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Mt Macedon Pale Ale

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Named after the mountain that overlooks the brewery, this pale ale was first brewed in 2001 as Holgate's third release. The hopping carries zesty citrus, peach and a floral lift, set against a lightly caramelised malt base that stays soft rather than sweet. Carapils entered the recipe when the beer moved into cans in 2022, along with a fuller dry hop. Bitterness sits in the middle of the range and the finish is clean and dry.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusypeachclean
citrusy
peach
clean
floral
malty
hoppy
Aroma
The nose leads with zesty citrus notes—predominantly lemon and grapefruit—underpinned by a soft stone-fruit character of ripe peach.
also:caramel
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Mt Macedon Pale Ale

◎ Appearance

A bright golden amber hue with good clarity and a fine, persistent white head. The carbonation is lively and evident throughout the pour, with steady bubbles rising through the glass. Lacing clings to the walls in fine strands, indicating proper head retention and structure.

golden amberclearpersistent foamwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with zesty citrus notes—predominantly lemon and grapefruit—underpinned by a soft stone-fruit character of ripe peach. A delicate floral lift emerges on closer inspection, providing an herbal counterpoint to the fruit-forward top notes. Beneath these bright aromatics sits a lightly caramelised Malz base that adds warmth without dominating.

citrus-forwardpeachfloral hopsoft caramel

◐ Taste

The palate opens with crisp citrus and peach flavors that mirror the aroma, supported by a soft, non-cloying caramel sweetness from the Malz base. Bitterness builds gradually through the mid-palate, sitting comfortably in the moderate range without harsh edges. The fuller dry hop addition (introduced in the 2022 canning) amplifies the hoppy character while maintaining balance against the malt structure.

dry hop-forwardcitrus bitterclean palatebalanced malt

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with lingering citrus bitterness that fades smoothly rather than sharply. The aftertaste carries a subtle peach note and a whisper of floral bitterness, leading to a refreshing, thirst-quenching conclusion.

dry finishlingering citrusrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
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 Mt Macedon Pale Ale

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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, peach, clean character as Mt Macedon 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 Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Australia beers →