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Deception

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Light and refreshing, Deception opens with Nelson Sauvin's citrus, a thread of gooseberry and a flash of white grape, then closes on a crisp bitter finish. Amarillo, Chinook, Galaxy and Columbus play support at 4.1 % ABV. Brewery friend Stuart Noble kept raving about the new New Zealand hop in 2008; the first full brew, made on 21 January, sold out within weeks and had to be brewed again. Champion Beer of Sheffield 2010 and 2011.

ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, North East)
Cask Session Pale Ale (up to 4.4%)
Bronze · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, North East)
Cask Session Pale Ale (up to 4.4%)
Silver · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, North East)
Overall Champion of the Cask Beer Competition
★Gold — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, North East) (Cask Session Pale Ale (up to 4.4%))
★Bronze — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, North East) (Cask Session Pale Ale (up to 4.4%))
★Silver — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, North East) (Overall Champion of the Cask Beer Competition)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyberryhoppy
citrusy
berry
hoppy
clean
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced Nelson Sauvin character—citrus pith, white grape skin, and gooseberry—lifted by bright herbaceous notes from the supporting hop blend.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Deception

◎ Appearance

Pale straw-gold in color with excellent clarity and bright luminosity. A fine, white head forms quickly and maintains steady lacing around the glass. Carbonation is visible and lively, contributing to the beer's crisp visual presentation.

pale straw-goldcrystal clearfine white headlively carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced Nelson Sauvin character—citrus pith, white grape skin, and gooseberry—lifted by bright herbaceous notes from the supporting hop blend. A clean, grassy backdrop suggests restrained malt presence, allowing the hop aromatics to dominate without any yeast-derived fruitiness or phenols.

Nelson Sauvin citruswhite grape, gooseberryherbaceousclean malt base

◐ Taste

Entry is lean and crisp, with citrus zest and stone fruit (peach) arriving immediately across the palate. The mid-palate remains hoppy and dry, with Amarillo and Galaxy adding spice and tropical undertones. Chinook and Columbus provide a firm, clean bitterness that builds steadily without astringency, finishing dry and refreshing.

citrus zest, stone fruitdry, hoppy mid-palateclean, firm bitterness

◑ Finish

Bitterness persists into a medium, dry finish with a lingering citrus peel note. The aftertaste is clean and mineral-edged, with no lingering sweetness or rough edges.

dry, lingering citrusclean mineral edge
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 Deception

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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 citrusy, bitter, crisp character as Deception will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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