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Velo

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First brewed for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, which passed the brewery in July 2014, and kept on as part of the cask range. It is made with orange peel, coriander and Cascade hops: a citrus edge, a touch of coriander on the nose, and a delicate spicy-sweet character where the spice meets the malt. Sessionable at 4.2 %.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably 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
coriandercitrusyspicy
coriander
citrusy
spicy
orange
malty
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with a distinctive citrus character, predominantly orange peel alongside the Cascade hops' characteristic grapefruit and pine notes.
also:hoppy
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Velo

◎ Appearance

Velo presents a bright, pale golden hue typical of the style, with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with good lacing. The carbonation is visible and lively, creating a delicate foam structure that reflects the beer's sessionable character.

pale goldenclearfine carbonationpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a distinctive citrus character, predominantly orange peel alongside the Cascade hops' characteristic grapefruit and pine notes. A gentle herbal spice from the coriander addition sits in the background, creating a layered bouquet that is fresh and inviting without overwhelming the senses.

orange peelcitrusherbal spiceCascade hops

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and crisp, with the orange and citrus notes translating well from the nose onto the palate. The malt backbone is delicate but present, providing a subtle sweetness that interacts pleasantly with the spiced character; the coriander adds a dry, peppery dimension that prevents the beer from becoming cloying. Bitterness remains restrained at 35 IBU, allowing the adjunct flavours to shine.

citrus forwardspiceddelicate maltrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with the spice and citrus notes fading gradually into a subtle herbal aftertaste. The beer leaves the palate refreshed, true to its design as a sessionable ale.

drycitrus faderefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
78
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 Velo

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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 coriander, citrusy, spicy character as Velo 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 →