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Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale

Alexander Keith's Brewery
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🌍 Canada · North American Blonde Ale · One of 3 North American Blonde Ales in hopIQ

Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale is one of Canada's best-known beers, though its 'IPA' label is a marketing legacy rather than a stylistic descriptor. First brewed in 1820s Halifax, the modern product is a light, pale golden beer at 5% ABV with approximately 15–19 IBU — far milder and lighter in hop character than any contemporary IPA style. At the 2016 Canadian Brewing Awards it competed and placed in the 'North American Style Blonde or Golden Ale' category. A product of AB InBev via its Labatt subsidiary.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

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

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another North American Blonde Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
floral
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#1 of 50The Best Canadian Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale

Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright clarity and excellent transparency. A dense white head forms on the pour with fine, persistent bubbles that leave distinct lacing on the glass. Carbonation is lively and well-integrated throughout.

pale goldencrystal clearfine lacingwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose opens with clean, crisp grain notes underscored by subtle citrus and light floral hints. Edelhopfen character is restrained but present, suggesting a blend of noble and mild bittering varieties. Soft Malz sweetness rounds the profile without any yeast or adjunct aromas.

clean graincitrus notesfloral hopsdelicate

Taste

Entry is light and refreshing, with bread-forward malt sweetness balanced by gentle Edelhopfen bitterness. Mid-palate remains smooth and crisp, with citrus and grain moving in parallel without dominance. Bitterness is measured at 22 IBU — sufficient for definition but far below contemporary IPA intensity.

bread maltcitrussmooth palaterestrained bitterness

Finish

The finish is dry and clean, fading to a lingering grain sweetness with a whisper of hop resins. Aftertaste remains refreshing and crisp, inviting immediate repetition.

dry finishgrain sweetnesscrisp
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
74
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale

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

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale

About North American Blonde Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a North American Blonde Ale?

North American Blonde 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 North American Blonde Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clean, crisp, hoppy character as Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other North American Blonde Ales in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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