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Wild Horse Ale

Great Basin Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Altbier · One of 27 Altbiers in hopIQ

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
See all Altbier alternatives →

AWARDS

Bronze · 1994
Great American Beer Festival 1994
Bronze — Great American Beer Festival 1994
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
Moderate 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 Altbier.
Hop character
hoppy
earthy
Malt character
malty
toasty
caramel
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
spicy

FEATURED IN

#2 of 50The Best American Amber Ales

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
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Wild Horse Ale

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 Wild Horse Ale

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.

Other Altbiers in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Altbier beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →