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Theakston Pale

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Pale gold and hop-forward, Pale shows spicy citrus on the nose and a zingy grapefruit, tangerine and sweet orange taste, kept in balance by Munich malt. Summit, El Dorado, Chinook and Cascade hops provide the zing, and the beer is cold filtered and unpasteurised. Pale was a mainstay of Theakston's bottled range until the mid-1980s before returning with a modern twist.

ABV
4.5%
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
hoppycitrusyspicy
hoppy
citrusy
spicy
orange
malty
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with spicy, peppery hop character followed by pronounced citrus—grapefruit, tangerine, and sweet orange notes.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Theakston Pale

◎ Appearance

Pale gold in color with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a bright, inviting visual presentation characteristic of a well-made pale ale.

pale goldclearpersistent headbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with spicy, peppery hop character followed by pronounced citrus—grapefruit, tangerine, and sweet orange notes. Beneath the bright hop-driven aromatics lies a gentle Munich malt foundation that adds a touch of warm grain sweetness without dominating.

spicy hopscitrus zestgrapefruit, tangerinegrain sweetness

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with immediate citrus and grapefruit character from Summit, El Dorado, Chinook, and Cascade hops. The mid-palate develops a zesty, tangerine-forward bitterness balanced by the Munich malt's subtle sweetness, creating a clean, well-integrated flavor. The finish is dry and slightly peppery, with lingering citrus notes.

zingy grapefruittangerine forwardspicy bitemalt-balanced

◑ Finish

Medium-length finish with a crisp, drying quality and pleasant herbal-citrus persistence. The aftertaste remains clean and refreshing without astringency, leaving the palate ready for the next sip.

crisp drynesscitrus lingerclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
79
Finish
74
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 Theakston Pale

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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 hoppy, citrusy, spicy character as Theakston Pale 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 →