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Moonraker

United Kingdom·English Strong Ale
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A strong, ebony-coloured ale named after a local legend about farm workers who tried to rake the moon's reflection out of a pond. Pale ale and chocolate malts with Celeia and Admiral hops produce a rich, warming beer. The aroma brings warming spice; on the palate come deep fruit, red berries and a pronounced liquorice note, with a sweet malt core. The finish is smooth despite the strength. It is the strongest beer of the regular range.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicymaltydark fruit
spicy
malty
dark fruit
chocolate
berry
caramel
Aroma
Warming spice dominates the nose, with notes of black pepper and clove emerging alongside the malt.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Moonraker

◎ Appearance

Deep ebony colour with a rich, dark mahogany tone when held to light. The head is substantial and persistent, with fine lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is gentle and measured, befitting the strength and weight of the beer.

deep ebonypersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

Warming spice dominates the nose, with notes of black pepper and clove emerging alongside the malt. Dark fruit and liquorice undertones develop, while subtle chocolate and caramel notes provide depth. The overall impression is complex and inviting, with no harsh alcohol vapours.

warming spicedark fruitliquoricechocolate notes

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a sweet malt core and pronounced liquorice character, followed by layers of red berries and deep stone fruit. Chocolate and caramel notes contribute richness without cloying. The bitterness is restrained at 35 IBU, allowing the complexity of malt and fruit to dominate throughout the mid-palate.

liquorice prominentdark fruit layerssweet maltchocolate, caramel

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and warming despite the 6.5% ABV, with lingering notes of liquorice and dried fruit. The malt sweetness persists gently without becoming sticky, leaving a clean and satisfying conclusion.

smooth warmthlingering fruitmalt sweetness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
80
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 Moonraker

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About English Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Strong Ale?

English 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 English Strong Ale

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

Other English Strong Ales in hopIQ

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