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The Surf Beer

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Malty and grassy, this golden ale is hopped with Motueka and comes in at 4.5% ABV. The brewery counts it among its flagship beers, calls it crisp, light and as easy-drinking as it gets, and pours it on tap year round. JetBlue began serving it on all of its flights in February 2025. Its pitch: keep it simple and enjoy the No-Frills Good Life.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
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
grassymaltyhoppy
grassy
malty
hoppy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with fresh grass and herbal notes characteristic of Motueka hops, layered beneath a gentle malty sweetness.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Surf Beer

◎ Appearance

The Surf Beer presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The pour is clean and well-carbonated, with steady effervescence that maintains visual appeal throughout the drinking experience.

bright goldenclearfine white headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with fresh grass and herbal notes characteristic of Motueka hops, layered beneath a gentle malty sweetness. Subtle noble hop aromatics emerge without assertiveness, creating an inviting, approachable profile that signals the beer's straightforward character.

grassy, herbalMotueka forwardlight malt sweetnessnoble hop aromatics

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and clean, with the grassy hop profile and light malty backbone establishing themselves immediately. The mid-palate remains smooth and refreshing, balancing soft malt character against restrained bitterness; the Motueka hops provide herbal definition without dominating. Moderate bitterness resolves quickly, keeping the beer drinkable and undemanding.

crisp entrygrassy, herballight maltymoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and relatively short, leaving no lingering sweetness or harsh astringency. A faint herbal echo from the hops fades promptly, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

cleanshort finishherbal echo
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
72
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C. Light and refreshing — serve cold to keep the delicate hop and malt balance intact.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with The Surf Beer

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About Golden Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Golden Ale?

Golden Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Golden Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same grassy, malty, crisp character as The Surf Beer will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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