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Coast Ale

Capital Brewing Co
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🌍 Australia · California Common · One of 5 California Commons in hopIQ

The brewery's flagship and its take on the California Common, a style its San Diego-trained head brewer brought to Canberra. The style pairs lager yeast with a warmer, ale-like fermentation, and here it is hopped with Saaz, Hallertau and Super Pride. A rich malt body gives bready and light caramel notes, balanced by herbal and floral hop character and a soft, fruity bitterness. It drinks fresh, crisp and clean, with a smooth, rounded finish at 4.3 % ABV.

ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter20 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12

AWARDS

#9 · 2021
GABS Hottest 100
#9 — GABS Hottest 100
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
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another California Common.
Hop character
herbal
floral
Malt character
bready
caramel
malty
Fermentation & yeast
cleanfruity

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Coast Ale

Appearance

Coast Ale presents a bright amber hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with fine lacework. The carbonation is crisp and even, creating a steady stream of small bubbles that emphasize the beer's clean, refreshing character.

bright amberclearfine lacingwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose opens with herbal and floral notes from the Saaz and Hallertau hops, layered over a foundation of bready, lightly toasted Malz character. Subtle fruity undertones emerge beneath, suggesting the ale-like fermentation warmth, while the overall impression remains fresh and inviting rather than complex.

herbal and floralbready maltsubtle fruit estersclean

Taste

The palate enters with a clean, malty sweetness—bready with soft caramel notes—before Saaz and Hallertau deliver a refined herbal and floral hop character that sits comfortably in the mid-palate. The bitterness builds gently, fruity rather than harsh, and integrates smoothly with the rounded malt body to create a well-balanced whole.

malty entryherbal-floral hopssoft bitternessbalanced

Finish

The finish is smooth and dry, with the herbal and floral hop notes lingering pleasantly without overstaying. A gentle fruity sweetness fades into a clean, refreshing aftertaste that invites another sip.

smoothherbal faderefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
77
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Coast Ale

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

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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

Food Pairing

What to eat with Coast Ale

About California Common

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a California Common?

California Common 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 California Common

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clean, crisp, herbal character as Coast Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other California Commons in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →