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Retro

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A malt-forward IPA in the traditional English manner. Pale, Munich and crystal malts give a caramelised malt character, against which Cascade and Columbus set a floral hop note. The mouthfeel is rounded and the balance between grain and hops is even, in contrast to the fruit-driven IPAs elsewhere in the range. At 5.6% it deliberately looks back to an older idea of the style.

ABV
5.6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 2022
World Beer Awards
★Silver — World Beer Awards
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltycaramelfloral
malty
caramel
floral
hoppy
clean
citrusy
Aroma
The nose leads with soft floral and herbal notes from Cascade and Columbus hops, layered beneath a warm, caramelized malt sweetness from the pale and Munich base.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Retro

◎ Appearance

Light golden in color with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that builds with pour and holds well through the glass. Carbonation is lively, evidenced by a steady stream of fine bubbles rising through the body. The head clings to the glass with good lacing on each sip.

light goldenclearfine persistent headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with soft floral and herbal notes from Cascade and Columbus hops, layered beneath a warm, caramelized malt sweetness from the pale and Munich base. Crystal malt contributes gentle notes of honey and light toffee. The balance tilts toward the grain rather than assertive hop aromatics, creating an inviting and approachable profile.

floral, herbal hopscaramelized malthoney, toffee notesbalanced, grain-forward

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a rounded malt sweetness that establishes the beer's foundation, supported by the subtle caramel and honey character of the crystal malt. Cascade and Columbus hops deliver a measured bitterness and dry floral finish that remains restrained rather than dominant. The interplay between grain and hops is even and harmonious, without either character overwhelming the other.

malt-drivenbalanced grain-to-hop ratiomoderate bitternessfloral, dry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with the malt sweetness gradually receding and the hop bitterness lingering briefly on the palate. A subtle herbal note persists in the aftertaste without astringency.

clean, drylingering herbal note
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
77
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 Retro

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About English IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English 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 English IPA

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

Compare with another beer →