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Zmaj Pale Ale

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Zmajska Pivovara's flagship pale ale — a clean, balanced American-style pale ale from Zagreb's Dragon Brewery. Citrus and floral hop character from American varieties over a light malt body with a dry, refreshing finish. Zmaj Pale Ale is the most accessible beer in the Zmaj range: a gateway craft pale ale for Croatian drinkers making the transition from industrial lager to craft beer.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycleanfloral
hoppy
clean
floral
citrusy
fruity
malty
Aroma
The nose is dominated by assertive American hop aromatics, leading with vibrant citrus and subtle pine notes.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Zmaj Pale Ale

◎ Appearance

Zmaj Pale Ale presents a bright, translucent golden hue characteristic of the American pale ale style. The beer displays excellent clarity with a crisp white head that forms readily and maintains good retention. Bright carbonation is evident throughout, lending visual vitality to the pour.

goldenbrightclearwhite head

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by assertive American hop aromatics, leading with vibrant citrus and subtle pine notes. Floral and herbal undertones provide complexity beneath the hop-forward character, while a clean malt base offers gentle supporting sweetness without dominating the aromatic profile.

citrus hopspinefloralherbal

◐ Taste

The palate opens with clean hop bitterness balanced against a light, crisp malt body. Mid-palate reveals citrus and pine flavors with a touch of caramel maltiness grounding the hoppy character. The moderate 35 IBU bitterness integrates seamlessly, making this an exceptionally balanced and approachable craft pale ale.

balancedhoppycitrus-forwardcrisp

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and refreshing with lingering hop bitterness that fades cleanly. No sweetness remains, allowing the pine and citrus notes to carry through to a satisfying conclusion.

drycleancrisp
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
78
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 Zmaj Pale Ale

More from Zmajska Pivovara

Zmaj IPA
Zmaj IPA
American IPA
6% · 60 IBU
Find matches →

About American Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American 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 American Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, refreshing, clean character as Zmaj 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 American Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Croatia beers →