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Wild Horse Ale

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Won bronze at the GABF in 1994 — the brewery's very first year of competition. A German-style Altbier with toasty malt character, subtle hop spice and a clean dry finish. Named for the wild horses that roam the Nevada desert.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber13
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Bronze · 1994
Great American Beer Festival 1994
★Bronze — Great American Beer Festival 1994
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
toastymaltyclean
toasty
malty
clean
hoppy
spicy
earthy
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted grain and subtle caramel notes, characteristic of noble hop varieties and careful Malz selection.
also:caramel
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Wild Horse Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The color reflects the toasted Malz character typical of the style. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting a refined visual presentation.

deep amberclearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted grain and subtle caramel notes, characteristic of noble hop varieties and careful Malz selection. Beneath this foundation lies a faint spicy herbal note and a whisper of earthy undertone, without aggressive hop volatility. The overall impression is restrained and inviting, true to the German Altbier tradition.

toasted grainsubtle caramelnoble hop spiceearthy

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a malty, slightly sweet entry that transitions to a toasted biscuit character in the mid-palate. Moderate bittering from Edelhopfen provides structure without dominating; hop spice and a light earthiness weave through cleanly. The body is smooth yet crisp, with enough definition to prevent flatness.

malty sweetnesstoasted biscuitmoderate bitternessclean spice

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and notably dry, with lingering toasted malt notes fading to a subtle hoppy afterglow. No harsh astringency or oxidative character; the aftertaste remains pleasant and inviting.

dry finishlingering maltclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
83
Appearance
82
Finish
81
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 Wild Horse Ale

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About Altbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Altbier?

Altbier 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 Altbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same toasty, malty, clean character as Wild Horse Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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