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Pillars Original Pale

Pillars Brewery
United Kingdom·India Pale Lager
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Zesty citrus meets the hoppy taste of a pale ale on the light body of a lager. This 4.5% India pale lager, formerly Hop Lager, is the beer Pillars began with: an IPA recipe fermented with lager yeast, dry-hopped and bursting with Simcoe from Washington State. It pairs with everything from fish and chips to Mexican food.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycitrusyresinous
hoppy
citrusy
resinous
clean
piney
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced Simcoe hop character—citrus zest and resinous pine notes dominate.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pillars Original Pale

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright transparency. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. Carbonation is lively and visible, with steady streams of fine bubbles rising through the body.

pale goldenclear and brightpersistent lacinglively carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced Simcoe hop character—citrus zest and resinous pine notes dominate. Subtle herbaceous undertones and a clean, crisp quality emerge beneath, with minimal malt presence. The overall impression is fresh and inviting, with no yeast-derived esters or off-notes.

citrus and pineresinous hopherbaceousclean and crisp

◐ Taste

Entry is light and refreshing, with immediate hop bitterness tempered by the beer's lean body. Mid-palate develops citrus and piney hop flavors in balance with a delicate, understated malt sweetness. The finish is dry and snappy, with bitterness building gradually but never aggressive, characteristic of the lager yeast's clean fermentation.

hoppy bitternesscitrus-forwardlight bodydry finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is crisp and lingering, with hop resin and citrus notes persisting cleanly. A light, refreshing quality dominates the close, leaving no heaviness or astringency.

hop-drivenlingering citrus
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
75
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Pillars Original Pale

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About India Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a India Pale Lager?

India Pale Lager 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 India Pale Lager

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

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