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Harvest Pale

Castle Rock Brewery
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🌍 United Kingdom · American Pale Ale · One of 231 American Pale Ales in hopIQ

Castle Rock's Harvest Pale is a rare thing: a sub-4% pale ale that punches above its weight. Brewed with Centennial, Cascade, and Chinook—a trio of American classics—it delivers citrus snap and gentle pine without the alcohol warmth. At 30 IBU and a light 3.8%, it's crushable, balanced, refreshing. Multi-award winning for a reason.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
See all American Pale Ale alternatives →
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

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

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

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American Pale Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
orange
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Harvest Pale

Appearance

Harvest Pale presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright, lively carbonation. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. The overall presentation is clean and inviting, with no haze or sediment.

pale goldencrystal clearfine lacingbright carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with assertive citrus—orange peel and grapefruit zest—from the Cascade and Centennial hops, layered with a subtle pine resin undertone from Chinook. A light, clean malt backbone provides gentle support without dominance, creating an aroma that is crisp and welcoming rather than aggressive or heavy.

citrus forwardorange peelpine resinclean malt

Taste

The palate entry is snappy and refreshing, with bright citrus and herbal hop character arriving immediately. Mid-palate develops a measured bitterness—38 IBU—that feels balanced rather than sharp, while the light malt provides a touch of sweetness and texture. The finish dries cleanly without astringency, leaving the hops to fade naturally.

citrus snapmeasured bitternessbalanceddry finish

Finish

The aftertaste is short to medium, dominated by lingering citrus and a gentle pine note. At 3.8% ABV, there is no alcohol warmth, allowing the beer to remain refreshing and drinkable through to the end.

citrus lingercleancrushable
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Harvest Pale

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 Harvest Pale

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

Other American Pale Ales in hopIQ

Explore all American Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →