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Whitstable Bay Pale Ale

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Sweet maltiness meets fresh pine from hops added late, with spice, fruit and citrus around it. The beer takes its inspiration from brisk walks along the beach past the Old Neptune in Whitstable, and it is made with Challenger and Styrian Goldings (Slovenia). Pale gold, 4.0% in bottle and can, 3.9% on cask, it won Gold and the England Country Winner title at the World Beer Awards 2025.

ABV
4.0%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter27 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2025
World Beer Awards
English-style Pale Ale
Gold · 2025
World Beer Awards
England – English-style Pale Ale
★Gold — World Beer Awards (English-style Pale Ale)
★Gold — World Beer Awards (England – English-style Pale Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
maltypineyfruity
malty
piney
fruity
hoppy
citrusy
spicy
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced pine and resinous hop character from the late additions, balanced by soft, grainy Malz sweetness.
also:clean
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Whitstable Bay Pale Ale

◎ Appearance

Pale gold in the glass with bright clarity and good transparency. The head forms quickly and holds with fine, persistent Schaumkleiden that cling to the glass walls. Carbonation is lively but restrained, maintaining a composed visual presence.

pale goldclearfine lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced pine and resinous hop character from the late additions, balanced by soft, grainy Malz sweetness. A light floral undertone emerges beneath, with subtle earthy notes from the Styrian Goldings that ground the composition without dominating.

pineyfloralgrainy Malzsoft earthiness

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and refreshing, with light malty sweetness establishing the foundation. The mid-palate develops a soft-earthy bitterness that integrates smoothly rather than asserting itself harshly, while subtle citrus notes weave through without sharp acidity. Finish remains dry and balanced.

smooth bitternesslight Malz sweetnessrefreshingclean finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is short to medium, leaving behind a gentle pine dryness and subtle earthiness without residual stickiness. A thirst-quenching quality persists, inviting the next sip.

dryrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
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 Whitstable Bay Pale Ale

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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 malty, piney, fruity character as Whitstable Bay Pale Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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