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Half Brick

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The lower-strength version of London Brick, a seasonal red ale brewed with rye. Nose and first sip bring marmalade on lightly burnt hot cross buns, with Christmas-like spices over the top. The rye is more nuanced than intense: piney hop notes lead, mixed with a gentle herbal spice and distant hints of oat biscuit. For all that, the flavours arrive delicately, and the beer is creamy, soft and subtle. The current batch is hopped with Simcoe.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
pineyspicyorange
piney
spicy
orange
herbal
citrusy
toasty
Aroma
The nose opens with bright marmalade and a toasted cereal quality reminiscent of lightly burnt hot cross buns.
also:bready,caramel,malty
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Half Brick

◎ Appearance

Copper-amber hue with moderate clarity and a fine, persistent head. The carbonation is gentle, creating a soft mousse that clings delicately to the glass. Body appears light to medium, with good visual definition despite the restraint in effervescence.

copper-ambersoft headgently carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright marmalade and a toasted cereal quality reminiscent of lightly burnt hot cross buns. Warm spice notes—cinnamon and clove—sit in the background, evoking Christmas spicing. Simcoe hops add piney, herbal accents that provide lift without dominating the composition.

marmaladespicedtoasted grainpiney hops

◐ Taste

Entry is delicate and creamy, with the rye character appearing subtle and nuanced rather than assertive. Mid-palate balances gentle herbal spice with soft oat-biscuit notes, while piney hop bitterness weaves through without harshness. The malt foundation remains soft throughout, creating a smooth, integrated whole.

creamy, softherbal spiceoat noterestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and measured, fading gracefully with lingering warmth from spice and a whisper of pine. Aftertaste remains subtle and dry, without astringency.

clean, dryspice warmth
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
76
Finish
75
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 Half Brick

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About Rye Beer

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Rye Beer?

Rye Beer 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 Rye Beer

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same piney, creamy, spicy character as Half Brick will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Rye Beers in hopIQ

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