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Santa Fe Pale Ale

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The first beer of the house: in 1988 the first batch was brewed with old equipment in a horse stable. Today's version is a hoppier New Mexican take on English pale ale, with a subtle, almost Pilsner-like maltiness, German yeast and a classic hop bite. Cascade, Cluster and Willamette shape a pronounced hop nose. 5.4% ABV, 50 IBU.

ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
hoppyfloralcaramel
hoppy
floral
caramel
citrusy
clean
malty
Aroma
The nose is dominated by classic American hop character featuring prominent citrus and floral notes with subtle pine undertones.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Santa Fe Pale Ale

◎ Appearance

Santa Fe Pale Ale displays a bright golden amber hue characteristic of the style, with excellent clarity and a clean, persistent white head. The carbonation is well-balanced, creating fine bubbles that rise steadily in the glass.

golden amberclearpersistent white headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by classic American hop character featuring prominent citrus and floral notes with subtle pine undertones. Caramel malt provides a gentle sweetness underneath, creating a balanced and inviting aromatic profile.

citrus forwardfloral hopspinecaramel malt

◐ Taste

The palate opens crisp and refreshing with bright citrus flavors followed by a solid grain foundation that gives medium body and structure. The hoppy bitterness builds through the mid-palate, delivering pine and dry characteristics that intensify toward the finish.

crisp citrushoppymedium-bodiedgrain-forward

◑ Finish

A firm, dry finish with lingering hop bitterness and pine notes that cleanly exits the palate. The aftertaste is refreshing and clean, inviting the next sip.

drybitter finishclean exit
83
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
81
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 Santa Fe Pale Ale

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Social Hour

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 hoppy, bitter, floral character as Santa Fe Pale Ale 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 United States beers →