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SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale

SweetWater Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · American Pale Ale · One of 216 American Pale Ales in hopIQ

SweetWater's flagship and the Southeast's best-selling craft beer. Named for April 20th, 420 is a hop-forward pale with citrus and floral Cascade character, balanced malt and a clean dry finish. Atlanta's everyman craft pint since 1997.

ABV
5.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
See all American Pale Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Dry finish.

A clean close sets the character — an invitation to the next sip.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American Pale Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
floral
piney
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Pale Ales

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale

Appearance

A bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a crisp white head that settles to a thin persistent collar. Vibrant carbonation visible throughout, creating an inviting and appetizing presentation typical of well-crafted pale ales.

goldenbrightwhite headclear

Aroma

Prominent Cascade hop character dominates the nose with bright citrus notes—lemon and grapefruit—layered with delicate floral undertones. A subtle malt backbone provides gentle breadiness without overshadowing the clean, hop-forward aromatic profile.

citrusfloralcascade hopsbright

Taste

The palate opens crisp and refreshing with immediate citrus flavors complemented by a balanced malty sweetness that prevents one-dimensionality. Mid-palate delivers the promised hop bitterness at 42 IBUs—noticeable but not aggressive—while maintaining excellent drinkability with fruity undertones.

hoppycitrusbalancedcrisp

Finish

A clean, dry finish with lingering hop bitterness that fades gracefully without astringency. The aftertaste is refreshingly light with subtle floral notes, inviting another sip.

drycleanrefreshing
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
83
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale

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, citrusy, clean character as SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American Pale Ales in hopIQ

Explore all American Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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