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Little Whaleboat

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Mango, pineapple, grapefruit and pine, with floral notes of rose and chamomile. Citra, Mosaic, Columbus and Talus hops sit on American 2-Row, Maine Malt House Pilsner and Blue Ox wheat and light Munich malts in this 6.5% year-round IPA. In 2021 the brewery helped Maine Coast Heritage Trust buy the Little Whaleboat Islands, some of the last undeveloped islands in Casco Bay, and the beer carries their name.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
tropicalfloralhoppy
tropical
floral
hoppy
piney
citrusy
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with vibrant tropical fruit—mango and pineapple dominate—layered over bright grapefruit and pine notes.
also:wheat,clean
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Little Whaleboat

◎ Appearance

Little Whaleboat presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with good lacing. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a bright, inviting visual presentation characteristic of a well-made American IPA.

pale goldenclearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with vibrant tropical fruit—mango and pineapple dominate—layered over bright grapefruit and pine notes. Floral elements of rose and chamomile emerge on closer inspection, while the Citra, Mosaic, Columbus and Talus hops create a complex, evolving bouquet that remains clean and well-defined.

tropical fruitgrapefruit, pinefloral, roseEdelhopfen-driven

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a surge of mango and pineapple, supported by a firm but balanced bitterness that sits around 60 IBU. Mid-palate brings forward the citrus and pine character with a subtle floral undertone, while the blend of American 2-Row, Maine Malt House Pilsner, and wheat malts provides a clean, crisp structure without excess sweetness or body.

tropical entrybalanced bitternesscitrus-forwardclean malt base

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and moderately long, with lingering pine and grapefruit notes fading into a subtle herbal and floral echo. The 6.5% ABV remains imperceptible, allowing the hop character to persist cleanly without warming or harshness.

dry finishlingering citrusclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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 Little Whaleboat

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About American IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American 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 American IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same tropical, floral, hoppy character as Little Whaleboat will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all American IPA beers in hopIQ →New to American IPA? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →