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Bitter Brewer

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Bitter Brewer is Surly's traditional English bitter at 4.1% ABV: ultra crisp hop bitterness with welcome peach, orange and apricot aromatics. Warrior and Glacier provide the hops, 2-row, Golden Promise, aromatic and light crystal malt the base, with rolled oats and Carafoam. Hazy gold, 8.5 degrees Plato, moderate bitterness. Sold in four-packs of 16oz cans and on draught.

ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppypeachorange
hoppy
peach
orange
malty
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with crisp, herbal hop character from Warrior and Glacier varieties, supported by clean stone-fruit notes of peach, orange, and apricot.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bitter Brewer

◎ Appearance

Hazy gold in the glass with a pale straw hue, presenting the characteristic turbidity of this style. The head forms readily and maintains moderate retention with delicate lacing. Carbonation is lively but restrained, befitting a traditional English bitter.

hazy goldmoderate headfine lacingbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with crisp, herbal hop character from Warrior and Glacier varieties, supported by clean stone-fruit notes of peach, orange, and apricot. Beneath lies a soft, biscuity Malz foundation from Golden Promise and 2-row, with subtle oat grain undertones that add texture without sweetness.

stone fruitherbal hopsbiscuit maltcrisp

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and direct, with immediate hop bitterness that carries through the mid-palate without harshness. The palate remains light and refreshing, with peach and citrus notes threading through a restrained malty backbone. Rolled oats and Carafoam lend a soft, almost velvet texture that balances the 22 IBUs effectively.

bitter forwardstone fruit noteslight bodyclean palate

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and brisk, with hop bitterness fading gracefully into a subtle malt sweetness. A crisp, refreshing aftertaste lingers moderately, encouraging another sip.

dry finishhop-drivenrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
80
Appearance
76
Finish
77
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°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 Bitter Brewer

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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 bitter, crisp, hoppy character as Bitter Brewer will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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