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Sixex

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Toasted malts and fruitcake on the nose lead to a full-bodied, rich, malty palate with a roasted character and hints of chocolate, toasted sugars and coffee. Sixex pours dark mahogany with ruby highlights at 6.0% ABV. First brewed in 1901 and still made to the same recipe, it took silver in the 2011 European Beer Star porter class and silver again in the cask class at the 2026 International Brewing Awards.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter38 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
PaceTwo or Three

AWARDS

Silver · 2011
European Beer Star
Porter
Bronze · 2021
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, North West)
British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
Silver · 2026
International Brewing Awards
Cask Conditioned Beer – Class 4 (abv range 4.9%-6.9%)
Bronze · 2026
International Brewing Awards
Smallpack Ale – Class 4 (abv range 5.5% – 6.9%)
★Silver — European Beer Star (Porter)
★Bronze — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, North West) (British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%))
★Silver — International Brewing Awards (Cask Conditioned Beer – Class 4 (abv range 4.9%-6.9%))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedtoastymalty
roasted
toasty
malty
chocolate
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted malt and fruitcake notes, layered with dried dark fruit and warming spice.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Sixex

◎ Appearance

Sixex pours a deep mahogany brown with ruby highlights visible when held to light, presenting a dark yet translucent character. The head forms with moderate density and displays good retention, with visible lacing clinging to the glass walls as you drink. Carbonation is gentle and measured, befitting a cask-aged strong ale of this heritage.

deep mahoganyruby highlightsmoderate head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted malt and fruitcake notes, layered with dried dark fruit and warming spice. Subtle chocolate and coffee undertones emerge beneath, while a gentle roasted quality ties the composition together. There is no aggressive hop character; instead, the aromatic profile speaks to traditional malting and patient aging.

toasted maltdark fruitcakechocolate, coffee undertones

◐ Taste

The palate is full-bodied and rich, with roasted grain anchoring the entry and mid-palate. Toasted sugar, chocolate, and coffee notes develop smoothly across the tongue, complemented by dark fruit esters that recall dried stone fruit and fig. The bitterness is restrained at 38 IBU, allowing the malt's sweetness and roasted depth to dominate without becoming cloying.

full-bodied, roastedtoasted sugar, chocolatebalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with residual toasted malt sweetness giving way to a subtle dry roast in the aftertaste. A modest alcohol warmth (6% ABV) becomes apparent only at the very end, adding complexity without harshness.

long finishwarming alcohol note
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°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 Sixex

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About Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Ale?

Strong 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 Strong Ale

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

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