hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Philter Old Ale

Philter Brewing
Tap to rate
🌍 Australia · Brown Ale · One of 12 Brown Ales in hopIQ

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
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Brown Ale.
Malt character
roasted
chocolate
coffee
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

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
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Philter Old Ale

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Philter Old Ale

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.

Other Brown Ales in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

Not sure where to find Philter Old Ale? Search on:

RateBeer →Untappd →