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Op & Top

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A hoppy session ale at 4.5%, built as a stepping stone between pils and IPA. The idea was to join two seemingly incompatible worlds, hence the name: pils and IPA in one glass. Easy-drinking, refreshing, hoppy and thirst-quenching, it is meant to replace the everyday pils and open the door to craft beer without a big leap in flavour.

ABV
4.5%
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
hoppycleancitrusy
hoppy
clean
citrusy
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with bright, herbaceous hop character—citrus pith and green herbal notes dominate—while a subtle malty foundation provides textural balance without dominating.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Op & Top

◎ Appearance

Op & Top presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with deliberate Schaumkleiden. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a visual impression of freshness and snap. Light transmission reveals the beer's clean, transparent character without any haze or sediment.

pale goldencrystalline claritypersistent headbrisk carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright, herbaceous hop character—citrus pith and green herbal notes dominate—while a subtle malty foundation provides textural balance without dominating. Light floral and slightly spicy undertones emerge as the beer warms, suggesting noble hop varieties used with restraint. Yeast-derived esters remain in the background, allowing the hop profile to command attention.

herbal hopscitrus, green notesclean fermentationgentle Malz foundation

◐ Taste

The palate enters crisp and refreshing, with a clean malty sweetness that immediately gives way to measured hop bitterness—balanced rather than aggressive. Mid-palate holds a light, dry body with bright citrus and herbal hop flavours that persist without overwhelming. The finish is dry and clean, with lingering noble hop bitterness that remains pleasant and thirst-quenching rather than harsh.

balanced bitter-sweetdry malt backbonecitrus-herbal hopsclean finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste fades gradually with a dry, gently bitter hop impression that invites the next sip. No cloying sweetness or astringency remains—the beer leaves the palate crisp and refreshed.

dry, hoppy fadequenching
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
82
Finish
77
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 Op & Top

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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 hoppy, refreshing, crisp character as Op & Top 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 Netherlands beers →