hopIQ
ENDE
Sign up freeSign in

Spital Strong Ale

Spitalbrauerei Regensburg
Tap to rate
🌍 Germany · Strong Ale · One of 2 Strong Ales in hopIQ

Spitalbrauerei Regensburg is the city's oldest brewery, and the Spital Strong Ale is built to prove it — a bold manufaktur beer at 9.9% that tastes of rich malt, caramel and dark fruit deepening into something almost chocolate-like. Full-bodied and warming without harshness, this is the kind of strong ale that demands winter nights and long, quiet contemplation.

ABV
9.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber14
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

Full body.

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Strong Ale.
Malt character
malty
caramel
toasty
bready
chocolate
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#5 of 50The Best German Strong Beers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Spital Strong Ale

Appearance

Deep amber to light brown in color, reflecting the SRM of 14 with excellent clarity. A thick, creamy head forms and persists well, suggesting proper carbonation and rich malt character. The beer presents a visually inviting, well-crafted appearance befitting its heritage from Regensburg's oldest brewery.

deep ambercreamy headclearrich color

Aroma

Complex malt-forward nose with prominent caramel and bread notes complemented by subtle dark fruit esters. The 9.9% ABV contributes warming alcohol vapors that enhance the aromatic complexity without dominating. Yeasty undertones round out the bouquet with a sophisticated, layered character.

caramel maltdark fruitbreadwarming alcohol

Taste

Full-bodied entry with rich malt sweetness and pronounced caramel character that coats the palate beautifully. Mid-palate reveals smooth alcohol warmth with bread and yeast complexity, while moderate bitterness (40 IBU) provides balance without harshness. The finish remains malty and warming throughout.

rich maltsmoothcaramel sweetnessbalanced bitterness

Finish

Lingering finish with warming alcohol and malty sweetness that persists pleasantly on the palate. The aftertaste is smooth and slightly dry, inviting another sip without becoming cloying.

warminglingeringsmooth
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
86
Appearance
83
Finish
84
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Spital Strong Ale

Serve at 12–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 12–16°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 Spital Strong Ale

About Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Ale?

Strong 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 Strong Ale

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

Other Strong Ales in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

Not sure where to find Spital Strong Ale? Search on:

RateBeer →Untappd →