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Akela IPA

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A fruity IPA built around Styrian Wolf hops from Slovenia, an exception for a brewery that otherwise works almost entirely with English-grown hops. Passion fruit and citrus fruits lead, with a spicy note alongside. The beer was created in 2018 by the brewery's own brewer. At 4.8% it is modest in strength for the style. It is brewed in runs rather than continuously and won bronze in the cask pale ale class at the regional SIBA awards for the South West in 2025.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Bronze · 2025
SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, South West)
Cask Pale Ale
★Bronze — SIBA Indie Beer Awards (regional, South West) (Cask Pale Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitycitrusytropical
fruity
citrusy
tropical
hoppy
spicy
clean
Aroma
Striking aromatic profile dominated by passion fruit and citrus—lemon zest and candied orange peel lead the charge from the Styrian Wolf hops.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Akela IPA

◎ Appearance

Bright golden-amber hue with excellent clarity and a creamy white head that adheres persistently to the glass walls. Fine carbonation delivers steady effervescence and good head retention, typical of cask-conditioned presentation.

golden-amberclearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

Striking aromatic profile dominated by passion fruit and citrus—lemon zest and candied orange peel lead the charge from the Styrian Wolf hops. A subtle spice thread weaves through, supported by restrained malt undertones that allow the hop character to remain central.

passion fruitcitrus zestspicedhop-forward

◐ Taste

The palate opens with bright citrus and stone fruit complexity, driven by the distinctive Slovenian hop variety. Mid-palate bitterness develops cleanly at 60 IBU without harshness, balanced by a modest malt backbone and light body befitting the 4.8% ABV. The spicy character persists throughout, adding dimension and preventing flatness.

citrus-drivenmoderate bitternessfruityspiced

◑ Finish

Clean, dry exit with lingering citrus and spice notes that fade progressively. The modest alcohol and restrained residual sweetness allow the hop bitterness to define the aftertaste without astringency.

dry finishhop-lingering
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
77
Serve at 8–11°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 Akela IPA

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About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 IPA

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

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