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Belfast Ale

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Northern Ireland's most recognised craft ale. Amber-coloured with a malty character, fruity hop aroma and a balanced bitter finish. Brewed with Mourne spring water.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
SRM
golden7
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltyfruityhoppy
malty
fruity
hoppy
mineral
clean
caramel
Aroma
The nose reveals a harmonious blend of fruity hop aromas balanced with subtle malty sweetness and grain character.
also:orange
not found:juicy,roasted,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Belfast Ale

◎ Appearance

Belfast Ale presents a beautiful amber hue that exemplifies the Irish Pale Ale style, with excellent clarity and bright translucency. The beer displays a dense, creamy white head that persists well, indicating proper carbonation and fresh condition. The visual presentation is inviting and characteristic of a well-crafted pale ale.

amberclearwhite headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose reveals a harmonious blend of fruity hop aromas balanced with subtle malty sweetness and grain character. Fresh herbal and floral notes emerge from the hops, while the Mourne spring water accentuates the crisp, clean aromatic profile. This is a restrained yet complex nose that invites further exploration.

fruity hopsfloralmalty graincrisp

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a clean, crisp entry featuring balanced grain and bread-like malty notes that provide a satisfying foundation. The mid-palate develops hoppy and fruity characteristics that complement rather than overpower the malt structure, while maintaining excellent drinkability. The finish transitions to a dry, medium-bodied bitterness (30 IBU) that feels sophisticated and well-integrated rather than harsh.

clean maltfruity-hoppy balancedry finishmedium-bodied

◑ Finish

The finish is pleasantly dry with a lingering bitter edge that fades gracefully, leaving no unpleasant aftertaste. The crisp, clean character persists through the finish, making this an excellent session ale.

drycleanbalanced bitter
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
81
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 Belfast 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 malty, fruity, hoppy character as Belfast 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 Northern Ireland beers →