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Barry Island IPA

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An IPA built on a trio of US hops, with citrus aromas over a smooth malt base. The finish is vigorously bitter, with a tidy clout of citrus and berry hop flavours. It was created alongside beer writer Simon Martin, and it has been brewed all year round since the Brains Craft brewery opened in 2012. It comes in can and on keg at 4.5 % ABV.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Strongly 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
hoppycitrusyberry
hoppy
citrusy
berry
clean
tropical
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant American hop character: bright citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon sit atop subtle berry undertones, with hints of tropical fruit adding depth.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Barry Island IPA

◎ Appearance

Barry Island presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings steadily to the glass. The carbonation is bright and lively, generating consistent chains of small bubbles that sustain the foam structure throughout drinking.

pale goldenbrilliant claritypersistent headlively carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant American hop character: bright citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon sit atop subtle berry undertones, with hints of tropical fruit adding depth. A clean, smooth malt base provides a restrained but supportive backdrop, allowing the hop aromatics to remain the focus without any sharp alcohol heat.

citrus-forwardberry notesUS hop charactersmooth malt base

◐ Taste

The palate opens smooth and balanced, with a clean entry that showcases the hop-driven flavor profile. Citrus and berry flavors develop across the mid-palate with a gentle tropical edge, while the malt provides a soft, unobtrusive sweetness that keeps the beer approachable despite its vibrant character. The bitterness builds steadily, finishing with a vigorous, dry bite that emphasizes resinous hop complexity.

citrus-berry blendtropical undertonesvigorous bitternessdry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is assertively bitter with a tidy hit of citrus and berry hop flavors that persist cleanly on the palate. The aftertaste remains dry and hoppy, leaving a refreshing sensation that invites the next sip.

assertively bittercitrus-berry aftertastedry and clean
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
75
Serve at 8–11°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 Barry Island IPA

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About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same bitter, hoppy, citrusy character as Barry Island IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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