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Northern Light

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Northern Light is a pale blonde ale, light, refreshing and citrusy, with a floral nose of lemon and sweet spice, then fresh bread, spicy hop, citrus and apricot, and a crisp, clean, floral finish. Perle, Hersbrucker and Saaz give a crisp hop character that never turns aggressive. The name comes from the aurora, a regular sight in the northern skies over Orkney.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter31 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
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
citrusyfloralclean
citrusy
floral
clean
hoppy
spicy
fruity
Aroma
The nose opens with bright citrus and floral notes, dominated by lemon zest and a subtle sweetness reminiscent of spice.
also:bready,malty
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Northern Light

◎ Appearance

Northern Light presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright translucence. The head forms quickly with fine, persistent bubbles that create delicate lacing as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is crisp and lively, supporting a clean, refreshing visual presentation.

pale goldenbrilliant clarityfine carbonationpersistent lace

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright citrus and floral notes, dominated by lemon zest and a subtle sweetness reminiscent of spice. Perle, Hersbrucker and Saaz hops contribute a refined, herbal complexity without harsh edges. Beneath these hop-forward characteristics lies a soft malt base suggesting fresh bread and light grain sweetness.

citrus and lemonfloral and herbalfresh breadnoble hop character

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and crisp with immediate citrus and stone fruit (apricot) flavors that develop across the palate. The hop bitterness remains restrained and elegant at 31 IBU, never becoming aggressive or dominating. A gentle spice and herbal note from the hop blend weaves through the mid-palate, balanced by subtle malt sweetness that prevents harshness.

citrus and apricotcrisp and dryrestrained bitternessspiced finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and floral with a gentle lingering bitterness that fades gracefully. A subtle dryness remains without astringency, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

floral aftertasteclean departure
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

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 Northern Light

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About Blonde Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Blonde Ale?

Blonde 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 Blonde Ale

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

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