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Sea Fury

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First brewed in 1996 under the name Sharp's Special, as a stronger ale for the local fishermen, and later renamed after the winter storms on the Cornish coast. The brewery calls it a special bitter. The aroma shows roasted notes and dark berries; on the palate come full malt, caramel and berry fruit, carried by a medium to full body. A firm hop bitterness rounds off the finish. It is sold mainly as cask ale.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter33 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few

AWARDS

World's Best Pale Bitter · 2021
World Beer Awards
Country Winner · 2021
World Beer Awards
Bitter 4.5 to 5.5%
World's Best Pale Bitter 4.5 to 5.5% · 2020
World Beer Awards
Bitter 4.5 to 5.5%
Country Winner · 2020
World Beer Awards
Bitter 4.5 to 5.5%
Bronze · 2020
European Beer Star
★World's Best Pale Bitter — World Beer Awards
★Country Winner — World Beer Awards (Bitter 4.5 to 5.5%)
★World's Best Pale Bitter 4.5 to 5.5% — World Beer Awards (Bitter 4.5 to 5.5%)
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
roasted
hoppy
berry
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced roasted notes and dark berry fruit, offering complexity beyond simple caramel sweetness.
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Sea Fury

◎ Appearance

Sea Fury presents a deep amber to brown hue, reflecting its roasted malt character and moderate color intensity (SRM 12). The beer displays good clarity with a firm, cream-colored head that exhibits persistent lacing as it recedes. Carbonation appears moderate, appropriate for a cask ale tradition.

deep amberpersistent headclearmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced roasted notes and dark berry fruit, offering complexity beyond simple caramel sweetness. Subtle hop character emerges beneath, contributing a restrained herbal undertone without dominating the profile. The overall impression is warm and inviting, balanced between malt depth and measured aromatic hop presence.

roasted maltdark berriesherbal hop noteswarm

◐ Taste

The palate opens with full malt sweetness and caramel, establishing a medium to full body that carries through cleanly. Berry fruit develops mid-palate, complementing rather than competing with the malt foundation. A firm hop bitterness (33 IBU) emerges in the mid-palate and builds toward the finish, providing structure and definition without harshness.

caramel maltberry fruitfirm bitternessfull-bodied

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and moderately long, with lingering hop bitterness that gradually fades. A subtle roasted grain quality persists in the aftertaste, leaving the mouth clean and inviting another sip.

dry finishlingering bitternessroasted aftertaste
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
83
Appearance
78
Finish
76
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 Sea Fury

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About Strong Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Bitter?

Strong Bitter 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 Strong Bitter

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

Other Strong Bitters in hopIQ

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