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Kirkstall Light Dinner Ale

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Malt-led table beer at 3.3% from the Revival Series, hopped with Bramling Cross. The light dinner ale style was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s and preceded the modern bitter. Blackberry and fruitcake on the palate, freshly baked raisin cookies on the nose, at a strength well below most bitters. Poured on cask.

ABV
3.3%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltyfruityberry
malty
fruity
berry
bready
clean
hoppy
Aroma
Bramling Cross hops deliver subtle fruity and herbal notes that meld with warm maltiness.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kirkstall Light Dinner Ale

◎ Appearance

A pale golden brew with bright clarity, characteristic of the table beer style. The cask-poured format yields a modest, creamy head with fine retention and delicate lacing that fades gradually. Carbonation is restrained but present, allowing the beer's lightness to come through.

pale goldenbright claritycreamy headlightly carbonated

◌ Aroma

Bramling Cross hops deliver subtle fruity and herbal notes that meld with warm maltiness. The nose is dominated by freshly baked raisin cookies and a gentle spice character. Beneath lies a soft, biscuity Malz foundation without any aggressive green or grassy notes.

raisin cookiesBramling Cross spicesoft biscuitherbal undertone

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a malt-forward sweetness balanced by blackberry and fruitcake character. Mid-palate reveals a light body with restrained bitterness—the 40 IBU are well-integrated rather than assertive. The finish remains clean and dry, with the fruitcake notes carrying through without cloying.

blackberryfruitcakemalt-ledbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

A brief, clean finish with lingering fruit and subtle spice. The low ABV allows the aftertaste to fade gracefully, leaving a light dryness suited to the beer's table ale purpose.

clean finishfruit and spice decaydry aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
79
Appearance
77
Finish
76
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°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 Kirkstall Light Dinner Ale

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About Table Beer

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Table Beer?

Table Beer 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 Table Beer

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

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