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Trail

Capital Brewing Co
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🌍 Australia · Pale Ale · One of 175 Pale Ales in hopIQ

One of the brewery's first beers from 2016, named after hikes in the hills around Canberra. It follows the American pale ale tradition, with Ella, Simcoe, Cascade and Galaxy hops over a well-balanced malt base. Pine and citrus lead the flavour, with grapefruit and orange peel from Cascade and Simcoe and a tropical passionfruit note from the Australian varieties. The beer pours golden and slightly cloudy, with a floral aroma and smooth bitterness at 4.7 % ABV.

ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
See all Pale Ale alternatives →

AWARDS

#64 · 2021
GABS Hottest 100
#64 — GABS Hottest 100
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Even from Body through Texture, the taste structure is evenly distributed.

Harmony over emphasis — the beer is built for each note to sit at the same volume.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Pale Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
piney
floral
hoppy
orange
tropical
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Trail

Appearance

Trail pours a bright golden hue with a light haze, reflecting the natural cloudiness from the brewing process. The head is modest but persistent, with fine bubbles that create soft lacing around the glass as it recedes. Carbonation is gentle and even throughout, giving the beer a refined, approachable visual character.

golden, hazyfine bubbleslight lacingmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with prominent pine and floral notes, characteristic of the Simcoe and Ella hops used in the blend. Citrus follows immediately—bright grapefruit and orange peel lead the charge, while the Galaxy and Cascade varieties contribute a subtle tropical edge with hints of passionfruit. Underneath, a clean Malz foundation provides gentle support without overwhelming the hop-forward character.

pine, resinouscitrus peeltropical passionfruitfloral, herbaceous

Taste

The palate enters clean and balanced, with the Malz base offering a light, dry platform for the hop layers to unfold. Pine and citrus dominate the mid-palate—orange and grapefruit notes build smoothly, underpinned by a tropical passionfruit sweetness that prevents any harshness. The bitterness arrives measured and well-integrated, finishing with a crisp, refreshing edge that invites the next sip rather than dominating.

piney, resinouscitrus forwardsmooth bitternesstropical finish

Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with the bitterness fading to a lingering citrus and pine aftertaste. The low ABV ensures the beer remains light and refreshing, leaving no alcohol heat or cloying sweetness behind.

dry, cleancitrus linger
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
75
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Trail

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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
Recommended for this style

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.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Trail

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 piney, citrusy, tropical character as Trail will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pale Ales in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Australia beers →