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DirectoryShepherd Neame

Spitfire Amber Ale

Shepherd Neame
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🌍 England · English Bitter · One of 16 English Bitters in hopIQ

First brewed in 1990 to commemorate the Battle of Britain. 100% Kentish hops — Target, Challenger and East Kent Goldings — layering orange marmalade over sweet caramel malt with a peppery dry finish.

ABV
4.5%
IBU
35
SRM
amber11

Flavor Profile

How this beer tastes, mapped across 48 flavour tags

caramel
100%
citrusy
100%
dry
60%
hoppy
60%
spicy
60%
malty
60%
orange
60%
sweet
30%
crisp
30%
light
30%
bitter
30%

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About English Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Bitter?

English 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 English Bitter

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

Other English Bitters in hopIQ

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Spitfire Amber Ale

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 7–10°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.

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Spitfire Amber Ale

Appearance

Spitfire pours a brilliant amber-copper hue with excellent clarity and a dense, persistent white head. The carbonation is lively, creating a fine bead that clings to the glass walls, indicating proper conditioning typical of traditional English bitters.

brilliant amberwhite headclearwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose leads with distinctive Kentish hop character—bright citrus and orange marmalade notes blend seamlessly with floral and peppery undertones. Sweet caramel malt provides a honeyed backbone, while subtle earthiness rounds out the aromatic profile without overwhelming the delicate hop balance.

orange marmaladefloral hopscaramel maltpeppery

Taste

Entry is smooth and malty-forward with pronounced caramel sweetness balanced by crisp, clean bready notes. Mid-palate reveals layered complexity as Goldings hops introduce peppery and earthy spice, while moderate bitterness (35 IBU) provides structure without harshness. The finish transitions gracefully from sweet to dry.

malty sweetcaramelpeppery spicecrisp clean

Finish

A dry, peppery finish with excellent clean length that avoids any astringency or cloying aftertaste. The bitterness resolves quickly, leaving a pleasant memory of bread and gentle hop character on the palate.

drycleanpeppery
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Food Pairing

What to eat with Spitfire Amber Ale

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