hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

San Diego Pale Ale .394

Tap to rate

A golden pale ale full of American hop flavor and aroma, with a subdued bitterness and a malty sweet finish. Tony Gwynn's team asked AleSmith for it in early 2014, and the baseball legend wanted a beer that is light with a kick. The name salutes his career-high .394 average in 1994, and part of the proceeds goes to the Tony and Alicia Gwynn Foundation. 6.0% ABV, 13 IBU.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Mild13 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppymaltycitrusy
hoppy
malty
citrusy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with fresh American hop character—citrus peel and subtle pine notes emerge cleanly.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for San Diego Pale Ale .394

◎ Appearance

Golden yellow in the glass with bright clarity and excellent light transmission. A dense white head forms quickly and clings to the glass with fine lacing as the beer settles. Carbonation is lively and persistent throughout the pour.

golden yellowcleardense headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with fresh American hop character—citrus peel and subtle pine notes emerge cleanly. Beneath lies a soft Malz foundation with gentle honeyed sweetness, neither aggressive nor muddled. The overall profile is bright and inviting, with no harsh alcohol bite.

citrus hopspinehoneyed maltclean

◐ Taste

The palate opens with balanced malt sweetness and a gentle hop bite that builds gradually across the tongue. Mid-palate reveals layers of citrus character alongside a light caramel backdrop, creating a pleasing interplay of flavor. Bitterness is restrained but present, finishing dry without astringency.

malt sweetnesscitrus forwardrestrained bitternessbalanced

◑ Finish

The aftertaste lingers briefly with fading hop bitterness and a whisper of malt sweetness. Clean, crisp exit with no cloying residue.

dry finishcrispshort linger
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
77
Appearance
82
Finish
76
Serve at 7–10°C

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

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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with San Diego Pale Ale .394

More from AleSmith Brewing Company

AleSchmidt Oktoberfest
AleSmith IPA
AleSmith IPA
West Coast IPA
7.3%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Anvil Pilsner
Anvil Pilsner
German Pilsner
4.9%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout: Islander Joy Edition
Evil Dead Red
Evil Dead Red
Amber Ale
6.7%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Forged Collaborations x Omnipollo Hazy IPA
Hazy .394
Horny Devil
Horny Devil
Belgian Strong Golden Ale
10%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →

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 hoppy, malty, sweet character as San Diego Pale Ale .394 will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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