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Shangri-La

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Shangri-La is the session IPA at the centre of the Arbor range and the brewery's most widely poured beer. It is hopped generously with Citra, Columbus, Dolcita and Mosaic and left unfiltered. Tasters consistently describe citrus and tropical fruit in aroma and flavour: grapefruit and lemon rind, some pineapple and melon, and a piney, slightly grassy note. The malt stays in the background, the body is light and crisp, and the finish is bitter without lingering.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusytropicalfruity
citrusy
tropical
fruity
hoppy
piney
grassy
Aroma
The nose is led by generous citrus notes—grapefruit and lemon rind—alongside tropical fruit impressions of pineapple and melon.
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Shangri-La

◎ Appearance

Shangri-La presents a pale golden hue with a bright, translucent clarity that reveals the unfiltered character of the brew. The head is modest but persistent, laying down a fine white lacing against the glass. Carbonation is evident and well-integrated, lending an appealing liveliness to the pour.

pale goldenunfiltered, brightfine white lacinglively carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose is led by generous citrus notes—grapefruit and lemon rind—alongside tropical fruit impressions of pineapple and melon. A supporting piney, slightly grassy undertone from the hop blend adds herbal complexity without dominating the profile. Malz character remains appropriately restrained, allowing the Citra, Columbus, Dolcita, and Mosaic hops to shine.

citrus-forwardtropical fruitpiney, herbalsubtle malz

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a crisp, clean entry that emphasizes citrus and stone fruit flavors. The body is light and refreshing, with the bitterness building gradually across the mid-palate without overwhelming the delicate hop expression. Malz remains in the background, allowing the session-strength format to feel dry and balanced rather than thin.

crisp, cleancitrus-drivenmoderate bitternesslight body

◑ Finish

The finish is assertively bitter but does not linger excessively, fading cleanly with a drying sensation. A residual piney note may persist briefly, but the overall aftertaste remains refreshingly short and inviting.

dry finishclean fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
79
Appearance
76
Finish
74
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

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.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Shangri-La

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About Session IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Session 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 Session IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same citrusy, tropical, light character as Shangri-La will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Session IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →