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Optimist

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A session IPA at 4.4 % hopped only with Mosaic, first brewed in 2017 as part of the brewery's single hop series and kept ever since. The brewery describes a range from papaya to bubblegum, balanced by Vienna malt that brings a silky body and a subtle sweetness; an earlier text adds apple and tropical fruit. One drinker called it fruity and refreshing. It returns on cask, keg and in cans, most recently with a wide release to pubs in autumn 2025.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus 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
fruitybubblegumtropical
fruity
bubblegum
tropical
hoppy
malty
citrusy
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced tropical fruit character—papaya and stone fruit dominate, supported by subtle floral notes characteristic of Mosaic hops.
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Optimist

◎ Appearance

Pale golden in color with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with notable lacing. Bright carbonation is evident throughout, creating a lively visual presence typical of a well-made session IPA.

pale goldenbrilliant claritypersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced tropical fruit character—papaya and stone fruit dominate, supported by subtle floral notes characteristic of Mosaic hops. A delicate bubblegum sweetness emerges beneath, balanced by gentle grain undertones from the Vienna malt that prevent the profile from becoming cloying.

papaya, tropical stone fruitsubtle floralbubblegum sweetnessclean malt backdrop

◐ Taste

The palate entry is soft and rounded, with silky body from Vienna malt providing a foundation of mild sweetness and subtle apple character. Mid-palate develops the tropical fruit expression further, while a restrained bitterness of 40 IBU provides structure without dominating; the finish remains dry yet fruity rather than harsh.

silky bodytropical fruit forwardapple notesrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

Clean and refreshing aftertaste that fades to a dry, slightly sweet grain impression. Lingering tropical fruit notes persist without becoming sticky or overly bitter, encouraging another sip.

clean, dry finishrefreshinglingering fruit
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
81
Finish
76
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 Optimist

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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 fruity, refreshing, bubblegum character as Optimist 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 →