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Otter Claus

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Malty, with a bittersweet honey-chocolate edge and earthy, fruity tones; Fuggles hops add a bitterness that makes it hard to stop at one. Otter Claus is the brewery's Christmas beer, a dark ruby brew at 5.0% that balances malt against that bittersweet edge and is sold in 500 ml bottles by the case while stocks last.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltychocolatefruity
malty
chocolate
fruity
honey
earthy
toasty
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced malty sweetness layered with chocolate and subtle honey notes.
also:nutty,caramel,bready
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Otter Claus

◎ Appearance

Dark ruby in color with a warm, translucent quality typical of the brown ale style. The head forms with moderate density and displays good retention and lacing. Carbonation is gentle and persistent, creating fine bubbles that rise slowly through the glass.

dark rubygood head retentionwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced malty sweetness layered with chocolate and subtle honey notes. Earthy and fruity undertones emerge from the Fuggles hops, balanced by a gentle herbal bitterness. The overall impression is warm and inviting, with no sharp or aggressive edges.

chocolate-forwardhoney-maltearthy hop character

◐ Taste

The palate leads with rich, full malt character that carries honey and chocolate flavors with equal presence. Mid-palate reveals bittersweet complexity—the Fuggles hops introduce a measured bitterness that prevents cloying sweetness while maintaining the beer's approachable 5% strength. Toasted, nutty, and caramel notes add depth without overwhelming the balance.

bittersweet maltchocolate-honey fusionsmooth bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately long, with the bitterness lingering pleasantly as malt warmth recedes. Dry earthiness lingers as a gentle reminder of the hop profile, leaving the palate refreshed and inviting another sip.

clean finishlingering bitterness
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°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 Claus

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About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

Brown 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 Brown Ale

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

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