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Start Bay

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Start Bay is a light golden pale ale named after the bay that lies close to the brewery. It is brewed to be very refreshing, with plenty of fruity, tropical notes and zesty citrus tones. The beer is poured from keg, and in that form it won bronze in its category at the SIBA South West regional awards in 2026. It is also sold in cans.

Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8

AWARDS

Bronze · 2026
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, South West)
Keg Pale Ale (4.5% – 5.5%)
★Bronze — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, South West) (Keg Pale Ale (4.5% – 5.5%))
Where this beer sits
Body
no reading yet
Sweetness
no reading yet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
no reading yet
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitytropicalcitrusy
fruity
tropical
citrusy
clean
hoppy
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant tropical fruit notes—pineapple and passionfruit—layered beneath a pronounced zesty citrus character.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Start Bay

◎ Appearance

Start Bay presents a bright, light golden hue with excellent clarity and fine, persistent carbonation. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with good retention, leaving delicate trails of lacing down the sides.

light goldenclearfine carbonationpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant tropical fruit notes—pineapple and passionfruit—layered beneath a pronounced zesty citrus character. A soft, clean malt backbone provides subtle sweetness without overwhelming the fruit-forward profile.

tropical fruitcitrus zestpineappleclean malt

◐ Taste

The palate is crisp and refreshing on entry, with tropical and citrus flavors developing through the mid-palate. Bitterness is restrained and balanced at 35 IBU, allowing the fruity character to remain central while providing enough edge to prevent flatness.

crisptropicalbalanced bitternessrefreshing

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and dry with a lingering citrus note that fades gracefully. The aftertaste is light and refreshing, leaving no heaviness on the palate.

dry finishcitrus aftertastelight
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
74
Serve at 7–10°C

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Start Bay

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About Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Pale Ale

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

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