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Philter Old Ale

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The Old Ale follows the Australian reading of the style, a dark session ale rather than a strong English old. Roasted malts bring chocolate and coffee with a hint of dark bread crust, the body stays smooth and moderate, and a medium bitterness keeps the roast from turning sweet. Old-school in the best sense.

ABV
4.5%
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
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
malty
bready
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with roasted grain character—chocolate and coffee dominate, underpinned by a subtle dark bread crust note.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Philter Old Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to dark brown, with the clarity and brightness typical of a well-executed session ale. A modest but persistent tan head forms and clings to the glass with fine Schaumhaftung. Carbonation appears moderate and even throughout.

deep mahoganyclearfine head retentionmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with roasted grain character—chocolate and coffee dominate, underpinned by a subtle dark bread crust note. There is no sharp scorching; the roast sits in balance, warm and inviting. Noble hop bitterness provides a gentle counterpoint without floral or herbal assertion.

roasted maltschocolate, coffeesubtle breadinessrestrained bitterness

◐ Taste

The palate enters smooth and full-bodied for its 4.5% strength, with roasted malt and cocoa notes building through the mid-palate. A medium bitterness rises steadily, holding back any tendency toward sweetness and maintaining clarity of flavor. The finish is clean and dry, with roast lingering softly.

smooth, moderate bodyroast-forwardbalanced bitternessclean finish

◑ Finish

The bitterness extends into a medium-length finish, trailing off into a lightly roasted, malty aftertaste. No harshness remains; the overall impression is one of restrained complexity and drinkability.

medium lengthmalty decay
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
79
Appearance
75
Finish
76
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 Philter Old Ale

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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 roasted, chocolate, coffee character as Philter Old Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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