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Virtuous

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Kirkstall's flagship session IPA at 4.5%, brewed gluten-free and vegan in a west coast manner; Citra and Simcoe lead the hopping. The nose opens on grapefruit peel, lemon and lime. On the palate tropical and citrus fruit take over, joined by hints of pine and a touch of blueberry over a layered malt base and firm carbonation. Poured on cask and sold in cans; on record since 2017.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous 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
citrusytropicalhoppy
citrusy
tropical
hoppy
malty
piney
berry
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant grapefruit peel and citrus zest—lemon and lime—layered over the herbaceous and resinous character of the Simcoe hop.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Virtuous

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright clarity and a white head that holds well, leaving fine lacing on the glass. The carbonation is firm and persistent, with a steady stream of bubbles rising through the body. The beer presents a clean, inviting visual profile typical of the session IPA style.

pale goldenclearfirm carbonationwhite lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant grapefruit peel and citrus zest—lemon and lime—layered over the herbaceous and resinous character of the Simcoe hop. Citra adds tropical top notes that frame a soft, clean Malz base without apparent yeast esters or adjunct character. The overall impression is fresh and aromatic without being aggressive.

grapefruit peellemon, limetropicalresinous

◐ Taste

Tropical and citrus fruit dominate the palate entry, with stone fruit and subtle blueberry undertones weaving through the mid-palate. A measured pine bitterness emerges without dominating, supported by a layered Malz foundation that provides body and structure. The firm carbonation cuts cleanly through, refreshing the palate and preventing any cloying sweetness.

tropical fruitcitrus forwardpine bitternessclean malt base

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and moderately long, with citrus peel lingering gently on the lips and a subtle herbaceous fade. Residual carbonation maintains a crisp, refreshing quality that invites the next sip without lingering heaviness.

drycitrus peel fadecrisp
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
79
Appearance
77
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 Virtuous

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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 citrusy, tropical, hoppy character as Virtuous 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 →