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4 Pines Pale Ale

4 Pines Brewing Company
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🌍 Australia · Pale Ale · One of 155 Pale Ales in hopIQ

Deep golden and bright in the glass. The aroma leads with pine resin and grapefruit, with orange peel behind it. A biscuity malt base carrying light caramel gives the beer weight before the bitterness builds through the second half and dries it out. At 35 IBU the bitter edge is firm but stays smooth rather than sharp, and the citrus runs through to the end. Simcoe, Amarillo and Citra shape the hop character.

ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter35 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
See all Pale Ale alternatives →

AWARDS

Silver Medal · 2016
Australian International Beer Awards
Bronze Medal · 2016
Craft Beer Awards
Bronze Medal · 2017
Australian International Beer Awards
Bronze Medal · 2017
Craft Beer Awards
Gold Medal · 2018
Australian International Beer Awards
Bronze Medal · 2018
Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show
Bronze Medal · 2019
Australian International Beer Awards
Bronze Medal · 2021
Australian International Beer Awards
Silver Medal · 2022
Australian International Beer Awards
Bronze Medal · 2024
Australian International Beer Awards
Silver Medal — Australian International Beer Awards
Bronze Medal — Craft Beer Awards
Bronze Medal — Australian International Beer Awards
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Pale Ale.
Hop character
piney
citrusy
hoppy
orange
resinous
Malt character
bready
caramel

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 4 Pines Pale Ale

Appearance

Deep golden and bright in the glass, displaying excellent clarity. The beer presents a well-formed head with good retention and attractive lacing. Carbonation is lively and visible, contributing to an inviting and clean visual presentation.

deep goldenbright claritygood head retention

Aroma

The nose opens with prominent pine resin and grapefruit, followed by orange peel and citrus notes. The hop-forward character is shaped by Simcoe, Amarillo and Citra, creating a resinous and zesty aromatic profile. A subtle biscuity malt sweetness provides a light counterpoint without obscuring the hop intensity.

pine resingrapefruitorange peelresinous

Taste

The palate enters with a biscuity malt base carrying light caramel character, giving the beer body and weight. The citrus and resinous hop flavours build through the mid-palate, followed by a firm but smooth bitterness at 35 IBU that dries the finish without harshness. The bitter edge persists cleanly, maintaining hop character throughout.

hoppy bitternesscitrus forwardsmooth dry finish

Finish

The finish is dry and persistent, with citrus notes running through to the end. The bitterness resolves into a clean, refreshing aftertaste that invites another sip.

drycitrus lingeringrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of 4 Pines Pale Ale

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

Food Pairing

What to eat with 4 Pines Pale Ale

About Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same piney, hoppy, citrusy character as 4 Pines Pale Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pale Ales in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Australia beers →