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Old Timer

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Old Timer is Wadworth's winter ale, brewed to the same recipe for more than fifty years and for a time sold as Old Father Timer. Pale ale, crystal and black malts give a deep chestnut colour; Fuggles and Goldings provide the hopping. The brewery describes a strong malty aroma and a smooth, robust, full-bodied flavour. Tasters consistently add raisins and other dried fruit, caramel, toffee and brown sugar, with a hint of roasted grain and a dry, moderately bitter finish. On draught it appears in the cold months.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
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
maltycarameldark fruit
malty
caramel
dark fruit
roasted
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced malty sweetness—caramel and toffee notes sit prominently alongside hints of brown sugar.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Old Timer

◎ Appearance

Deep chestnut brown with rich amber highlights, clear and bright. The head forms densely and clings persistently to the glass walls, indicating good malt structure and carbonation control. This is a visually substantial ale that speaks to its traditional brewing heritage.

deep chestnutpersistent headbright clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced malty sweetness—caramel and toffee notes sit prominently alongside hints of brown sugar. Dried dark fruit character (raisins, prune) emerges in the mid-range, supported by subtle roasted grain undertones. Classic noble hop varieties (Fuggles and Goldings) contribute a gentle herbal backbone without dominating.

caramel, toffeedried fruit, raisinsnoble hopsroasted grain

◐ Taste

The palate is full and smooth, with malt-forward entry delivering caramel and dark fruit flavors that build through the mid-palate. Rich toffee and brown sugar notes persist alongside a gentle roasted quality. Bitterness is moderate and well-integrated, arriving cleanly without harshness; the underlying sweetness remains present throughout.

malt-drivencaramel, toffeefull-bodiedmoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is notably dry, with bitterness gaining definition as sweetness recedes. A clean, lingering aftertaste of grain and subtle roast rounds out the experience with measured persistence.

dry finishclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
82
Finish
78
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°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 Old Timer

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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 malty, full-bodied, caramel character as Old Timer will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Old Ales in hopIQ

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