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Against the Grain

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Against the Grain is the first all-organic beer from Tap Social, brewed with Stroud Brewery for Organic September. The grist leans heavily on wheat, the hops are Harlequin, Wakatu and Hallertau Blanc, and a little orange peel adds a hint of Belgian character. At 4.2 % it is a pale ale of moderate strength. It is sold in cans and poured on draught at the brewery's own venues.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
wheatorangefloral
wheat
orange
floral
herbal
clean
hoppy
Aroma
The nose leads with herbal and floral notes from the Harlequin and Hallertau Blanc hops, complemented by soft Edelpilz character from Wakatu.
also:citrusy,malty
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Against the Grain

◎ Appearance

Against the Grain presents a pale golden hue with a light, translucent body. A modest white head forms on the pour with gentle retention, typical of its moderate strength. The carbonation is well-integrated, creating fine bubbles that sustain the foam structure.

pale goldentranslucentfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with herbal and floral notes from the Harlequin and Hallertau Blanc hops, complemented by soft Edelpilz character from Wakatu. Beneath sits a gentle wheat malt base with a subtle brightness from orange peel, suggesting a touch of Belgian restraint without dominance.

herbal, floral hopsorange peel brightnesswheat malt foundation

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a soft, slightly grainy sweetness from the wheat-forward grist, followed by restrained citrus and herbal hop notes that build gradually rather than aggressively. Bitterness is balanced and clean at 35 IBUs, finishing with a crisp edge that complements the organic character without harshness.

wheat-forward grainrestrained citrusbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is moderate in length with a lingering herbal dryness and a subtle orange-peel fade. The aftertaste remains clean and refreshing, leaving a light mineral note.

dry herbal faderefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
78
Appearance
76
Finish
79
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 Against the Grain

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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 wheat, orange, floral character as Against the Grain 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 United Kingdom beers →