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Dragon's Fire

JW Lees
United Kingdom·Ordinary Bitter·Rank 9 of 39 · The Best British Amber Ales
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An all-malt amber bitter brewed with Golding hops as a tribute to the brewery's ties to Wales, where part of its pub estate lies; it also goes by the Welsh name Cwrw Ambr. The colour is a deep, flame-like amber. Floral aromas and hints of spice come first, followed by biscuit malt and fresh citrus, and a clean, dry finish with a warming citrus aftertaste. In build and strength it sits close to the house bitter.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop 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
floralcleancitrusy
floral
clean
citrusy
bready
malty
spicy
Aroma
The nose leads with clean floral notes from the Golding hops, complemented by subtle spice undertones.
also:noble hop,caramel
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Dragon's Fire

◎ Appearance

Dragon's Fire presents a deep, flame-like amber hue that catches light with warmth and clarity. The head forms with moderate density and clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. Carbonation is gentle and steady, appropriate to the style's understated character.

deep amberclearfine lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with clean floral notes from the Golding hops, complemented by subtle spice undertones. Behind these sits a biscuit-malt foundation with fresh citrus brightness that lifts the overall character without dominating. The aromatic profile remains balanced and inviting, free of any harsh or oxidative notes.

floral Golding hopsspicybiscuit maltcitrus brightness

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a clean, slightly sweet entry of bready malt before moving into a balanced mid-palate where citrus and noble-hop bitterness come into gentle focus. A subtle caramel sweetness rounds the structure without cloying. The bitterness (28 IBU) remains restrained and integrated, never sharp or astringent.

clean malt backbonebalanced bitternesscitrus and spicedry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with a warming citrus aftertaste that lingers pleasantly without becoming heavy. The warmth characteristic of the 4% ABV sits comfortably, neither aggressive nor absent.

drywarming citrus aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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 Dragon's Fire

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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 floral, clean, dry character as Dragon's Fire will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Ordinary Bitters in hopIQ

FEATURED IN

#9 of 50The Best British Amber Ales→Featured inThe Best British Beers→
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