Wychwood
Hobgoblin
A dark, toffee-and-chocolate strong bitter that reached national supermarket distribution when the category was contracting.
- Strength
- 4.5–5.2% ABV
- Style
- Strong bitter
- Brewery
- Wychwood
A dark ruby English strong ale with chocolate and caramel malt character and a moderate bitterness. It is closer to a brown ale than to a bitter, despite generally being sold alongside bitters.
Hobgoblin is one of the beers that made dark ale approachable in British supermarkets during a period when almost all growth was in pale and lager. Its usefulness is as a first dark beer rather than as a definitive one.
What it tastes like
Inherited from Strong bitter, because this beer sits within the normal range for it. BeerHQ’s comparative scale, not a measurement.
Why BeerHQ carries this beer
| Reason | Carried because it is where many people start |
|---|---|
| Strength | 4.5–5.2% ABV — checked 2026-08-16. Strengths differ by market and change without announcement, so this is dated rather than absolute. |
| Record stability | Moderate — some details are expected to drift and should be re-checked periodically. |
BeerHQ records no recipe, hop bill, malt bill, yeast strain, IBU or calorie figure for any commercial beer unless it is sourced. Nothing on this page is inferred from what the beer tastes like.
What is distinctive about it
- One of the few dark British ales with mass supermarket distribution
- Sold in several strengths and variants under the same name
It is not the same everywhere
Cask, bottled and "Gold" versions differ substantially in strength and character.
If you like Hobgoblin
Worked out from what this beer actually tastes like rather than from what its style typically does. Three kinds of move, because “what should I try next” is three different questions.
Closest to it
Very similar in structure and flavour. Safe ground rather than discovery.
Best bitter — try Fuller's London Pride or Marston's Pedigree
A close structural match for Hobgoblin — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less floral (low → none–trace).
May not suit: Very close to Hobgoblin; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
English pale ale — try Bass Pale Ale
A close structural match for Hobgoblin — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less caramel & toffee (moderate → low).
May not suit: Very close to Hobgoblin; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Ordinary bitter — try Greene King IPA or Adnams Southwold Bitter
A close structural match for Hobgoblin — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less body (moderate → low).
May not suit: Very close to Hobgoblin; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Similar, but different
Keeps what you probably like about it and changes one or two things. Usually the most useful answer.
Belgian pale ale — try Orval or Pauwel Kwak
Keeps most of what Hobgoblin does and shifts dryness.
Different: noticeably less dryness (moderate → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less dryness than Hobgoblin.
English IPA — try Thornbridge Jaipur or St Austell Proper Job
Keeps most of what Hobgoblin does and shifts dryness.
Different: slightly more dryness (moderate → high).
May not suit: Very close to Hobgoblin; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Irish red ale — try Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale
Keeps most of what Hobgoblin does and shifts bitterness.
Different: slightly less bitterness (moderate–high → low).
May not suit: Very close to Hobgoblin; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
A bigger jump
Genuinely different, but connected by something specific — the shared trait is named so you can judge whether the bridge holds.
Vienna lager — try Samuel Adams Boston Lager or Brooklyn Lager
Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Hobgoblin.
Different: slightly more carbonation (trace–low → moderate).
May not suit: Very close to Hobgoblin; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Altbier — try Uerige Altbier
Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Hobgoblin.
Different: slightly more carbonation (trace–low → moderate).
May not suit: Very close to Hobgoblin; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Kellerbier — try Mahrs Bräu Ungespundet
Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Hobgoblin.
Different: noticeably less caramel & toffee (moderate → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less caramel & toffee than Hobgoblin.
Likely fits rather than promises. Taste varies, and a recommendation engine that claims certainty is claiming something it cannot know.
What to eat with it
Inherited from Strong bitter. BeerHQ does not duplicate pairings onto individual products unless the product genuinely differs from its style.
- Adobo
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
- Smørrebrød
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
- Bánh mì
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
- Ham
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Keeping it
Strong bitter shows best within 1–4 months of packaging. After that it declines in quality rather than becoming unsafe.
Drink fresh. Buy it as young as you can and drink it soon. What makes this beer worth drinking is the first thing to leave it.
Derived from Strong bitter. See storage and freshness for the full model.
BeerHQ carries a small set of reference beers to anchor styles, not a catalogue. There is no rating here and there will not be one. Last reviewed 2026-08-16.