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Pinnacle

Black Hops Brewing
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🌍 Australia · India Pale Lager · One of 10 India Pale Lagers in hopIQ

The first release in the brewery's 2026 Road Trip Series is a strong, hop-forward pale lager that the brewery calls a West Coast Pilsner. It starts crisp, then Simcoe and Centennial push pine and citrus to the front. Riwaka and Nectaron follow with stone fruit and tropical fruit and lift the aroma further. The bitterness is firm, yet the beer stays approachable, and the lager fermentation keeps the finish clean and dry.

ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another India Pale Lager.
Hop character
hoppy
piney
citrusy
tropical
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
dark fruit

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pinnacle

Appearance

Pinnacle presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright translucence. The head forms with fine, tight carbonation and maintains good retention with delicate Schaumkleiden. The visual profile conveys both refinement and the crisp character typical of lager fermentation.

pale goldencrystal clearfine carbonationclean lacing

Aroma

The nose leads with resinous pine and grapefruit citrus from Simcoe and Centennial hops, creating an assertive yet inviting top note. As the beer opens, Riwaka and Nectaron emerge with stone fruit and tropical fruit character—peach and passionfruit—that lift the overall aroma complexity. The foundation remains clean, with minimal malt presence and no yeast-derived esters, allowing the hop profile to dominate.

piney resincitrus zeststone fruit, tropicalhop-forward

Taste

The palate enters crisp and bright, with the lager fermentation delivering a clean, refreshing mouthfeel. Mid-palate builds a firm, well-defined bitterness anchored by pine and citrus notes, while stone fruit and subtle tropical undertones provide balance and length. The Malz backbone remains restrained, offering just enough breadth to support the hop character without muddying the dry finish.

bitter, pine-drivendry, clean palatetropical undertonesfirm structure

Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with lingering pine bitterness and a whisper of citrus peel that gradually fades. The aftertaste remains refreshingly clean with no residual sweetness, characteristic of the lager's precise fermentation profile.

dry, lingering pineclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Pinnacle

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass
Recommended for this style

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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

Food Pairing

What to eat with Pinnacle

About India Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a India Pale Lager?

India Pale Lager 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 India Pale Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, dry, piney character as Pinnacle will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other India Pale Lagers in hopIQ

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