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Admiral's Reserve

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Plentiful, generous sweet fruit flavours come together in this complex, satisfying, dark chestnut-coloured strong ale, wonderfully and dangerously drinkable. Admiral's Reserve is a 5.0% premium ale, Woodforde's own salute to the Admiral himself, sold as a seasonal and brewed in Woodbastwick, Norfolk, from water, malted barley, hops and yeast.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitydark fruitmalty
fruity
dark fruit
malty
clean
roasted
Aroma
The nose leads with generous dark fruit notes—dried plum, fig, and raisin—layered over a foundation of toasted Malz.
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Admiral's Reserve

◎ Appearance

Deep chestnut brown with rich amber undertones, presenting a clear, well-defined body. A persistent cream-colored head forms with good Schaumhaftung, settling into a thin lacing that clings to the glass with each sip. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated, contributing to an inviting, substantial presentation.

deep chestnut brownclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with generous dark fruit notes—dried plum, fig, and raisin—layered over a foundation of toasted Malz. Subtle sweet toffee and caramel aromatics emerge, with a whisper of gentle Edelhopfen providing balance without asserting floral or citrus character. The overall impression is warm, inviting, and complex without being aggressive.

dark fruittoasted malttoffee sweetnessrestrained hop

◐ Taste

On the palate, rich sweet fruit flavors dominate immediately, with notes of dark stone fruit and subtle liquorice undertones. The mid-palate is full and vollmundig, with well-rounded Malz character and gentle roasted grain providing depth. Bitterness remains low and integrated (24 IBU), allowing the sweet, fruity character to shine while maintaining composure and preventing cloying fatigue.

sweet dark fruitfull-bodiedlow bitternesssmooth drinking

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately long, with residual fruit sweetness lingering pleasantly on the palate. A subtle roasted grain dryness emerges, leaving an impression of richness without heaviness—a dangerous drinkability that belies its 5% strength.

long-lingering fruitclean aftertastedeceptively approachable
81
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
83
Appearance
82
Finish
79
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°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 Admiral's Reserve

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About Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Ale?

Strong 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 Strong Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same sweet, fruity, smooth-drinking character as Admiral's Reserve will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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