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Sheltered Bay IPA

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A Pacific Northwest-style IPA with bold hop flavor and a strong malt backbone. The aroma mixes toffee, freshly baked bread and vibrant orange and grapefruit zest, and a base of toasted malt with a touch of caramel carries a medium-full body. 7.3% ABV and 70 IBU, from Honolulu Beerworks, which has focused on locally sourced ingredients since opening.

ABV
7.3%
Bitterness
Very bitter70 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
hoppytoastycitrusy
hoppy
toasty
citrusy
bready
malty
orange
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant citrus zest—fresh orange and pink grapefruit—layered over a foundation of toasted malt and toffee notes.
also:caramel,clean,tropical
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Sheltered Bay IPA

◎ Appearance

Light golden hue with bright clarity and excellent transparency. A dense, creamy head forms on the pour with strong retention and fine lacing that clings persistently to the glass. Active carbonation creates a lively visual presence throughout the drinking experience.

light goldencleardense foampersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant citrus zest—fresh orange and pink grapefruit—layered over a foundation of toasted malt and toffee notes. Beneath these, subtle bread-like aromas emerge, along with gentle tropical fruit character that balances the bold hop presence. The malt backbone adds warmth without overwhelming the delicate fruit aromatics.

bright citrustoasted malttoffee, breadtropical undertones

◐ Taste

The palate opens with pronounced hop bitterness tempered by a substantial malt sweetness—caramel and toasted grain create a sturdy backbone. Mid-palate citrus flavors (orange and grapefruit) develop clearly, supported by a clean, bready character that adds complexity and depth. The medium-full body carries all these elements with balance, allowing neither hops nor malt to dominate completely.

bold hoppy bitecaramel sweetnesscitrus-forwardbready malt

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately lingering, with residual grapefruit bitterness and a subtle malt-derived warmth. The aftertaste remains dry without being astringent, leaving a pleasant grassy-herbal memory that invites another sip.

dry finishgrapefruit echoherbal persistence
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
85
Finish
76
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 Sheltered Bay 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 hoppy, toasty, citrusy character as Sheltered Bay 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 States beers →