HOPIQ FACEOFF
91%
Overall similarity
hopIQ take
Störtebeker Atlantik-Ale if you want a fuller, more substantial pale ale,
The Carlton if you want something lighter and more session-friendly.
Both sit at the same IBU level (35), so bitterness isn't the differentiator—it's the body and alcohol warmth. The Atlantik-Ale's extra 0.6% ABV might seem negligible, but it noticeably rounds out the malt character and gives the beer more presence on the palate. Pick based on your mood: are you settling in for one or two, or committing to an evening?
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 exactly. Störtebeker Atlantik-Ale runs a touch fuller in body (Δ 3). The Carlton brings a distinct earthy note that Störtebeker Atlantik-Ale doesn't.
Beer DNA
Body
Δ 3
Sweetness
Δ 0
Bitterness
Situations
In words
Störtebeker Atlantik-Ale
Störtebeker's Atlantik-Ale drinks heavier than its 5.1% suggests—there's a grainy sweetness upfront that doesn't feel cloying, just honest. The bitterness arrives clean and measured, not aggressive, and it lingers just long enough to keep things interesting. You get a slight mineral minerality on the finish that feels northern European, earthy in the best way. It's the kind of pale ale that rewards a slower pace.
The Carlton
The Carlton is noticeably drier and more direct—it gets to the hops quicker and doesn't overthink it. At 4.5%, it feels built for drinkability; the body stays lean, almost crisp, which makes the 35 IBUs pop more prominently. There's a citrus thread running through it, but it's restrained, not fruit-forward. It's the pale ale equivalent of a straight handshake: efficient, clear, no fuss.
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Beers like Störtebeker Atlantik-Ale
View alternatives →Beers like The Carlton
View alternatives →Δ 0
Texture
Δ 2
Only Störtebeker Atlantik-Ale
Shared character
Only The Carlton