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Otter Bitter

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Fruity, malty and spicy, with a hint of bitterness, a sweet-bitter balance and a dry finish. Otter Bitter is the session beer the founder, David, set out to brew in 1990, so that low strength would not cost flavour. Challenger and Pilgrim hops bring the bitterness, Fuggles the aroma, and the water comes from the head springs of the River Otter. At 3.6% it is still brewed today.

ABV
3.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Herbal, floral 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
fruitymaltyspicy
fruity
malty
spicy
hoppy
floral
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with soft fruit esters—subtle stone fruit and dried orange—layered over biscuit and light caramel Malz notes.
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Otter Bitter

◎ Appearance

Medium amber color with a warm golden undertone, reflecting a moderate caramel Malz presence. Clear and bright with stable, persistent head retention and fine carbonation that supports a delicate white foam collar. The visual profile speaks to a classically balanced session ale.

medium amberclear and brightpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with soft fruit esters—subtle stone fruit and dried orange—layered over biscuit and light caramel Malz notes. Fuggles hops contribute a traditional floral and herbal character with mild spice undertones. A balanced, approachable bouquet that invites without overwhelming.

stone fruit estersfloral Edelhopfenbiscuit Malz

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and lightly sweet, revealing ripe fruit character and Malz-forward body. Mid-palate develops a spicy hop presence from Challenger and Pilgrim varieties, creating gentle bitterness that never dominates. The sweet-bitter equilibrium resolves into a clean, dry finish without harshness.

fruity, malty balancegentle hop bitternessdry resolution

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is crisp and refreshing, with lingering dry spice and a subtle caramel fade. Carbonation and Malz dryness work together to cleanse the palate, leaving no cloying residue.

dry, refreshingspice fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
78
Finish
76
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 Otter Bitter

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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 fruity, malty, dry character as Otter Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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