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Harmonic Tension

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Harmonic Tension is a double dry-hopped pale ale with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe, designed as a pared-down extension of the brewery's Opening Theme and one of three beers built on the same hop combination. A two-stage dry hop sits on a light, fluffy body and brings out gooseberry, nectarine and apricot. Selected hop lots and two New Zealand crops of Nelson Sauvin go into all three beers; this one is brewed to 5.5%.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppyfruityjuicy
hoppy
fruity
juicy
peach
citrusy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant stone fruit—prominent gooseberry and nectarine notes layered with apricot and subtle floral hints from the Mosaic and Edelhopfen blend.
not found:piney,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Harmonic Tension

◎ Appearance

Golden-amber hue with bright clarity and a fine, persistent white head. The carbonation is lively, generating steady fine bubbles that create good head retention and delicate lacing on the glass. The beer presents a clean, inviting visual profile typical of well-crafted pale ales.

golden-amberbright, clearfine white headgood lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant stone fruit—prominent gooseberry and nectarine notes layered with apricot and subtle floral hints from the Mosaic and Edelhopfen blend. A gentle herbaceous undertone supports the fruit without overwhelming, while the light Malz foundation remains neutral and unobtrusive. The double dry hop sits cleanly on the surface, inviting closer inspection.

stone fruit forwardgooseberry, nectarine, apricotfloral, herbaceousclean dry hop

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a soft, delicate malt sweetness that gives way to the hop character—juicy stone fruit and subtle citrus notes develop mid-palate with gentle spice from Simcoe. At 35 IBUs, bitterness is restrained and balanced, providing structure without harsh edges. The body remains light and fluffy as promised, allowing the hop aromatics to dominate rather than linger aggressively.

soft malt sweetnessbalanced bitternessjuicy, spicedlight, fluffy body

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and medium-length, with stone fruit notes gradually fading into a subtle dry herbaceous quality. No harsh aftertaste; instead, a gentle warmth remains.

clean finishmedium lengthdry herbaceous fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
81
Appearance
83
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 Harmonic Tension

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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 hoppy, fruity, light character as Harmonic Tension 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 United Kingdom beers →