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Otter Head

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Fruit cake, port and alcohol on the nose, then a malty, fruity, slightly sweet body with warming sherry notes and a long, dry bittersweet finish. Otter Head has a barley wine and old ale character at 5.8%, yet stays light to drink thanks to a carefully balanced use of hops, classic English ones among them.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Bronze · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, South West)
Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
Gold · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, South West Bottle & Can)
Bottle & Can British Ales (up to 6.4%)
★Bronze — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, South West) (Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%))
★Gold — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, South West Bottle & Can) (Bottle & Can British Ales (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
fruitymaltydark fruit
fruity
malty
dark fruit
noble hop
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with classic Old Ale character: dried dark fruits, port wine, and candied cake aromas intermingle with warming alcohol notes.
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Otter Head

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper-brown in color, reflecting the beer's substantial malt bill despite its moderate ABV. The beer presents good clarity with a fine, creamy head that displays persistent lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a composed, dignified pour.

deep ambercreamy headpersistent lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with classic Old Ale character: dried dark fruits, port wine, and candied cake aromas intermingle with warming alcohol notes. Beneath lies a solid malty foundation with subtle caramel undertones and a whisper of noble hops adding structure without dominating. The bouquet evolves with oxidative complexity typical of the style.

dark fruitport winemalty sweetnesswarming alcohol

◐ Taste

The palate enters fruity and full-bodied, with rich malt flavors building in the mid-palate alongside subtle sherry-like warmth. A careful hop balance emerges—enough to frame the sweetness without thinning the experience. The beer drinks lighter than its character suggests, demonstrating restraint in both alcohol heat and bitterness.

fruitymalty bodysherry warmthsmooth drinking

◑ Finish

The finish unfolds long and drying, with a bittersweet interplay that gradually fades to a dry, gently astringent aftertaste. Warming alcohol and dark fruit notes linger pleasantly, inviting another sip.

long finishbittersweetwarming
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
81
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 Head

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About Old Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Old Ale?

Old 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 Old Ale

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

Compare with another beer →