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Lead Dog

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A winter ale blended from six malts and aged two months after fermentation. Near-black in the glass under a slightly tanned, creamy head. Dark chocolate and caramel dominate the aroma, with roasted nut and a trace of dark berry behind them. The palate is layered and malt-deep, medium in weight, with warming alcohol instead of heat and only a very light bitterness. The finish runs long, sweetish and smooth, and the strength stays well hidden.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Silver · 2023
Canada Beer Cup
English Style Old Ale
★Silver — Canada Beer Cup (English Style Old Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatecaramelmalty
chocolate
caramel
malty
roasted
nutty
dark fruit
Aroma
Dark chocolate and caramel lead the nose, rich and inviting without cloying sweetness.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Lead Dog

◎ Appearance

Near-black in the glass with deep mahogany undertones at the edges. A tanned, creamy head forms and clings to the rim with visible lacing as the beer settles. The body is opaque and shows the substantial malt foundation behind its dark colour.

near-blackcreamy headgood lacing

◌ Aroma

Dark chocolate and caramel lead the nose, rich and inviting without cloying sweetness. Behind these comes a roasted nut character—walnut and hazelnut notes—with a subtle dark berry undertone that adds complexity. The alcohol integrates warmly into the bouquet rather than asserting itself.

dark chocolatecaramelroasted nutsdark berry

◐ Taste

The palate is layered and deeply malt-driven, with medium weight and excellent balance. Dark chocolate and caramel form the core, while roasted nut notes and a whisper of dark fruit thread through the mid-palate. Bitterness remains very light, allowing the warming alcohol—never hot—to provide structure without dominating.

malty depthchocolate-caramelsmooth warmthrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish runs long and clean, with a pleasant lingering sweetness that feels earned rather than residual. The strength remains hidden beneath layers of malt character, allowing the aftertaste to coast smoothly toward a dry close.

long finishsweet aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
81
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 Lead Dog

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About Old Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Old Ale?

Old 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 Old Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, caramel, malty character as Lead Dog will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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