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Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale

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Grassy pine, citrus and fruit lead the aroma, with light caramel on the palate, a touch of spice and a rounded bitterness. Cascade and Amarillo meet the British Boadicea hop in this deep golden pale ale (4.8%), a blend of British and American beer styles. It was the first beer of the Bear Island range, the one that started it all, and won Bronze at the World Beer Awards 2021. On keg and in cans.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceSession

AWARDS

Bronze · 2021
World Beer Awards
Pale Beer (American-style Pale Ale)
★Bronze — World Beer Awards (Pale Beer (American-style Pale Ale))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
grassypineycitrusy
grassy
piney
citrusy
fruity
hoppy
caramel
Aroma
The nose presents a harmonious blend of grassy pine and bright citrus notes, backed by ripe stone fruit character.
also:spicy
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The carbonation is brisk and well-integrated, creating a lively visual presence in the glass.

deep goldenclearpersistent headbrisk carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose presents a harmonious blend of grassy pine and bright citrus notes, backed by ripe stone fruit character. A subtle undercurrent of light caramel from the malt adds roundness, while the Cascade, Amarillo, and Boadicea hops work in concert to create a balanced, inviting bouquet.

grassy pinecitrusstone fruitlight caramel

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a clean malt sweetness and light caramel character that carries through the mid-palate. A measured spice note emerges from the hop selection, leading into a rounded, moderate bitterness that finishes cleanly without harshness. The 4.8% ABV keeps the body lean and refreshing.

malt sweetnesscaramelspicerounded bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with the bitterness gradually receding to reveal a lingering citrus note. The aftertaste remains clean and refreshing, inviting another sip.

drycrisplingering citrus
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
77
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 Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale

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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 grassy, piney, citrusy character as Bear Island East Coast 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 England beers →