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Vienna Pale

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Pilot places this beer between a malty Vienna lager and an old-school US pale ale; by the brewery's own account it is modelled on the Vienna style but technically an ale. Sweet, malty and aromatic are the house keywords. Dry hopping with Saaz, Citra and Cascade adds a spicy, herbal edge and some citrus over the toasty malt body. At 4.6% it is one of the oldest recipes in the range, listed since 2013, and the brewery presents it as an easy way into its beers.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
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
maltytoastyherbal
malty
toasty
herbal
spicy
citrusy
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with toasted malt character—bread crust and subtle caramel—followed by herbal and spicy notes from Saaz.
also:hoppy
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Vienna Pale

◎ Appearance

Vienna Pale presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine white head that settles to a thin, persistent collar. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, contributing to steady lacing down the glass as you drink.

pale goldenclearfine head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with toasted malt character—bread crust and subtle caramel—followed by herbal and spicy notes from Saaz. Citra and Cascade add bright citrus and resinous edges without overwhelming the restrained, malty foundation.

toasted maltherbal spicecitrus highlights

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and malty with a sweet, biscuit-like core. Mid-palate shows the interplay of malt sweetness and hop bitterness in balance; Cascade and Citra bring gentle citrus and herbal bite, while Saaz contributes a peppery dryness. Moderate bitterness (35 IBU) sits well within the malt-forward profile.

malty sweetnessbalanced bitternessbiscuit baseherbal-citrus middle

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and relatively short, trailing into a clean, slightly peppery aftertaste. No harsh or lingering astringency.

drycleanpeppery fade
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
75
Appearance
78
Finish
74
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 Vienna Pale

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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 malty, toasty, sweet character as Vienna Pale 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 →