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Hawkshead Rye IPA

Hawkshead Brewery
United Kingdom·Rye IPA
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Brewed with a local pub to celebrate its fourth birthday, and made to pair with hot smoked Cumberland sausages. Full, rich, spiced rye flavours meet Tettnang, Amarillo and Chinook hopping, which adds robust aromas of grapefruit, pine and a spicy, smoky earthiness. The result is a rye IPA at 5.3% that tastes of spice and smoke as much as of hops.

ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicysmokypiney
spicy
smoky
piney
earthy
hoppy
citrusy
Aroma
The nose leads with assertive rye spice—a peppery, warming character—layered with resinous pine and earthy undertones from the Chinook and Tettnang varieties.
also:spicy hop,resinous
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,vanilla

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hawkshead Rye IPA

◎ Appearance

Golden amber hue with bright clarity and fine carbonation. The head forms dense and persistent, with good lacing that clings to the glass throughout the pour. Light transmission reveals the beer's vibrant core color against gentle effervescence.

golden amberbright, clearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with assertive rye spice—a peppery, warming character—layered with resinous pine and earthy undertones from the Chinook and Tettnang varieties. Amarillo adds bright grapefruit zest and a whisper of smoke that frames the grain-forward foundation. The overall impression is complex and layered, neither solely hop-driven nor purely malt-led.

rye spice, pepperypine, resinousgrapefruit zestsmoky earth

◐ Taste

Entry carries full-bodied spiced rye character with a slightly grainy sweetness that immediately mingles with herbal and piney hop bitterness. Mid-palate develops earthy and smoky notes that echo the aroma, while the hop profile adds persistent grapefruit and a dry, resinous texture. Bitterness is moderate and well-integrated, finishing clean without harshness despite the 60 IBU foundation.

spiced rye, full-bodiedpiney, herbal hopsearthy smokedry, resinous finish

◑ Finish

The finish is medium-length, with smoke and spice lingering longer than citrus. A gentle drying sensation from both rye and hops persists on the palate, leaving a warming, peppery aftertaste.

medium lengthsmoky-spicy fadewarming dryness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Hawkshead Rye IPA

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About Rye IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Rye 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 Rye IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, smoky, piney character as Hawkshead Rye IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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