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Pseudo Alien

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Pineapple, orange zest and layers of tropical fruit come from what the brewery calls an extraterrestrial blend of its favorite American hops. Pseudo Alien is a collaboration with Tired Hands and runs 7.6% ABV, well above the 5.8% of Pseudo Sue. Toppling Goliath, its Iowa partner in the collaboration, was founded in Decorah in 2009.

ABV
7.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
tropicalcitrusyorange
tropical
citrusy
orange
fruity
hoppy
juicy
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant tropical fruit—pineapple and passion fruit dominate, backed by bright orange zest and citrus notes.
also:clean,malty
not found:piney,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pseudo Alien

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The beer displays bright, active carbonation that sustains throughout the pour. Light catches the color cleanly, suggesting a well-balanced malt foundation beneath the hop character.

pale goldenclearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant tropical fruit—pineapple and passion fruit dominate, backed by bright orange zest and citrus notes. Underlying layers of Edelhopfen character reveal a complex interplay of stone fruit and subtle pine. Gentle Malz undertones provide a clean, supportive foundation without dominating the aromatic profile.

tropical fruitorange zestbright citrusEdelhopfen blend

◐ Taste

The palate opens with juicy tropical and citrus fruit flavors that mirror the nose, building into a well-integrated bitterness around 35 IBU. Mid-palate remains crisp and clean, with orange and pineapple character sustained alongside a subtle Malz sweetness that balances the moderate hop bite. The finish drives toward a dry, refreshing conclusion with lingering citrus and tropical notes.

tropical, citrus juiceclean bitternesscrisp palateorange forward

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and refreshing, with the tropical fruit character fading into a clean, slightly bitter aftertaste. Moderate length leaves a pleasant citrus and pineapple impression on the palate.

dry finishrefreshingcitrus lingering
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Pseudo Alien

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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 tropical, citrusy, orange character as Pseudo Alien 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 States beers →