HOPIQ FACEOFF
89%
Overall similarity
hopIQ take
Protokoll Pale Ale if you want clean, mineral-driven clarity;
Vagabund Pale Ale if you want rounder, softer malt backbone.
Both hit 5% ABV and 35 IBU, so the real story is in the brewing philosophy—Protokoll leans crisp and precise, while Vagabund feels more forgiving and approachable. Neither overshadows the other; it depends on your mood and what you're eating.
At a glance
Generated from the four anchored axes — never hand-written.
Structurally near-identical
Structurally these two are the same beer. The difference is in the aromatics. Sweetness and bitterness match within Δ 1. Protokoll Pale Ale runs a touch fuller in body (Δ 3). Protokoll Pale Ale brings a distinct floral note that Vagabund Pale Ale doesn't.
Beer DNA
Body
Δ 3
Sweetness
Δ 1
Situations
In words
Protokoll Pale Ale
Protokoll's pale ale snaps at you immediately—bright, almost chalky minerality hits first, then the hops come through as restrained citrus and a whisper of herbal bite. There's no flab here. The finish dries fast, leaving your palate asking for another sip rather than settling into comfort. It's a beer that tastes like it knows exactly what it is.
Vagabund Pale Ale
Vagabund's offering feels looser and friendlier. The malt sits fuller in the middle, giving the beer almost a slight sweetness before the hops gently push back. It's less interested in precision than in balance—those 35 IBUs feel softer, more integrated. You can drink this one without thinking too hard, which is sometimes exactly what you need.
See what fits your taste
hopIQ scores every beer against your palate, not the average drinker's.
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Beers like Protokoll Pale Ale
View alternatives →Beers like Vagabund Pale Ale
View alternatives →Bitterness
Δ 0
Texture
Δ 2
Only Protokoll Pale Ale
Shared character
Only Vagabund Pale Ale