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SoCal

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Crisp, piney, zesty and bright, a homage to favourite beers from California, Oregon and Washington, scene-changing and pioneering regions that inspired a generation of craft brewers. SoCal is a 4% pale in Cloudwater's core range, a perfect contrast to juicy, hazy pales that leaves you pining for more.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous 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
pineyhoppycitrusy
piney
hoppy
citrusy
clean
malty
Aroma
The nose is dominated by resinous pine and citrus notes characteristic of Pacific Northwest hops, with a clean, herbaceous quality throughout.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for SoCal

◎ Appearance

SoCal presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a bright, luminous quality. The head forms quickly with fine, tight bubbles that maintain a persistent collar and lacing around the glass. Carbonation is crisp and well-integrated, creating a lively visual presence.

pale goldenbright claritypersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by resinous pine and citrus notes characteristic of Pacific Northwest hops, with a clean, herbaceous quality throughout. Subtle malt sweetness provides a grounding base without obscuring the hop character. The aroma is inviting and fresh, with no yeast or solvent notes detracting from the crisp profile.

resinous pinecitrus peelherbalclean malt base

◐ Taste

Entry is bright and zesty with immediate hop bitterness and piney flavor. The mid-palate remains crisp and clean, balancing the moderate bitterness with subtle malt sweetness and citrus character. The body is light and refreshing without feeling thin, allowing the hop complexity to remain the focal point throughout the palate.

piney hopsmoderate bitternesscrisp finishlight body

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and clean with lingering pine and herbal notes that fade gradually. A gentle bitterness persists without becoming harsh, encouraging another sip.

drylingering pineclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
75
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 SoCal

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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 crisp, piney, hoppy character as SoCal 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 →