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Köstritzer Pale Ale

Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei
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🌍 Germany · English Pale Ale · One of 10 English Pale Ales in hopIQ

Köstritzer Pale Ale, sold under the Meisterwerke label, is a strong, top-fermented pale ale at 6.5 % ABV and 14.5 °P, based on the brewery's reading of British ale tradition and first released in 2014. It pours a bright orange-gold with a light, fine head. Aroma hops give an intense nose of passion fruit, orange blossom and grapefruit over light caramel. The palate is dry and slim with lively carbonation; malt sweetness and tropical citrus fruit lead into a firm, assertive hop bitterness.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter50 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
See all English Pale Ale alternatives →

AWARDS

World's Best · 2024
World Beer Awards
English Style Pale Ale
World's Best — World Beer Awards (English Style Pale Ale)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Firmly bitter and dry.

A trim base, a hop-led finish — the classic setup for a hop-forward beer.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another English Pale Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
orange
tropical
Malt character
malty
caramel
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Köstritzer Pale Ale

Appearance

Pours a bright orange-gold with excellent clarity and luminosity. A light, fine head forms and persists with gentle Schaumhaftung along the glass. Lively carbonation is evident throughout, creating a vibrant and inviting presentation.

orange-goldbright clarityfine headcrisp carbonation

Aroma

Intensely aromatic with distinctive tropical citrus notes dominating the nose. Passion fruit and grapefruit lead, followed by delicate orange blossom and subtle floral character. A light caramel undertone provides malty backbone without obscuring the assertive noble hop profile.

passion fruitgrapefruitorange blossomnoble hops

Taste

The palate opens dry and elegant with tropical citrus fruit at the entry, leading into a crisp, lively mid-palate. Malt sweetness balances initially but recedes quickly, allowing a firm, assertive hop bitterness to build steadily. The finish is clean and dry, with lingering citrus and hop character.

dry palatecitrus-forwardfirm bitternessclean finish

Finish

Medium finish with persistent hop bitterness and citrus notes. Leaves the palate refreshed and dry without harsh astringency.

hoppy aftertasterefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
84
Appearance
84
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Köstritzer Pale Ale

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 Köstritzer Pale Ale

About English Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English 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 English Pale Ale

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

Other English Pale Ales in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all English Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Germany beers →