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Ice Breaker

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A dark winter ale with a spicy character and notes of roasted malt and candy sugar. At 8.5% ABV it is released as a limited edition. The brewery pairs it with the image of arctic freedom on deck, or warmth inside, and a journey through icy waters. Brewed in Rotterdam by Stadshaven in its former fruit warehouse.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicyroastedmalty
spicy
roasted
malty
dark fruit
nutty
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent warming spice notes—clove and black pepper—layered over toasted and roasted malt complexity.
also:bready
not found:hoppy,chocolate,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ice Breaker

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany brown with copper highlights, characteristic of the SRM 20 profile. The beer presents excellent clarity with a dense, lasting head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting the rich visual presence.

mahogany brownclear with good head retentiondense lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent warming spice notes—clove and black pepper—layered over toasted and roasted malt complexity. Dark fruit esters emerge beneath, suggesting plum and raisin, with subtle candy sugar sweetness that adds roundness to the bouquet. A gentle alcohol warmth frames the overall aromatic profile without asserting dominance.

spiced, clove and pepperroasted maltdark fruit esterswarming alcohol

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and malty, with spice warming the palate immediately. The mid-palate develops rich roasted character balanced by candy-like sweetness and nutty undertones, building a complex sweetness rather than cloying. Bitterness is restrained at 28 IBU, allowing the malt and spice interplay to dominate; caramel and breadiness provide supporting structure.

full-bodiedspiced and roastedbalanced sweetnessnutty, caramel notes

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with spice lingering on the palate and a subtle dry fade. The alcohol presence (8.5% ABV) extends the warmth through the aftertaste without harshness.

warming finishlingering spice
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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 Ice Breaker

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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 spicy, roasted, malty character as Ice Breaker will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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