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Proto-Cosmos

Cloudwater Brew Co
United Kingdom·Pale Ale
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Delicate, fresh and slightly sweet elderflower brings subtle notes of white fruit, grapefruit and a touch of honey, backed by lemon balm with its zesty oils and a herbaceous finish. This 3.4% seasonal ale uses foraged elderflower and is the second in Cloudwater's series of ales with foraged ingredients, after Protosynthesis.

ABV
3.4%
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
floralfruityherbal
floral
fruity
herbal
citrusy
honey
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent elderflower character—delicate and botanical—followed by white stone fruit and grapefruit zest.
also:hoppy
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Proto-Cosmos

◎ Appearance

Proto-Cosmos presents a pale golden hue with bright clarity and a delicate, fine-bubbled head that settles into gentle lacing around the glass. The carbonation is refined and persistent, creating a soft, creamy collar that clings to the rim with each sip.

pale goldenbright and clearfine bubbled head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent elderflower character—delicate and botanical—followed by white stone fruit and grapefruit zest. Lemon balm adds a zesty, herbal dimension with subtle warming oils, while a whisper of honey and floral sweetness rounds out the aromatic profile without overwhelming the palate.

elderflower, prominentcitrus and white fruitherbal and fresh

◐ Taste

Entry is soft and slightly sweet, with elderflower and honey leading the palate. Mid-palate reveals white fruit character and grapefruit bitterness, supported by gentle herbaceous notes from lemon balm. The moderate bitterness (35 IBU) is restrained and balanced, allowing the delicate foraged flavors to remain central rather than harsh.

soft, sweet entryfloral and fruity mid-palatebalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and clean, with a gentle herbal and citrus aftertaste that fades gracefully. Lemon balm oils persist lightly on the finish, leaving a refreshing, zesty impression without astringency.

crisp, herballight citrus fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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 Proto-Cosmos

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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 floral, fruity, herbal character as Proto-Cosmos 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 →