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The Swindler

James Squire
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🌍 Australia · Pale Ale · One of 144 Pale Ales in hopIQ

A pale ale dry-hopped with Galaxy and El Dorado over a base of pale and Munich malt. The aroma runs to passionfruit and melon with a pear-like edge, and the malt stays light enough to keep out of the way. Bitterness is moderate at 22 IBU and the finish comes quick and clean rather than resinous. Straw-coloured under a generous head. Reworked in 2015 from an earlier summer ale that carried the same name.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter22 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
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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 Pale Ale.
Hop character
tropical
hoppy
citrusy
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
clean
Malt character
malty
Distinctive notes
peach
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Swindler

Appearance

Straw-coloured with bright clarity and a fine golden hue typical of the pale ale style. A generous head forms and persists, displaying attractive lacing as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is evident and well-integrated, contributing to the beer's lively visual presence.

straw-colouredbright claritypersistent headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose leads with tropical stone fruit—passionfruit and melon dominate—balanced by a pear-like edge that adds complexity. The pale and Munich malt base remains restrained, allowing the Galaxy and El Dorado hops to express their fruity character without asserting resinous or herbal overtones. The overall impression is fresh and inviting, neither heavy nor subdued.

passionfruitmelonpeartropical fruitrestrained malt

Taste

The palate opens clean and crisp, with the hop-driven fruitiness (peach, citrus, and tropical notes) taking centre stage while the light malt base provides delicate support. Bitterness registers as moderate at 22 IBU, complementing rather than dominating the fruit profile. The beer maintains balance throughout the mid-palate without becoming cloying or excessively sweet.

crisp entrytropical fruitpeachmoderate bitternessclean palate

Finish

The finish is quick and clean, with minimal lingering bitterness or resinous character. Dryness prevails without astringency, leaving a refreshing aftertaste that invites another sip.

quick finishdryrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of The Swindler

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 The Swindler

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 fruity, clean, tropical character as The Swindler will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pale Ales in hopIQ

Explore all Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Australia beers →