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Fraoch Barrel Aged

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Deep gold to amber Heather Ale of imperial strength, brewed in 2011 for aging in Scottish whisky casks from Speyside. Whisky, oak, sherry, heather and herbs on the nose and palate, with a light acidity and a sweet, herbal body. Fraoch's honey, malt, spice and floral character is enriched by oak, dried fruits and sherry. Unfiltered and un-fined, so it may pour hazy.

ABV
11%
Bitterness
Mild12 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
herbaloakhoney
herbal
oak
honey
floral
spicy
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced heather and floral notes, layered beneath a rich whisky-cask character.
also:dark fruit
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fraoch Barrel Aged

◎ Appearance

Deep gold transitioning to amber, with a hazy appearance characteristic of an unfiltered and un-fined brew. The cloudiness suspends fine particles throughout, creating a murky but inviting visual presence. Head retention is moderate, with a gentle foam layer that gradually subsides.

deep gold to amberintentionally hazyunfiltered and un-fined

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced heather and floral notes, layered beneath a rich whisky-cask character. Oak and dried fruit emerge prominently, complemented by subtle honey and warming spice. The overall impression is complex and malty, with herbaceous undertones that persist throughout.

heather and herbswhisky-cask oakhoney and spicefloral and dried fruit

◐ Taste

The palate is full-bodied and sweet, with heather and herbal character anchoring the mid-palate alongside malty depth. Oak and sherry notes weave through, joined by honeyed tones and subtle dark-fruit complexity. Bitterness is restrained at 12 IBU, allowing the rich, spiced body to dominate; a light acidity provides gentle structure without harshness.

sweet and herbaloak and sherryfull-bodied maltlow bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with lingering honey, spice, and dried-fruit notes that fade gradually. The 11% ABV manifests as a gentle heat that complements rather than overwhelms the herbal fade.

warming finishherbal fadehoneyed aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
85
Appearance
75
Finish
80
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 Fraoch Barrel Aged

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About Heather Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Heather Ale?

Heather 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 Heather Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same herbal, oak, sweet character as Fraoch Barrel Aged will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Heather Ales in hopIQ

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