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Brodgar Bere

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Brodgar Bere is rich, complex and fruity, with a full flavour that carries El Dorado, Amarillo and Cascade hops over pale, wheat, chocolate and crystal malt. Its backbone is Bere, an ancient grain the brewers went back as far as they could to source, paired with rye. Brodgar is the old Norse bridge farm in the Neolithic heart of Orkney, where people gathered by the water and began to brew.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter45 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Bottle & Can Amber, Brown & Red Ale (up to 6.4%)
★Silver — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland) (Bottle & Can Amber, Brown & Red Ale (up to 6.4%))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitymaltychocolate
fruity
malty
chocolate
caramel
hoppy
wheat
Aroma
The nose opens with fruity and floral notes from the El Dorado, Amarillo and Cascade hop blend, layered over warm, earthy undertones from the ancient bere grain.
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Brodgar Bere

◎ Appearance

Brodgar Bere presents a deep amber hue with warm copper undertones, reflecting the diverse malt bill and the distinctive character of bere grain. The beer displays good clarity with a dense, persistent head that leaves substantial lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a refined visual presentation.

deep ambercopper tonespersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with fruity and floral notes from the El Dorado, Amarillo and Cascade hop blend, layered over warm, earthy undertones from the ancient bere grain. Chocolate and subtle caramel from the crystal malt provide depth, while the wheat and rye contribute a gentle grainy spiciness. The overall aroma is complex and inviting, suggesting a beer with considerable personality.

citrus and floral hopschocolate and caramelancient grain spice

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a full, rounded entry that showcases the malt complexity—chocolate, caramel, and a subtle toasted grain character dominate the mid-palate. The hop bitterness (45 IBU) is present but restrained, allowing the fruity hop character to shine through without overwhelming the malt foundation. The interplay of bere and rye creates a distinctive earthy, slightly peppery undertone that adds complexity.

malt-forwardbalanced bitternessearthy grain complexity

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with the bitterness receding gracefully to reveal lingering chocolate and grain notes. The aftertaste carries a subtle fruitiness from the hops and a persistent warmth from the ancient grain character.

dry and cleanlingering chocolate
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
78
Finish
77
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 Brodgar Bere

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About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Amber Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Scotland beers →