Not going to lie, I have been a little slow to the Hawkesbury Pale Ale review party. But I’ve now worked through a 6-pack and a few extras over at Brunswick Aces between lockdowns, so review time is here!
The Hawkesbury Pale Ale is fruity & floral with a great bitter finish that scores a 7/10 & is just like what you would expect from an IPA. With its hop led profile the juicy fruit flavours are light and clean and despite the light to mid-weighted body, the finishing bitterness lingers well between mouthfuls.
Key Takeaways
| ABV: | <0.5% |
| Style | Pale ALe |
| Calories: | 28 calories / 100ml |
| Colour: | Sunny Golden |
| Main Notes: | Fruity. Bitter. |
| Cost: | $19 – $22 |
| Rating: | 7 / 10 |
Hawkesbury Pale Ale Taste
Clean and soft are the best ways to describe the main fruity flavours of the Hawkesbury Pale Ale, however, once that bitterness kicks in, the pointed and bold notes come home strong.
As a whole, the full profile of the Hawkesbury Pale Ale is built around a light, soft and clean flavours that linger as you drink. In each glass of Hawkesbury IPA, you’re going to find a profile that is:
- light, clean and soft flavours;
- led by hoppy notes of fruit and citrus;
- bold and pointed bitterness that lingers for some time;
- light to the mid-weighted body that carries the flavour well; and
- a great balanced level of carbonation – not too soft / not too vibrant.
Looking at the Hawkesbury IPA you’re going to see it has an amazing sunray gold colour with a loose honeycomb-like head that dissipates within a couple of minutes of pouring.
| What I Like | Things to Consider |
| The level of bitterness not only while drinking but that also lingers. | Light flavour profile might be a little soft for those wanting bold flavours. |
| The low amount of sugar in each bottle (only 1.9 grams). | The body is light-mid in weight compared to other options |
So the non-alcoholic Hawkesbury Pale Ale sounds like it’s for you. Find out more below.
Who Is The Hawkesbury For?
The soft, fruity and clean flavour profile makes this a great ‘easy drinking’ brew and an option for anyone who is looking for a sessionable option that you won’t find you need a break from after 1 or 2.
It will gladly help most IPA and Pale Ale drinkers through the longest of long lunches or birthday celebrations! Given the profile is light yet the bitterness is really pointed and bold I’m a little torn on where this will best be served.
I’ve eaten it with fish and fresh, tangy and bright salads, yet it does equally amazingly as that Friday night takeaway beer when you’ve decided to order that spicy Indian dish that’s been on your to-do list for months.
In terms of alternatives, if you enjoy a bolder and malt let Pale Ale give the UpFlow Pale Ale a go (read my review here) if you enjoy the sharp bitterness and fresh Pale Ale – give the Gruvi Pale Ale and Big Drop Pale Ale (read my review here) a go.
Personally, while the bitterness is amazing, I found the other flavours and body soft and light. For me and my tastebuds, the Hawkesbury Pale Ale lands at 7.
Where To Hawkesbury Pale Ale.
The Hawkesbury Pale Ale is easily available to buy in-store and online through retailers like Dan Murphy’s and Brunswick Aces or directly online at Craft Zero. A 6 pack of bottles will cost you between $19 – $22.
If you’re in the market for a light and clean Pale Ale the links to the retailers below to give it a go!
Hawkesbury Pale Ale Nutrition
Each bottle of the Hawkesbury Pale Ale has just 28 calories and 0.6 grams of sugar per 100ml. While being a low sugar and fat-free non-alcoholic beer, it is one of the best when it comes to a sugar content perspective.
I recently compared nearly 40 non-alcoholic beer options for sugar and calories which you can find out more about here. Alternatively, look into the full nutrition profile and detail for the Hawkesbury Pale Ale below.
|
Avg Quantity |
Avg Quantity |
|
| Energy | 389 kJ 93 Cal |
87 kJ |
| Protein |
0.7 g |
< 0.2 g |
| Fat, total |
0.3 g |
< 0.1 g |
| — saturated |
0.3 g |
< 0.1 g |
| Carbohydrate |
23.1 g |
7 g |
| — sugars |
1.9 g |
0.6 g |
| Sodium |
10 mg |
3 mg |
When to Drink the Hawkesbury Pale Ale
The main attraction of the Hawkesbury Pale Ale is that it is easy to drink, you can grab a six-pack and know you’re going to be happy working your way through and not get taste fatigue from the flavour overload you might get from bolder profiled beers.
Not only does it have an easy-drinking profile it, as I mentioned above, has a really versatile approach. Whether you’re looking to drink the Hawkesbury Pale Ale in the middle of summer with crisp and fresh seafood and salad dinners or in the depths of winter with spicy and rich comfort food, you’re going to find the Hawkesbury is a worthy companion.
It is worth rounding back to the lighter body again as I’d stress that this beer needs to be poured out and enjoyed out of a glass to get the most out of it. Let’s make a deal that you’re not allowed to email me saying you don’t like it until you’ve had it out of a tumbler or beer glass!
For that reason, I’d suggest dropping this one into a glass and enjoying it out of that. Like I’ve said a few times, well priced and great quality glassware are what I’m about and the Spiegelau Craft Tasting Kit is that for me. If you’re interested in getting the most out of your non-alc (and alcoholic beers), check out the kit over on Amazon AU where it will likely cost $45 – $55 (Amazon US link can be found here).
The Wrap Up: Final Thoughts
I’m a little torn on this one, some bottles I felt deserved an 8 out of 10, others I felt like it deserved a hard 7 out of 10. When I was out and tried it at Brunswick Aces I was not entirely sold but a couple of days later at home, I was really keen on it.
The above really illustrates why I put so much effort into describing the flavour profile that you’re going to like, over putting an emphasis on what I enjoy – especially given we all, smell, see, feel and taste different!
This lands at 7 / 10 for me given the lighter body and soft flavours. Although other reviews out there place the Hawkesbury in the top two or three beers people have tried so I’d suggest taking the above guide and grabbing a 6 pack to explore the flavour profile yourself!
Looking to pick up a 6 pack? I’ve dropped the links below along with some discount codes to keep a few dollars in your pocket for some new gems that pop up into the future.
- Brunswick Aces (TIPPLE12 at checkout gets you 12% off)
- Craft Zero (TZERO at checkout gets you 10% off)
- Dan Murphy’s
