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Bellfield Session Ale

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A 3.8 % ale that was long part of Bellfield's range and is still found on draught in Edinburgh. The brewery's description is brief: citrus tones from the hops deliver flavour and aroma, and the hop bitterness, 31 IBU, is balanced by a fine malt character. Drinkers add an amber, slightly rusty colour, a hint of orange and a malty finish closer to a traditional ale than to a pale, hop-led beer. Maize is part of the grist.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter31 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession

AWARDS

UK Country Winner · 2019
World Beer Awards
Speciality Beer
Silver · 2019
Scottish Beer Awards
Best Session Beer
★UK Country Winner — World Beer Awards (Speciality Beer)
★Silver — Scottish Beer Awards (Best Session Beer)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusymaltyhoppy
citrusy
malty
hoppy
orange
clean
Aroma
Citrus notes from noble hops emerge clearly on the nose, with hints of orange peel and herbal undertones.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bellfield Session Ale

◎ Appearance

Amber to rusty copper in color, with a slight haziness that suggests the presence of maize in the grist. The head forms readily and clings to the glass with moderate persistence, leaving delicate lacing on the walls. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated.

amber, rusty huemoderate lacinglightly hazy

◌ Aroma

Citrus notes from noble hops emerge clearly on the nose, with hints of orange peel and herbal undertones. Behind these sits a solid malt foundation with a touch of grain sweetness, characteristic of a session ale that doesn't lean heavily into hop aromatics. The overall impression is balanced and approachable rather than assertive.

citrus, orange peelherbal hop charactergrainy malt base

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a clean, lightly malty entry followed by a measured bitterness from the 31 IBU that doesn't dominate. Mid-palate reveals the interplay between subtle orange notes and a fine malt character; the maize contributes a light, crisp quality without drawing attention. The bitterness is restrained yet present, serving as counterweight to the gentle malt sweetness.

balanced bitternesscrisp, clean palateorange note

◑ Finish

The finish leans toward a traditional ale profile—malty and warming—rather than lingering on hop bitterness. Aftertaste is pleasant and relatively short, with a faint orange accent and a dry malt character that invites the next sip.

dry malt finishshort to medium
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
77
Appearance
75
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Bellfield Session 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 citrusy, bitter, malty character as Bellfield Session 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 Kingdom beers →