hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Crackendale

Tap to rate

Crackendale explodes with a fantastic tropical fruit aroma, giving way to guava and ripe citrus that burst through on the palate with a beautiful bitter and sweet balance. A single-hopped Citra pale ale, it won Gold at the SIBA Midlands awards 2018 in the Cask Premium Pale Ales category.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2018
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Midlands)
Cask Premium Pale Ales
★Gold — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Midlands) (Cask Premium Pale Ales)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
tropicalcitrusyfruity
tropical
citrusy
fruity
hoppy
juicy
clean
Aroma
The nose explodes with vibrant tropical fruit character, leading with distinct guava and ripe citrus notes from the single Citra hop variety.
also:malty
not found:piney,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Crackendale

◎ Appearance

Crackendale presents a clear, golden-amber hue with bright clarity and excellent transparency. A dense, white head forms readily and clings to the glass with persistent lacing, indicating strong carbonation and good malt structure. The visual presentation is clean and inviting, typical of a well-crafted cask pale ale.

golden-amberbrilliant claritypersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose explodes with vibrant tropical fruit character, leading with distinct guava and ripe citrus notes from the single Citra hop variety. Beneath the aromatic intensity lies a subtle, supporting malt sweetness that grounds the composition. The overall impression is fresh, fruity, and remarkably expressive without any harsh or vegetal overtones.

tropical fruitguava, citrusCitra hop intensity

◐ Taste

The palate entry delivers immediate bursts of citrus and stone fruit, with guava notes weaving through the mid-palate. A well-calibrated bitter finish emerges without overwhelming the fruit character, creating genuine balance between hop bite and malt sweetness. The 35 IBU bitterness provides structure and drying sensation rather than harshness.

citrus burstripe guavabalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering citrus and a subtle bitter edge that fades gracefully. The aftertaste leaves a pleasant hop character without astringency, encouraging another sip.

dry finishcitrus linger
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Crackendale

More from Thornbridge Brewery

1838 Pale Ale
1838 Pale Ale
Pale Ale
4.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
AM:PM
AM:PM
Session IPA
4.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Bayern
Bayern
German Pilsner
4.8%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Bracia
Bracia
Strong Ale
10%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Brock
Brock
Irish Dry Stout
4.1%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Chiron
Chiron
American Pale Ale
5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Clear the Vault
Clear the Vault
West Coast IPA
6.8%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Cocoa Wonderland
Cocoa Wonderland
Porter
6.8%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →

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 tropical, citrusy, fruity character as Crackendale 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 →