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Side Track

Gage Roads Brew Co
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🌍 Australia · XPA · One of 1 XPAs in hopIQ

Side Track is a mid-strength XPA built on Cascade, Citra and Azacca. Pale, Vienna and wheat malt form a light frame that carries the hops without weight. Fresh citrus and tropical fruit lead the aroma, with a resinous hint of pine behind them, and the palate stays lean, dry and lightly bitter. At 3.5 percent it sits well under a standard pale ale while keeping the hop character intact.

ABV
3.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter24 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8

AWARDS

Gold · 2026
Royal Queensland Beer Awards
Bronze · 2024
Australian Independent Beer Awards
Bronze · 2024
Perth Royal Beer Awards
Bronze · 2024
Australian International Beer Awards
Silver · 2023
Perth Royal Beer Awards
Silver · 2022
Australian Independent Beer Awards
Bronze · 2022
Australian International Beer Awards
Gold · 2021
Australian International Beer Awards
Gold · 2021
Perth Royal Beer Awards
Bronze · 2020
Australian Independent Beer Awards
Gold — Royal Queensland Beer Awards
Bronze — Australian Independent Beer Awards
Bronze — Perth Royal Beer Awards
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another XPA.
Hop character
citrusy
tropical
resinous
hoppy
piney
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Side Track

Appearance

Side Track presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The carbonation is brisk and well-integrated, lending a lively visual presence without excessive effervescence. The light color reflects the restrained malt bill, allowing the hop character to dominate without visual heaviness.

pale goldenclearfine headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose opens with bright citrus notes—lemon and grapefruit peel—layered with distinct tropical fruit character that suggests mango and stone fruit. A resinous pine backdrop emerges as the beer warms, grounding the bright hop expression without overwhelming it. The aromatic profile is clean and focused, with no malt sweetness or yeast character competing for attention.

citrus peeltropical fruitresinous pineclean hop

Taste

The palate enters lean and crisp, with the malt providing only a delicate foundation that refuses to interfere with hop presence. Citrus and tropical notes develop across the mid-palate, followed by a building, dry bitterness that sits at a moderate level—assertive enough to define the beer without harshness. The finish remains dry and clean, with a light resinous persistence that echoes the aroma.

dry palatecitrus-forwardmoderate bitternesslight body

Finish

The aftertaste is crisp and relatively short, fading cleanly without lingering sweetness or astringency. A faint resinous dryness reminds of the hop profile as the beer reaches its conclusion.

dry finishcrispclean
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
76
Finish
74
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Side Track

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Side Track

About XPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a XPA?

XPA is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar XPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, tropical, citrusy character as Side Track will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

WHERE TO BUY

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