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White Rabbit Dark Ale

White Rabbit Brewery
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🌍 Australia · Brown Ale · One of 16 Brown Ales in hopIQ

The first beer the brewery released, in 2009, and still the one that carries its signature. The yeast works in uncovered tanks, the wort passes through a hop back packed with whole flowers, and a further hop charge goes in during fermentation. Pale, wheat, Munich and dark crystal malts give a deep cola-brown colour. Toffee and dark chocolate lead, raisin and plum esters sit behind them, and a light roast edge carries into a floral, firmly bitter finish.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter27 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20

AWARDS

Gold Medal · 2010
Australian International Beer Awards
Gold Medal — Australian International Beer Awards
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

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

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Brown Ale.
Hop character
hoppy
floral
Malt character
chocolate
caramel
malty
roasted
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
dark fruit

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for White Rabbit Dark Ale

Appearance

Deep cola-brown with excellent clarity and a rich tan head that clings persistently to the glass, leaving distinct lacing on each sip. The color reflects the blend of pale, wheat, Munich and dark crystal malts, settling into a warm mahogany tone when held to light. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting a creamy, stable foam structure.

deep cola-brownpersistent headcleartan lacing

Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced toffee and dark chocolate notes, layered beneath which sit ripe raisin and plum esters from the open-fermentation yeast. A light roast character underpins the malt base, while the whole-flower hop charge contributes a subtle floral complexity that adds refinement without dominating. The overall impression is balanced and inviting, with no sharp alcohol presence.

toffeedark chocolateraisin estersfloral hop character

Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with toffee and chocolate sweetness immediately apparent on the palate. The mid-palate develops raisiny dark fruit notes alongside a light roasted malt structure, creating depth without heaviness. Bitterness builds steadily through the tasting, finishing with a firmly bitter character from the floral hop work—clean and assertive rather than harsh.

chocolate-forwarddark fruitfirm bitternessbalanced

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with the floral bitter notes persisting cleanly on the palate and lingering in the aftertaste. A light roast edge carries through, leaving a refined, hop-driven impression rather than residual sweetness.

dry finishfloral bitternessclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
81
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of White Rabbit Dark Ale

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°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 White Rabbit Dark Ale

About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

Brown 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 Brown Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, bitter, dark fruit character as White Rabbit Dark Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Brown Ales in hopIQ

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