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Columbus Pale Ale

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A CBC original returns: slight caramel, citrus and pine aromas, with toasty British crystal malt balancing American "C" hops at 5.6% ABV and 40 IBU. The recipe goes back to the brewery's roots, and the beer is a seasonal release brewed in Columbus, in cans and on draft, sold only in Ohio.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter40 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
toastymaltyhoppy
toasty
malty
hoppy
piney
citrusy
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with toasty British crystal malt underpinning the composition, followed by distinct pine and citrus notes from the American hops.
also:clean
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Columbus Pale Ale

◎ Appearance

Golden amber hue with moderate clarity, suggesting a balanced blend of pale and crystal malts. The head forms with moderate density and displays steady retention, building fine lacing down the glass. Carbonation appears well-integrated, producing a gentle cascade of fine bubbles.

golden amberclear to brightmoderate head retentionfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with toasty British crystal malt underpinning the composition, followed by distinct pine and citrus notes from the American hops. Subtle caramel sweetness rounds the aromatic profile, creating an inviting balance between grain character and herbal hop presence without harshness.

toasty maltpine and citruscaramel sweetnessherbal hop

◐ Taste

Entry is malty and clean, with toasted grain flavors establishing the foundation. Mid-palate reveals layered complexity—citrus and piney hop bitterness weaves through the lingering caramel notes and malt backbone. The 40 IBU bitter charge is firm but controlled, never overshadowing the malts.

toasted grainbalanced bitternesscitrus-pine hopsmalt-forward

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and crisp, with pine and herbal notes persisting into a clean, refreshing aftertaste. Residual toasty grain character fades gracefully, leaving a pleasant drying sensation on the palate.

crisp finishdry aftertasterefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
79
Appearance
76
Finish
77
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Columbus Pale Ale

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About American Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar American Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same toasty, malty, hoppy character as Columbus Pale Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all American Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →