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Backstrand

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An American pale ale hopped with Strata and Cascade, which bring bright fresh fruit and a dank, resinous note to the aroma. Underneath, the beer is crisp and clean and easy to drink; it pours golden straw, and wheat alongside the ale and Vienna malts keeps the body light. The hops are the subject here and the malt is the canvas they are shown on.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
resinoushoppydank
resinous
hoppy
dank
clean
fruity
wheat
Aroma
The nose leads with the distinctive character of Strata and Cascade hops—bright citrus and stone fruit notes mingle with a dank, resinous undertone that grounds the bouquet.
also:citrusy
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Backstrand

◎ Appearance

Backstrand presents a clear, golden straw hue that catches light with transparency and brightness. The head forms with modest persistence, laying down a fine lace along the glass as it settles. Carbonation appears well-integrated, delivering a gentle effervescence appropriate to the style.

golden strawclearfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with the distinctive character of Strata and Cascade hops—bright citrus and stone fruit notes mingle with a dank, resinous undertone that grounds the bouquet. Beneath the hop-forward aromatics sits a clean, neutral malt foundation with subtle hints of wheat grain. The overall impression is fresh and inviting, with no off-notes or oxidation.

bright citrusresinousfresh fruitclean malt base

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and clean, allowing the hop character to take center stage without aggressive bitterness. The palate remains light-bodied, with the wheat and Vienna malts providing a soft, barely-sweet canvas that lets the herbal and resiny hop flavors develop fully. Bitterness arrives moderate and measured, contributing structure without dominating the drinking experience.

crisplight-bodiedhop-forwardmoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish dries cleanly with lingering resinous and herbal notes from the hops. Aftertaste remains bright and refreshing, inviting another sip without any harsh or lingering heaviness.

dry finishresinous aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
76
Appearance
78
Finish
75
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 Backstrand

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About American Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar American Pale Ale

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all American Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Ireland beers →