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Summerskills Indiana's Bones

Summerskills Brewery
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🌍 United Kingdom · English Strong Ale · One of 7 English Strong Ales in hopIQ

Plymouth's oldest brewery, set up by Adam Summerskill in his Bigbury vineyard in 1983. Indiana's Bones launched that year as a winter warmer and stayed year-round after it outsold everything else. 5.6% ABV dark ruby ale, soft chocolate and dried-fruit malt with the characteristic Kentish Goldings aroma. CAMRA South West Old Ales bronze 2012/13.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
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 English Strong Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
floral
Malt character
chocolate
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Summerskills Indiana's Bones

Appearance

Dark ruby color with a warm amber glow at the edges. The head settles to a thin collar with moderate lacing clinging to the glass walls. Carbonation is gentle, allowing the depth of color to display clearly without haze.

dark rubyamber highlightsmoderate lacinggently carbonated

Aroma

Kentish Goldings hops express themselves with a crisp, fresh floral character alongside subtle citrus notes. Beneath lies soft chocolate and dried-fruit Malz sweetness—fig, raisin, and cocoa powder. The overall impression is balanced and elegant, with no harsh alcohol burn despite the 5.6% ABV.

Kentish Goldings floraldried stone fruitcocoa and chocolatecitrus brightness

Taste

The palate opens with hoppy and citrusy notes that carry through the mid-palate with clean precision. Dried-fruit and chocolate Malz flavors emerge as a soft backbone without cloying sweetness. Moderate bitterness builds steadily, creating a dry finish that invites the next sip rather than dominating.

hoppy entrycitrus and dried fruitcontrolled bitternessclean malt base

Finish

The finish is crisp and refreshing, with lingering hoppy bitterness and a faint chocolate note. The aftertaste remains clean and dry, leaving no residue on the palate.

dry and hoppypersistent citrusclean aftertaste
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
78
Finish
79
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Summerskills Indiana's Bones

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 Summerskills Indiana's Bones

About English Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Strong Ale?

English 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 English Strong Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, citrusy, clean character as Summerskills Indiana's Bones will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other English Strong Ales in hopIQ