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Don't Smile

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Tropical fruits and berries burst out of Don't Smile, a 4.2% Pale Ale hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic. It is one of the specials from Boundary, the member-owned brewery in Belfast.

ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
tropicalfruityberry
tropical
fruity
berry
hoppy
juicy
clean
Aroma
The nose is dominated by Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic, delivering pronounced tropical fruit notes—pineapple, passionfruit, and stone fruit—layered with subtle berry undertones.
also:citrusy,malty
not found:piney,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Don't Smile

◎ Appearance

Don't Smile presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a bright, white head that clings persistently to the glass walls. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a fine bead that sustains throughout the drinking experience.

pale goldenclearpersistent headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic, delivering pronounced tropical fruit notes—pineapple, passionfruit, and stone fruit—layered with subtle berry undertones. The malt backbone is understated, allowing the hop character to remain at the forefront without any sharp vegetal or grassy edges.

tropical fruitspassionfruitstone fruitberry notes

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a clean, refreshing entry that showcases the interplay of tropical stone fruits and berries. The mid-palate is light and balanced, with a gentle sweetness from the pale malt providing structure without weight. Bitterness emerges as a moderate, lingering presence—35 IBUs—that never overwhelms, instead framing the fruit-forward character.

tropical, refreshingbalanced sweetnessmoderate bitternessclean palate

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with the tropical fruit notes fading gracefully into a subtle berry echo. The low alcohol at 4.2% ensures the conclusion remains light and drinkable, inviting another sip.

dry finishberry echocrisp
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
Serve at 7–10°C

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Don't Smile

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About Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same tropical, fruity, berry character as Don't Smile will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →