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Hop Waves

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A session IPA from the Holden's Craft line, introduced in 2025. The brewery describes a gentle pale colour, a light body and a smooth, silky mouthfeel. Tropical fruit dominates the aroma, followed by fresh berry notes and delicate grapefruit, carried by a subtle malt backbone and closed by a soft, refreshing bitterness. Drinkers confirm the citrus side, grapefruit above all, and find the beer light and dry. At 4.0% it sits at the lower end of the house range in strength.

ABV
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
tropicalcitrusyberry
tropical
citrusy
berry
malty
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced tropical fruit notes—stone fruits and citrus blend seamlessly—followed by fresh berry undertones that add complexity without overwhelming.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hop Waves

◎ Appearance

Hop Waves presents a pale, golden hue characteristic of the session IPA style, with excellent clarity and a bright, inviting appearance. The head forms with modest density and exhibits good retention, settling into a thin lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation is lively and visible, imparting a refreshing visual presence.

pale goldenclearfine head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced tropical fruit notes—stone fruits and citrus blend seamlessly—followed by fresh berry undertones that add complexity without overwhelming. Grapefruit emerges as a distinct secondary note, supported by a subtle, clean malt backbone that grounds the composition without asserting itself. The overall impression is light and inviting, with no sharp or fermentation-derived characters.

tropical fruitcitrus, grapefruitfresh berry

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and crisp, with the malt providing a delicate, slightly sweet foundation that never becomes cloying. The mid-palate develops the citrus and grapefruit character observed in the aroma, maintaining a light, dry body throughout. Bitterness arrives soft and measured at 40 IBU, finishing dry without harshness, allowing the tropical notes to persist through the finish.

dry, citrus-forwardlight bodysoft bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and refreshing, with residual grapefruit character lingering pleasantly without excessive length. Aftertaste remains dry and moreish, inviting another sip.

dry finishcitrus aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
78
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 Hop Waves

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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 tropical, citrusy, light character as Hop Waves will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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