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Spring Valley 496

Spring Valley Brewery
Japan·Pale Ale
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Spring Valley's flagship pale ale — named after 496, a perfect number in mathematics. Floral and fruity with a clean hop bitterness, crisp malt base and a long finish. A benchmark for Japanese craft pale ale.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppyfruityfloral
hoppy
fruity
floral
malty
clean
citrusy
Aroma
The nose is dominated by bright floral and citrus hop character with subtle fruity notes that layer elegantly.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Spring Valley 496

◎ Appearance

Spring Valley 496 presents a brilliant golden hue with excellent clarity and a pristine, white head that demonstrates good retention. The carbonation is evident and lively, creating a visually appealing presentation that immediately signals freshness and quality craftsmanship.

goldenbrilliant claritywhite headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by bright floral and citrus hop character with subtle fruity notes that layer elegantly. A clean malt base supports the aromatic profile without overshadowing the hoppy character, while the overall bouquet is crisp and inviting.

floral hopscitrusfreshclean malt

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a crisp, malty foundation that provides excellent body for the 5.5% ABV. Mid-palate reveals balanced bitterness and fruity hop character with a pronounced citrus note, while the clean finish prevents any lingering heaviness or astringency.

crisp maltbalanced bitternesscitrus-forwardclean

◑ Finish

The finish is distinctly dry and refreshing, with a long, pleasant persistence of hop bitterness and subtle grain notes. The aftertaste remains clean without harshness, exemplifying elegant pale ale construction.

drylong finishrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
81
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 Spring Valley 496

More from Spring Valley Brewery

Spring Valley Silk Ale White
Spring Valley Silk Ale White
American Wheat Ale
5% · 18 IBU
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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 crisp, hoppy, fruity character as Spring Valley 496 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 Japan beers →