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Whale Sharks

Verdant Brewing Co Ltd
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🌍 United Kingdom · Double IPA · One of 95 Double IPAs in hopIQ

Whale Sharks is a Double IPA from Verdant Brewing Co, based in Penryn in the heart of Cornwall, United Kingdom. This Cornish powerhouse pours a hazy, deep golden amber with a soft, pillowy white head. The aroma is an ocean of ripe tropical fruit — mango, papaya, and passion fruit ride alongside a wave of fresh pine resin and light citrus zest. On the palate, the body is full and luscious, with a smooth, almost creamy texture that carries the tropical hop character effortlessly. Bitterness builds gently but assertively, balancing the sweetness with purpose. The finish is long, resinous, and warming, leaving a satisfying tropical and dank hop glow that lingers beautifully.

ABV
8.4%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber11
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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

Very dry and assertively bitter.

The malt sets the frame and lets the hops carry the flavour.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Double IPA.
Hop character
hoppy
tropical
citrusy
dank
piney
resinous
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
Distinctive notes
hazy
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FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best British IPAs

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Whale Sharks

Appearance

Whale Sharks presents a hazy, deep golden amber that catches the light with warmth and depth. A soft, pillowy white head forms generously and clings to the glass with fine, persistent lacing. The haze speaks to the unfiltered nature of the brew, adding visual texture that signals the hop-forward character within.

deep golden amberhazy, unfilteredsoft white headpersistent lacing

Aroma

The nose opens with an ocean of ripe tropical fruit—mango, papaya, and passion fruit dominate the bouquet. Fresh pine resin and light citrus zest layer beneath, creating a bright, multi-faceted aromatic profile. The hop presence is assertive yet balanced, with no harsh alcohol burn despite the beer's 8.4% ABV.

tropical fruit forwardpine resinfresh citrusclean hop aroma

Taste

The palate reveals a full, luscious body with a smooth, almost creamy texture that carries the tropical hop character with ease. Tropical fruit and citrus notes persist on entry and mid-palate, while bitterness builds gently but assertively through the center. The balance between sweetness and resinous bite is purposeful and well-calibrated, never veering into astringency.

full-bodied, creamytropical and citrus flavorsclean bitternesswell-balanced

Finish

The finish is long and resinous, leaving a warming, lingering tropical and dank hop glow on the palate. Satisfaction builds as the initial fruit fades into a dry, herbal aftertaste that invites another sip.

long, resinous finishdank hop characterwarming
86
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
87
Appearance
84
Finish
83
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Whale Sharks

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 Whale Sharks

About Double IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Double 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 Double IPA

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

Other Double IPAs in hopIQ

Explore all Double IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →

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