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Big Skies

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A West Coast-style IPA of 6.7%, dry hopped twice with Mosaic and Simcoe. Simcoe supplies resinous pine and stone fruit, Mosaic citrus, blueberry, tropical and green fruit; the double dry hopping is there to raise the complexity and intensity of both. The beer is named after the wide skies of Suffolk and was one of the first new releases after the brewery's 2024 rebrand.

ABV
6.7%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
resinousfruitypiney
resinous
fruity
piney
tropical
hoppy
citrusy
Aroma
The double dry hop charge is immediately apparent on the nose.
also:berry,dark fruit
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Big Skies

◎ Appearance

Big Skies displays a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and fine, persistent carbonation. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with visible lacing, characteristic of a well-crafted West Coast IPA.

golden, clearfine carbonationpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The double dry hop charge is immediately apparent on the nose. Simcoe contributes pronounced resinous pine and stone fruit character, while Mosaic layers in citrus zest, blueberry, and tropical fruit notes. The interplay between these two varieties creates a complex aromatic profile with genuine depth.

pine, resinstone fruitcitrus, blueberrytropical notes

◐ Taste

The palate opens with bright citrus and tropical fruit from the Mosaic, followed by the woody, piney backbone of Simcoe. Bitterness is moderate and integrated rather than aggressive, allowing the hop complexity to remain the focal point. The malt backbone is restrained but provides necessary balance and structure.

citrus forwardpine, resinblueberrymoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and relatively dry, with hop bitterness fading gradually into a lingering stone fruit and pine aftertaste. The 6.7% ABV keeps the beer refreshing without any heat or fatigue.

dry finishlingering pine
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
82
Appearance
84
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Big Skies

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About West Coast IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a West Coast IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar West Coast IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same resinous, fruity, piney character as Big Skies will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all West Coast IPA beers in hopIQ →New to West Coast IPA? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →