Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue
Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue is an American pale ale brewed in Decorah, Iowa, at 5.8% ABV and 45 IBU — a single-hop showcase for Citra, and the beer that built the brewery's name. It is offered here in 16oz cans and 4-packs of 16oz cans. Delicate in body, ferocious in aroma, it is the modern benchmark for the Citra-hopped pale ale. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 5.8%
- IBU: 45
- Style: American pale ale — single-hop Citra
- Formats: 16oz single can; 4-pack of 16oz cans
- Brewery: Toppling Goliath Brewing Co., Decorah, Iowa
- Named for: Sue, the Tyrannosaurus rex at Chicago's Field Museum
The Pale Ale Named for a T. Rex
Pseudo Sue is named for Sue — the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found, housed at the Field Museum in Chicago. When the brewery expanded into Chicago in 2016, the name became official: the museum partnered with Toppling Goliath rather than fight over the trademark, and the cans have carried the Field connection since. The beer itself is a study in restraint — one hop, Citra, in a delicate-bodied pale ale — that nonetheless roars with grapefruit, citrus and mango aroma. It is the flagship that turned a small Decorah brewery into one of the most sought-after hop producers in American craft beer. Browse the brewery on the Toppling Goliath vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Ferocious hop aromas of grapefruit, citrus, mango and evergreen over a clean, bright palate — juicy Citra fruit with just enough bite, a delicate body, and a mild bitterness in the finish.
How to Enjoy
Serve cold in a tulip or pint glass and drink fresh. At 5.8% it is an easy second-can beer, and it pairs the way great pale ales do: fish tacos, Cajun spice, citrus-marinated chicken, aged cheddar. More Iowa craft is in our craft beer collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pseudo Sue an IPA?
No — it is an American pale ale. It is hopped like an IPA, with Citra alone, but it is brewed and classified as a pale ale: more delicate in body, milder in bitterness, at 5.8% ABV.
What hop is in Pseudo Sue?
Citra, exclusively — a single-hop beer. Its double-IPA sibling, King Sue, uses the same hop at higher strength.
Who is Sue?
The Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at Chicago's Field Museum — the most complete T. rex ever recovered. The brewery's naming partnership with the museum dates to 2016.
The Citra pale ale that made Decorah famous — order Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
