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Pathmaker

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An IPA brewed with Chinook and dedicated to founder Paul Theakston, who built the brewery from scratch in 1992; the brewery tied it to its thirtieth birthday in September 2022. The US-grown hops give a punchy aroma with hints of grapefruit, and the malt blend adds a robust sweetness. At 4 % it is session strength for an IPA.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycitrusymalty
hoppy
citrusy
malty
clean
tropical
Aroma
The nose leads with a punchy, resinous hop character from the Chinook variety, delivering pronounced citrus notes with distinct grapefruit notes.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pathmaker

◎ Appearance

Pathmaker presents a bright, pale golden hue characteristic of session IPAs. The beer displays excellent clarity with a white, fine-bubbled head that forms readily and maintains moderate lacing down the glass. Carbonation is crisp and well-defined, supporting the beer's refreshing character.

pale goldenbright and clearfine white headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with a punchy, resinous hop character from the Chinook variety, delivering pronounced citrus notes with distinct grapefruit notes. Behind the hops, a malty foundation emerges, contributing subtle caramel sweetness and a light grain base that balances the aromatic intensity without overwhelming the senses.

Chinook hop resingrapefruit citrusmalt sweetnessrobust hop punch

◐ Taste

The palate opens with crisp hop bitterness that builds through the mid-palate, supported by a robust malt sweetness that provides body and structure. At 4% ABV, the beer achieves surprising fullness; the malt blend delivers caramel and light grain notes that complement rather than compete with the lingering Chinook bitterness. The finish carries both the hop character and residual malt sweetness in balanced measure.

hop bitternessmalt bodygrapefruit notessession strength

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with Chinook hop bitterness persisting into the aftertaste. Residual malt sweetness lingers gently, creating a pleasant balance that encourages another sip.

dry finishpersistent hop bitebalanced aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

Tulip glass

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

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Pathmaker

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About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar IPA

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all IPA beers in hopIQ →New to IPA? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →