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Pay Heed

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A full-court press of citrusy hop aroma from Centennial, Cascade, Cascade Lupulin, Vic Secret, Simcoe and Chinook, balanced by an easy-drinking body. Boulevard calls it a fresh and bright take on a timeless classic, brewed as its partnership with KU Athletics rolls on and basketball season tips off. Pale Ale, 5% ABV and 50 IBU, a limited release.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter50 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyhoppyclean
citrusy
hoppy
clean
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant citrus notes—grapefruit, lemon zest, and subtle orange peel from the six-hop blend.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pay Heed

◎ Appearance

Pay Heed presents a bright golden-amber hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head. Carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating steady streams of bubbles that maintain good lacing on the glass throughout the tasting.

golden-amberbright claritypersistent headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant citrus notes—grapefruit, lemon zest, and subtle orange peel from the six-hop blend. Cascade and Vic Secret contribute floral and berry undertones, while the clean Malz base remains restrained, allowing the hop character to dominate without harshness.

citrus-forwardgrapefruit zestfloral-berryclean hop profile

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with bright citrus flavours hitting the palate immediately. Mid-palate reveals a clean, balanced bitterness (50 IBU) that complements gentle Malz sweetness without overwhelming. The body remains lean and approachable, making this a smooth, drinkable experience from start to finish.

crisp citrusbalanced bitternessclean palatelight body

◑ Finish

The finish is short to medium, leaving a dry, slightly bitter aftertaste with lingering citrus notes. No harshness remains—just a clean, refreshing fade that invites the next sip.

dry finishcitrus echoclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
85
Finish
72
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 Pay Heed

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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, hoppy, smooth-drinking character as Pay Heed 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 States beers →