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Trade Winds

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Trade Winds pairs a high share of wheat with Perle hops and elderflower for a bouquet of fruit and citrus, at 4.3% ABV. It began as an IPA brewed for the 1997 Tall Ships Race in Aberdeen and came to Cairngorm with the Tomintoul Brewery brands in 2000. Sean Tomlinson, then Production Director, added the elderflower. In 2026 it won Silver at the SIBA awards for Scotland.

ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceSession

AWARDS

Silver · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland)
Bottle & Can Specialty & Flavoured Beer
★Silver — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, Scotland) (Bottle & Can Specialty & Flavoured Beer)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
wheatfruitycitrusy
wheat
fruity
citrusy
floral
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with soft wheat grain and a delicate citrus lift from the Perle hops—hints of lemon zest and subtle orange peel.
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Trade Winds

◎ Appearance

Trade Winds presents a pale straw-gold color with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The carbonation is brisk and even, creating a gentle sparkle that persists throughout the tasting. Light catches the body pleasantly, revealing the beer's bright, translucent character.

pale straw-goldclearpersistent headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with soft wheat grain and a delicate citrus lift from the Perle hops—hints of lemon zest and subtle orange peel. Elderflower adds a refined floral layer, creating an aromatic bouquet that is both elegant and approachable. Behind these top notes lies a clean, slightly sweet malt foundation that does not dominate.

wheat graincitrus zestelderflowerclean malt

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and lightly sweet, with the wheat providing a soft, almost silky mouthfeel. Mid-palate develops fruity notes—peach and apple—alongside gentle citrus character that plays well with the floral elderflower addition. Bitterness is restrained at 18 IBU, allowing the adjunct and hop aromatics to remain in focus; a crisp, clean finish with minimal residual sweetness.

smooth entrypeach and applerestrained bitternesscrisp finish

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and refreshing, with the citrus and floral notes fading gracefully into a clean aftertaste. No harsh edges or lingering harshness; the modest alcohol warmth (4.3% ABV) ensures a light, sessionable conclusion.

dry and cleanrefreshing fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 5–8°C

Serve at 5–8°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Trade Winds

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About American Wheat Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Wheat Ale?

American Wheat Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar American Wheat Ale

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

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