Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue

Toppling Goliseudo Sue comes as a four-pack, and the name points to the Pseudo Sue family of American pale ales, a style built around a single hop, Citra. The listing gives no ABV or IBU, so what follows describes what a beer in this style typically delivers rather than a measured profile. Expect a pale gold, hazy-to-bright body with a restrained malt backbone that stays out of the way of the hops, and a finish that is dry and moderately bitter rather than aggressively so. Citra-driven pale ales usually lead with grapefruit, tangerine and lime peel, often with a tropical edge of passionfruit or lychee and a faint resinous note underneath. ABVs in this style generally sit in the mid-4s to mid-5s, which keeps the beer lively and easy to drink more than one. Serve it cold but not frozen, around 4 to 7°C (40 to 45°F). Straight from the back of the fridge it will mute the citrus aromatics, so let the can sit for a few minutes after opening the fridge door. Pour into a tulip, shaker pint or standard pint glass rather than drinking from the can. Pouring releases the hop aroma and gives the head room to form, and the aroma is a large part of what this style is about. At the table, the bright citrus and light bitterness suit spicy and fatty foods well. Fish tacos with lime, Thai green curry, buffalo chicken, carnitas, burgers with sharp cheddar and grilled shrimp all work, because the hop acidity cuts through richness and the moderate malt does not clash with heat. Fresh goat cheese and salads with citrus dressings are good lighter matches. Pale ales like this are at their best fresh, so drink them young and keep the pack cold until you are ready for it.