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Mid River

James Squire
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🌍 Australia · Mid-Strength Pale Ale · One of 7 Mid-Strength Pale Ales in hopIQ

A mid-strength pale ale that leans on Vienna and Munich malts for a rich, bready malt character rarely found at 3.5 per cent. Hallertau Tradition, Spalt Select and Northern Brewer add crisp herbal and floral spice, while Mosaic and Citra put bright citrus and tropical fruit on top of them. Bitterness is moderate at 21 IBU and the finish stays dry. Named after the tavern Squire built on the Parramatta River in 1806.

ABV
3.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter21 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
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 Mid-Strength Pale Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
herbal
tropical
floral
hoppy
Malt character
bready
malty
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Mid River

Appearance

Mid River presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a full, persistent white head that demonstrates strong lacing retention. The carbonation is crisp and evenly distributed, visible as fine bubbles that rise steadily through the glass. The overall impression is clean and well-defined, typical of a professionally crafted pale ale.

bright goldenexcellent claritypersistent headfine carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with bright citrus notes—orange zest and grapefruit—layered over herbal and floral spice from the noble hop selection. Beneath the hop profile lies a substantial malty foundation of bread and Vienna character that provides backbone without heaviness. The overall aromatic balance is refreshing and inviting, with no harsh alcohol notes despite the restrained strength.

citrus zestherbal spicefloral notesbready malz foundation

Taste

Entry is crisp and malty, with Vienna and Munich malts delivering a bready sweetness uncommon at 3.5% ABV. The mid-palate introduces tropical fruit character from Mosaic and Citra alongside subtle herbal complexity, maintaining excellent balance between malt richness and hop definition. Bitterness is restrained at 21 IBU, providing structure without dominating the overall profile.

rich malz charactertropical fruitcrisp herbal bitemoderate bitterness

Finish

The finish is notably dry, with lingering citrus and herbal notes that fade cleanly without astringency. The aftertaste remains refreshing and short, inviting another sip rather than coating the palate.

dry finishcitrus persistenceclean departure
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
86
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Mid River

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 Mid River

About Mid-Strength Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Mid-Strength 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 Mid-Strength Pale Ale

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

Other Mid-Strength Pale Ales in hopIQ