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Theakston Old Peculier

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Dark ruby red and full-bodied, Old Peculier carries a subtle cherry and banana aroma and a rich, fruity palate with hints of black cherry and banana, warming in the body. Pale, crystal and roasted barley meet Challenger, Target and Fuggle hops, fermented with Theakston's twin-strain yeast. The name nods to Masham's ecclesiastical 'Court of the Peculier', and the beer was long nicknamed Yorkshire's 'Lunatic's Broth'.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
bananafruitydark fruit
banana
fruity
dark fruit
roasted
malty
clean
Aroma
The nose reveals a subtle interplay of stone fruit and fermentation character.
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Theakston Old Peculier

◎ Appearance

Old Peculier presents a dark ruby-red hue, deep and translucent when held to light. The head forms with moderate density and displays good retention and lacing. Carbonation appears moderate, with a steady stream of fine bubbles rising through the clear body.

dark ruby redcleargood head retentionmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose reveals a subtle interplay of stone fruit and fermentation character. Ripe banana and cherry notes emerge prominently, supported by hints of roasted barley and gentle spice from the Challenger and Fuggle hops. The overall impression is restrained and elegant, with no sharp alcohol presence.

bananadark cherryroasted grainsubtle spice

◐ Taste

The palate opens full-bodied and rich, with dark fruit flavors—black cherry and plum—anchoring the mid-palate. Banana esters from the twin-strain yeast weave through the malty foundation, while roasted barley adds depth and a gentle drying quality. Bitterness remains low and integrated, never aggressive, allowing the fruity complexity to dominate.

full-bodieddark fruit forwardmalty sweetnessrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and warming, with residual malt sweetness lingering gently. Roasted notes persist into the aftertaste, and a mild drying sensation closes cleanly without harshness.

warmingclean finishmalt aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°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 Theakston Old Peculier

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About Old Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Old Ale?

Old 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 Old Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same full-bodied, banana, rich character as Theakston Old Peculier will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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