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Colonial Ale

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Earthy hops and a balanced bitterness mark Colonial Ale, a 4% ABV extra special bitter brewed as a recipe in honor of the 250th birthday of the USA. It is a recent addition from Long Trail, the Vermont brewery in Bridgewater Corners that has been brewing since 1989, and it has been poured on draft at the brewery itself.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Clean, dry 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
earthyhoppycaramel
earthy
hoppy
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced earthy hop character, grounded and mineral-forward without aggressive florality.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Colonial Ale

◎ Appearance

Colonial Ale presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a lively yet composed visual presence typical of the Extra Special Bitter style.

pale goldenclearfine head lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced earthy hop character, grounded and mineral-forward without aggressive florality. Underlying malt notes provide a subtle caramel sweetness that balances the herbal hop profile, while clean fermentation allows the ingredients to speak without yeasty distraction.

earthy hopsmineral tonecaramel sweetnessclean fermentation

◐ Taste

The palate opens smooth and approachable, with malt-derived caramel and light bread notes establishing a balanced foundation. Earthy bitterness builds steadily through the mid-palate at 40 IBUs—enough to define character without dominating—while the 4% ABV keeps the body light and drinkable. The hop character remains herbal and grounded throughout.

balanced bitternesssmooth entryearthy hopslight body

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with the earthy hop bitterness lingering pleasantly without harshness. A subtle malt sweetness fades gracefully, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for another sip.

clean finishdry aftertastemoderate length
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
78
Appearance
80
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 Colonial Ale

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About Extra Special Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Extra Special Bitter?

Extra Special 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 Extra Special Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same earthy, bitter, hoppy character as Colonial Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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