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Westward Ho!

Summerskills Brewery
United Kingdom·Best Bitter
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A golden-amber ale made for refreshment. A light fruitiness leads the first sip, and the finish turns zesty and fruity, so the beer ends brighter than it begins. At 4.1% it is one of the lighter beers in the range. It is sold cask-conditioned and bottle-conditioned and is one of the six beers the brewery lists as its most popular.

ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitycitrusyclean
fruity
citrusy
clean
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with gentle fruitiness, featuring subtle stone fruit and light citrus notes.
not found:hoppy,roasted,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Westward Ho!

◎ Appearance

Golden-amber color with good clarity and a fine, persistent head. The beer displays bright, translucent tones characteristic of the Best Bitter style. Carbonation is evident but moderate, supporting gentle lacing on the glass.

golden-amberclearpersistent headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with gentle fruitiness, featuring subtle stone fruit and light citrus notes. Soft malt backbone provides biscuity undertones without dominating. Noble hop character contributes restrained herbal and floral nuances, creating an inviting and approachable bouquet.

light fruitherbalbiscuit maltfloral hops

◐ Taste

Entry brings forward the promised light fruitiness with a clean, crisp palate. Mid-palate reveals gently toasted malt character balanced by moderate bitterness. The beer maintains freshness throughout without heaviness, allowing the subtle fruit to remain in focus.

clean palatemoderate bitternessfruit-forwardtoasted malt

◑ Finish

The finish brightens considerably, ending zesty and fruity as the brewing notes suggest. Bitterness recedes gracefully, leaving a dry but not astringent aftertaste that invites another sip.

zestydrybright finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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 Westward Ho!

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About Best Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Best Bitter?

Best 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 Best Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, refreshing, citrusy character as Westward Ho! will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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