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Fonio Rising

Brooklyn Brewery
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🌍 United States · Pale Ale · One of 191 Pale Ales in hopIQ

Fonio Rising grew out of Brewing for Impact, a series of collaborations around the ancient grain marking Garrett Oliver's thirtieth year as brewmaster, and moved into the year-round range after a limited release in 2024. The pale ale is brewed with fonio, a West African grain grown without irrigation or fertiliser, and hopped with Citra and Strata. Passion fruit and tropical fruit lead the nose, followed by fresh citrus. The small-seeded cereal keeps the body light and adds a dry, faintly nutty note before a clean finish.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
See all Pale Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
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

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Pale Ale.
Hop character
tropical
citrusy
hoppy
Fermentation & yeast
clean
fruity
Malt character
nutty

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fonio Rising

◎ Appearance

Fonio Rising presents a pale golden hue with excellent transparency and a modest white head that forms quickly and dissipates within seconds, leaving minimal lacing on the glass. The carbonation is moderate and evenly distributed, creating a gentle stream of fine bubbles. The beer sits at the lighter end of the pale ale spectrum, reflecting both the Pale Ale style and the delicate character imparted by fonio grain.

pale goldenbright, clearmodest head retentionfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant passion fruit and tropical stone fruit notes that immediately catch the attention, followed by a cleaner wave of fresh citrus—lime and lemon rind dominate. The Citra and Strata hop varieties showcase their characteristic aromatic profile without sharp resinousness. Beneath the fruit sits a subtle grainy backdrop from fonio, grounding the bouquet with a faint cereal whisper that never overwhelms.

passion fruit, tropicalfresh citrus, limebright hop charactersubtle grain backdrop

◐ Taste

The palate entry is clean and restrained, with moderate bitterness (35 IBU) integrating smoothly rather than dominating. Mid-palate reveals the light, dry body characteristic of fonio, alongside a faintly nutty character that adds textural complexity without heaviness. The citrus and tropical fruit notes from the aroma persist on the tongue, while the grain contributes a delicate dryness that keeps the beer refreshing and sessionable throughout.

balanced bitternesslight, dry bodyfaint nutty notecitrus-forward palate

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and brisk, with the bitterness fading quickly into a dry, grainy tail. The aftertaste remains briefly on the palate before dissolving completely, leaving no lingering sweetness or harsh edges.

clean, dry finishquick fade-out
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
76
Appearance
78
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Fonio Rising

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 Fonio Rising

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 tropical, dry, citrusy character as Fonio Rising 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 United States beers →