish with lingering bitterness and dry Malz character. The aftertaste is smooth and composed, with earthy hop notes fading slowly to leave a refreshing, balanced conclusion.

lingering bitternessdry finishsmooth fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
82
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 Joseph Holt 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 bitter, dry, smooth character as Joseph Holt Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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