Dark Shield
Burton Bridge Brewery in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England 🏴
IPA - Black / Cascadian Dark Regular|
Score
6.95
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What if Worthington White Shield was brewed with darker malt?
Inspired by the legendary Worthington White Shield, this Dark English IPA boasts rich, roasted malts with English hops in a dark, full-bodied ale.
Its classic hoppy bitterness meets subtle notes of treacle for a perfectly balanced, smooth dark IPA.
Black IPAs, sometimes known as Cascadian Dark Ales, have made somewhat of a resurgence in recent years. This controversial style (can an Indian Pale Ale really be dark?) is usually made with new-world hops. We’ve differed from this slightly, opting for traditional English hops.
In Dark Shield you will find all of the flavours of a traditional English IPA, with the only difference being the colour. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Inspired by the legendary Worthington White Shield, this Dark English IPA boasts rich, roasted malts with English hops in a dark, full-bodied ale.
Its classic hoppy bitterness meets subtle notes of treacle for a perfectly balanced, smooth dark IPA.
Black IPAs, sometimes known as Cascadian Dark Ales, have made somewhat of a resurgence in recent years. This controversial style (can an Indian Pale Ale really be dark?) is usually made with new-world hops. We’ve differed from this slightly, opting for traditional English hops.
In Dark Shield you will find all of the flavours of a traditional English IPA, with the only difference being the colour. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
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6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 5
Overall 6.5
3rd December 2025
Cask at Pigs Ear. Near opaque dark brown beer, small and fairly short lived tan head. Smooth palate, fairly flat. Mellow dark malts, a touch of chocolate. Fairly tasty plummy darkish fruits. Light smooth finish. Fine.
Cask at Pigs Ear. Near opaque dark brown beer, small and fairly short lived tan head. Smooth palate, fairly flat. Mellow dark malts, a touch of chocolate. Fairly tasty plummy darkish fruits. Light smooth finish. Fine.
Tried
from Cask
on 01 Jan 2026
at 12:42
6.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 6
Gravity Cask at day 2 of the 41st Pigs Ear Beer Festival, 03/12/2025.
CDA #1000 on a rating site, although there'll be some in the backlog and likely lost a few in moving over from RB to BV, shame it was a crap one!
Light black with a thin tan head that escapes to the edge.
Nose is dark malts, modest roast, cocoa powder.
Taste comprises cocoa powder, brown sugar dusting, mellow roast, dried fruit rinds.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying close with a light dusty hop presence.
Low end CDA.
CDA #1000 on a rating site, although there'll be some in the backlog and likely lost a few in moving over from RB to BV, shame it was a crap one!
Light black with a thin tan head that escapes to the edge.
Nose is dark malts, modest roast, cocoa powder.
Taste comprises cocoa powder, brown sugar dusting, mellow roast, dried fruit rinds.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying close with a light dusty hop presence.
Low end CDA.
Tried
on 03 Dec 2025
at 14:31
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Pigs Ear 2025. Gravity. Nice to see an old dog piling new tricks. Good roast, cocoa, burnt pine, eart, orange rind, ash. Toothy but balanced. Solid.
Tried
from Cask
on 02 Dec 2025
at 12:50
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Cask@Dark Beer Fest 2025, The Hope, Carshalton (27/11/2025) - new English brewery ✅ roasted malty with notes of cocoa, dark caramel, brown sugar, hoppy backing, soft cask mouthfeel, malty leaning BIPA. Decent.
Tried
from Cask
at
The Hope
on 27 Nov 2025
at 19:05
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Cask at Kings Head, Bristol. Pours deep brown with beige foam. Aroma: lightly toasty malts, caramel, nutty. Taste: light to moderate sweet & towards moderate bitter. More tasty malts, nutty, fruity, hoppy hints. Medium body with soft carbonation.
Tried
from Cask
at
Kings Head
on 06 Apr 2025
at 11:41
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Cask at CBC, Covent Garden on 26th January 2025. Deep sepia with minimal foam foam almost no lacing. Roasty malts aroma. Roasty in-mouth with spiced cherry fruits. Some nuttiness. A finish of ripe fruits and malty roastiness. Light to medium bodied with an engaging texture.
Tried
from Cask
at
Craft Beer Co - Covent Garden
on 26 Jan 2025
at 00:39