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Swingin' Friar Ale

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Brewed to toast the San Diego Padres and named after their Friar mascot, this pale ale is hopped with 100% Simcoe. Citrus, peach, mellow berry, pine and grapefruit meet a biscuity malt backbone, subtle malt sweetness and a crisp finish. A 5.5% pale ale in cans and on draft, sold only in San Diego County.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter40 IBU
Resinous 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
citrusypeachmalty
citrusy
peach
malty
hoppy
piney
bready
Aroma
The nose is dominated by bright citrus and stone fruit notes from the Simcoe hops—grapefruit zest, lime, and distinct peach lead the charge.
also:berry,clean
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Swingin' Friar Ale

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine white head that settles to a thin collar with good lacing. Active carbonation is visible throughout, lending a lively, inviting presentation. The color sits in the warm amber-gold range typical of the style.

pale goldenbright clarityfine white headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by bright citrus and stone fruit notes from the Simcoe hops—grapefruit zest, lime, and distinct peach lead the charge. Beneath these sits a clean, bready malt base with subtle pine and herbal undertones. The overall impression is fresh and inviting without any harsh or grassy edges.

citrus-forwardpeach and grapefruitpiney herbsclean malt

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and medium-bodied with immediate citrus and peach character. The mid-palate reveals a supportive biscuity malt backbone with gentle sweetness, allowing the Simcoe hops to maintain prominence without overwhelming. Moderate bitterness (40 IBU) arrives mid-palate and builds gradually, finishing clean and dry with lingering grapefruit and pine.

crisp citrus bitepeachy and briskbready malt supportbalanced hop bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and refreshing, with citrus and piney notes persisting into the aftertaste. A clean departure with no astringency or cloying sweetness, inviting another sip.

dry and crispcitrus linger
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
79
Appearance
76
Finish
75
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Swingin' Friar Ale

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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 crisp, citrusy, peach character as Swingin' Friar Ale 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 →