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SPA - Special Pale Ale

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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
PaceSession

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)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
toastycaramelfruity
toasty
caramel
fruity
citrusy
bready
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with ripe stone fruit—apricot and peach—layered beneath warm caramel malt sweetness.
also:yeasty,clean,hoppy
not found:juicy,roasted,sour,smoky

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
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with SPA - Special Pale Ale

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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.

Compare with another beer →Explore all English Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Canada beers →