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SPA - Special Pale Ale

Wellington Brewery
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🌍 Canada · English Pale Ale · One of 6 English Pale Ales in hopIQ

Deep copper and medium-bodied, built on the English tradition. Caramel and apricot on the nose, biscuit and toasted malt through the middle, with a fruity yeast character rounding it out. Ontario-grown Cascade sets a subtle citrus bitterness on the finish rather than the resinous hop punch of a North American pale ale. First brewed in the mid-1980s and in the lineup ever since.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter22 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber14
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AWARDS

Bronze · 2026
U.S. Open Beer Championship
English Pale Ale
Bronze · 2025
U.S. Open Beer Championship
English Pale Ale
Silver · 2023
U.S. Open Beer Championship
English Pale Ale
Gold · 2022
U.S. Open Beer Championship
English Pale Ale
Silver · 2021
U.S. Open Beer Championship
English Pale Ale
Gold · 2020
U.S. Open Beer Championship
English Pale Ale
Bronze · 2022
Ontario Brewing Awards
British Bitter
Silver · 2020
Ontario Brewing Awards
British Bitter
Bronze — U.S. Open Beer Championship (English Pale Ale)
Bronze — U.S. Open Beer Championship (English Pale Ale)
Silver — U.S. Open Beer Championship (English Pale Ale)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another English Pale Ale.
Malt character
caramel
toasty
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
yeasty
clean
Hop character
citrusyhoppy
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for SPA - Special Pale Ale

Appearance

Deep copper body with solid clarity and a persistent, off-white head that leaves fine lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate and evenly distributed, appropriate to the English pale ale tradition.

deep copperclearpersistent headfine lacing

Aroma

The nose leads with ripe stone fruit—apricot and peach—layered beneath warm caramel malt sweetness. English ale yeast adds a soft, fruity complexity without aggressive esters, while Cascade hops contribute a restrained citrus note in the background.

apricotcaramel maltcitrusfruity yeast

Taste

Medium body carries toasted biscuit and caramel through the mid-palate, with a bready character that anchors the beer's malt foundation. Cascade hops deliver a subtle, clean citrus bitterness rather than resin or pine, finishing dry without harshness. The fruity yeast character persists throughout, balancing sweetness with a light, refreshing edge.

toasted biscuitcaramelclean citrus bitternessdry finish

Finish

The aftertaste is crisp and moderately lingering, with gentle citrus and fading malt sweetness. A light, refreshing dryness invites another sip.

crispmoderately drysubtle citrus fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
81
Finish
79
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of SPA - Special 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 SPA - Special Pale Ale

About English Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English 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 English Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same toasty, caramel, fruity character as SPA - Special Pale Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other English Pale Ales in hopIQ

Explore all English Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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