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Pilot IPA

Pilot Beer
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🌍 United Kingdom · American IPA · One of 388 American IPAs in hopIQ

Leith's flagship IPA from Pilot Beer, brewed since 2013 by Matt Johnson and Patrick Jones — Heriot-Watt brewing grads on the Firth of Forth. Scottish pale malt with malted oats and wheat, dry-hopped at three stages with Talus, Bru-1 and Citra for pineapple, pink grapefruit and resinous pine. Extra pale, juicy, dry.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
See all American IPA alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Dry and assertively bitter.

A trim base, a hop-led finish — the classic setup for a hop-forward beer.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American IPA.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
juicy
resinous
tropical
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best British IPAs

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pilot IPA

Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a bright, sustained white head. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, leaving fine lacing that clings to the glass as you drink.

pale goldenclearfine lacingbright white head

Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus notes—pink grapefruit and pineapple from the dry-hop blend of Talus, Bru-1 and Citra. A resinous pine character runs beneath, anchored by a clean, subtle malted grain base with gentle oat and wheat notes.

pineapplepink grapefruitresinous pineclean grain

Taste

The palate opens juicy and tropical, with the citrus and stone fruit character from the hops taking center stage. A moderate, balanced bitterness—60 IBU—develops across the mid-palate without overwhelming the fruit; the malted oats and wheat provide a soft, dry structure that keeps the beer crisp and refreshing.

juicy tropicalbalanced bitternesscitrus-forwardcrisp finish

Finish

The finish is dry and clean, with lingering resinous pine and grapefruit notes fading gradually. No harshness or astringency; the moderate alcohol leaves the beer light and quaffable.

dryresinous aftertasterefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
84
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Pilot IPA

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Tulip glass
Recommended for this style

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Pilot IPA

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 hoppy, citrusy, resinous character as Pilot IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American IPAs in hopIQ

Explore all American IPA beers in hopIQ →New to American IPA? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →