Kirkstall Pale Ale vs La Bêtise: Which Should You Drink?

HOPIQ FACEOFF

Kirkstall Pale Ale

Kirkstall Brewery

United Kingdom · American Pale Ale

hopIQ rank #1428

94%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

La Bêtise

Skumenn

France · American Pale Ale

HOPIQ TAKE

Kirkstall Pale Ale if you want something crisp and straightforward, La Bêtise if you want a touch more richness and complexity. Both sit at nearly identical IBU counts (38), so bitterness won't be your differentiator—it's the malt backbone and body where they diverge. The 0.2% ABV difference is negligible, but you'll feel it in how each beer finishes on your palate. These are both solid American pale ales that respect tradition without pretension.

See what fits your taste

Build your Beer DNA

hopIQ scores every beer against your palate, not the average drinker's.

WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Kirkstall Pale Ale when…

→You want something sessionable and aren't planning to nurse it for hours
→You're looking for a pale ale that's honest and unpretentious
→You prefer restraint and clarity over bold statement

Pick La Bêtise when…

→You want a pale ale with more presence and weight in your mouth
→You appreciate grain-forward complexity alongside the hops
→You want something to actually sink into rather than a quick refresh

SIDE BY SIDE

	Kirkstall Pale Ale	La Bêtise
ABV	4.3%	4.5%
Bitterness	Noticeably bitter	Noticeably bitter
Colour	Golden	Golden
Style	American Pale Ale	American Pale Ale
Origin	United Kingdom	France

WHAT IT TASTES OF

11 shared · 1 distinct

Both beers

citrusycleancrisphoppyrefreshingmaltydryfruitylightbitter

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Kirkstall Pale AleLa Bêtise

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Kirkstall Pale Ale

CitrusyCleanCrisp

Kirkstall hits you with a clean, almost crisp entry—there's a brightness to the malt that doesn't linger or get heavy. The hops come through as herbal and restrained rather than citrusy or punchy, which keeps this feeling lean and refreshing. It's the kind of pale ale that doesn't demand your attention; it just sits nicely in your hand and lets you taste the beer without performance.

La Bêtise

TropicalCitrusyClean

La Bêtise has noticeably more body—you feel it coat your mouth in a way that Kirkstall doesn't. There's a grain-forward sweetness underneath that suggests a slightly richer malt bill, and the hop bitterness sits on top rather than threading through. It's more muscular and has more character, though the extra ABV and texture mean it's also slightly more filling.

Find beers like Kirkstall Pale Ale

View alternatives →

Find beers like La Bêtise

View alternatives →

← All comparisons