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Whitstable Bay Lager

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Spicy overtones meet the scent of fresh flowers, with citrus and pine in the aroma and a crisp palate. Hops from three countries build the bitterness of 24 IBU: Challenger (UK), Saaz (Czechia) and Centennial (US). Whitstable Bay Lager is a pale gold blonde lager at 4.5%, sold in bottles and on keg, and takes its name and seaside spirit from the Kent town of Whitstable.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter24 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
spicyfloralpiney
spicy
floral
piney
citrusy
hoppy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with spicy, peppery notes characteristic of Challenger hops, followed by delicate floral and herbal undertones from Saaz.
also:malty
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Whitstable Bay Lager

◎ Appearance

Pale gold with excellent clarity and bright translucence. A fine white head forms readily and maintains discrete lacing down the glass. Carbonation appears brisk and well-integrated.

pale goldbright claritypersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with spicy, peppery notes characteristic of Challenger hops, followed by delicate floral and herbal undertones from Saaz. A citrus top-note—grapefruit zest and mandarin—arrives from Centennial, creating an unusual but cohesive profile for a lager. The malz base remains subtle and clean throughout.

noble-hop floralityspicy, pepperycitrus zest

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with a light, dry palate that avoids heaviness. Mid-palate develops a balanced interplay of floral and citrus character, while Challenger imparts a structured, gently spicy backbone. Bitterness remains restrained—24 IBU provides definition without assertiveness—and resolves cleanly.

crisp, dryfloral-citrus balanceclean bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is bone-clean and dries quickly, leaving a faint noble-hop florality and citrus whisper in its wake. No lingering sweetness or heaviness.

bone-drylingering florality
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Whitstable Bay Lager

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About Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Pale Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same crisp, spicy, bitter character as Whitstable Bay Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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