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Afterglow

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Rich biscuit, caramel, toffee and dark fruit notes sit in a deep, malty character, with gentle rye spice and an earthy hop bitterness in the finish. Afterglow is a modern ruby-red ale at 4.7%, brewed by Sambrook's in Wandsworth and served on cask in pubs across the country. It is one of the brewery's additions for 2026.

ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelmaltydark fruit
caramel
malty
dark fruit
earthy
spicy
toasty
Aroma
The nose leads with rich biscuit and toasted grain character, followed by warm caramel and toffee notes.
also:hoppy
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Afterglow

◎ Appearance

Afterglow presents a deep ruby-red colour with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves distinct lacing on the glass. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a soft visual presence that reflects the ale's approachable strength.

deep ruby-redclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with rich biscuit and toasted grain character, followed by warm caramel and toffee notes. Beneath lies a subtle dark fruit complexity with gentle spice from the rye, and a faint earthy hop backdrop that grounds the overall aromatic profile.

biscuit, toasted graincaramel, toffeedark fruitgentle rye spice

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and fully malty, with pronounced caramel sweetness balanced by a restrained bitterness. The palate sits rich with dark fruit and toasted malt flavours, while a subtle spice edge from the rye adds complexity without overwhelming the malt-forward character.

malty sweetnessdark fruittoasted characterbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with earthy hop bitterness lingering pleasantly. The aftertaste carries faint toffee and spice notes, fading to a gentle, dry conclusion.

earthy hop bitternessmoderately dryfaint toffee note
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
80
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 Afterglow

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About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Amber Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →