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Dark Side of the Moose

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A rich malty flavour balanced by fruity bitterness: Dark Side of the Moose is a dark ale at 4.6 %, built on dark crystal malt, roasted barley and Bramling Cross hops and brewed with Welsh mountain water. In 2025 it won Gold as category champion among cask dark beers at the Indie Beer Awards for Wales, after Bronze at the International Brewing Awards in 2024.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 2016
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Wales & West)
Small Pack Premium Bitters & Pale Ales
Silver · 2019
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Wales & West)
Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
Bronze · 2024
International Brewing Awards
Gold · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Wales)
Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
Bronze · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Wales)
Bottle & Can Amber, Brown & Red Ale (up to 6.4%)
★Silver — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Wales & West) (Small Pack Premium Bitters & Pale Ales)
★Silver — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Wales & West) (Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%))
★Bronze — International Brewing Awards
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltyroastedfruity
malty
roasted
fruity
dark fruit
nutty
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted malt and subtle caramel notes from the dark grains, underpinned by gentle woody and herbal character from Bramling Cross hops.
also:bready
not found:hoppy,chocolate,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Dark Side of the Moose

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to brown hue, characteristic of dark crystal malt and roasted barley foundations. The beer presents good clarity with a dense, tan head that shows solid retention and forms clean lacework down the glass as you drink. Moderate carbonation creates a lively but refined visual presentation.

deep mahoganydense tan headgood laceworkmoderately carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted malt and subtle caramel notes from the dark grains, underpinned by gentle woody and herbal character from Bramling Cross hops. A restrained fruity top note emerges—berry-like rather than citrus—without overwhelming the malt foundation. Clean fermentation allows the Welsh mountain water's mineral character to subtly frame the composition.

toasted maltcaramel sweetnesswoody herbsrestrained fruit

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and malty, with sweet caramel and toffee flavours establishing the mid-palate. Bramling Cross hops deliver measured fruity bitterness—blackberry and plum notes—that balances rather than dominates the rich malt character. The 24 IBU integration is clean and proportional, allowing complexity without harshness.

toffee sweetnessplum, blackberrybalanced bitternessfull body

◑ Finish

Medium-length finish with residual malt sweetness gradually giving way to dry, herbal bitterness. The aftertaste carries gentle warming from the 4.6% ABV and a subtle woody mineral note that lingers pleasantly.

medium dry finishherbal aftertastegentle warmth
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
83
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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 Dark Side of the Moose

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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, roasted, rich character as Dark Side of the Moose will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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