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Boltmaker

Timothy Taylor
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🌍 England · Best Bitter · One of 3 Best Bitters in hopIQ

Boltmaker arrives in a copper-amber hue with gentle citrus and fruit aromas that draw you in immediately. The first sip reveals a smooth, rounded character built on biscuit-like malt notes — the backbone of a beer that knows its craft. Beneath that warm, malt-forward profile sits a clean, balanced bitterness that never overwhelms; instead, it frames the whole experience, citrus and spicy hops working in concert with roasted, malty undertones. This is a Yorkshire Bitter that tastes like it was made to be returned to, session after session. Best enjoyed at eleven to thirteen degrees Celsius, when all its layers become clear.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber12

AWARDS

Supreme Champion
Great British Beer Festival
Beer of Britain
Silver Medal
Great British Beer Festival
Runner Up - Champion Beer of Britain
Gold Medal
Great British Beer Festival
Best Bitter Category
Bronze Medal
Great British Beer Festival
Best Bitter Category
Finalist
Great British Beer Festival
Best Bitter Category
Bronze Medal
International Brewing Awards
Certificate
International Brewing Awards
1st Prize
International Brewing Awards
Draught Pale Ale
Bronze Medal
International Beer Challenge
Bronze Award
SIBA North East Independent Beer Awards
Cask British Bitter (up to 4.4%)
Supreme Champion — Great British Beer Festival (Beer of Britain)
Silver Medal — Great British Beer Festival (Runner Up - Champion Beer of Britain)
Gold Medal — Great British Beer Festival (Best Bitter Category)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Best Bitter.
Hop character
citrusy
spicy hop
hoppy
Malt character
malty
bready
roasted
caramel
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
clean
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Boltmaker

Appearance

Boltmaker presents a copper-amber body of medium depth, clear and bright, allowing light to pass through with clarity. A modest, creamy head forms and lingers with gentle persistence, leaving delicate lacing along the glass. Carbonation is fine and even, contributing to the beer's refined, approachable character.

copper-amberclearcreamy headfine carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with soft citrus and orchard fruit notes that invite closer inspection without demanding attention. Beneath these, warm biscuity Malz character emerges, grounded and comforting. A whisper of spicy hop character and light roasted undertones complete the bouquet, creating an aroma that feels both gentle and purposeful.

citrus, orchard fruitbiscuity Malzspicy hopsroasted undertones

Taste

The palate entry is smooth and rounded, immediately presenting biscuit and bread-like Malz as its foundation. Mid-palate reveals a clean, balanced bitterness framed by citrus and spicy hop notes, working without harshness. Roasted and caramel layers add depth beneath the malt backbone, while the bitterness remains restrained and integrative rather than aggressive.

smooth, roundedbiscuity Malzbalanced bitternesscitrus, spicy hops

Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with bitterness lingering gently on the palate without overstaying its welcome. A pleasant, sustained warmth and faint caramel sweetness carry into the aftertaste, leaving an impression that invites the next sip.

clean, drygentle bitternessmalty warmth
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
82
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Boltmaker

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°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 Boltmaker

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 smooth, fruity, malty character as Boltmaker will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Best Bitters in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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