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Testa del Moro

Rock Brewery
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🌍 Italy · Strong Ale · One of 4 Strong Ales in hopIQ

Rock Brewery's strong heavy brew — named after the Testa del Moro (Moor's Head), the iconic Sicilian ceramic head vase rooted in a 12th-century Palermo legend of forbidden love between a Sicilian girl and a Moorish soldier. Recommended as an accompaniment to grilled meats and vegetables. Rich amber with a caramel and dark-fruit nose; full-bodied, warming, and smooth with a malty sweetness and long finish.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber16
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 Strong Ale.
Malt character
caramel
malty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Testa del Moro

Appearance

Rich amber hue with good clarity and a dense, creamy head that persists across the glass, leaving substantial lacing on the walls. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, presenting as a settled, inviting pour.

rich amberdense headgood claritypersistent lacing

Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced caramel and toffee notes, underpinned by dark stone fruits—raisins and plums—that speak to the full malt bill. A subtle warmth from the alcohol sits beneath, adding depth without sharp alcohol burn.

carameldark fruittoffeewarming

Taste

The palate enters with malty sweetness and caramel backbone, broadening into a full-bodied, smooth mid-section where dark fruit character persists. Bitterness is restrained at 35 IBU, allowing malt character to dominate; the finish carries a gentle warming from the 7.5% ABV and a lingering malty sweetness.

malty sweetnessfull-bodiedrestrained bitternesssmooth texture

Finish

The finish is long and gentle, with caramel and subtle dark fruit lingering on the palate. A soft warmth builds without harshness, leaving a pleasant malty aftertaste.

long finishmalty warmthlingering caramel
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
81
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Testa del Moro

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 Testa del Moro

About Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Ale?

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 Strong Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same caramel, dark fruit, sweet character as Testa del Moro will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Strong Ales in hopIQ