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Nollaig

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Tawny festive spruce IPA, a limited annual release. Caramel, evergreen forest, fresh spruce and punchy hops on the nose, then sweet, resinous malt with spruce and hops. Brewed from sprigs and bold American hops, Columbus, Citra, Simcoe and Chinook, on a rich malt backbone of pale, wheat and crystal malt.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter45 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppypineyresinous
hoppy
piney
resinous
caramel
malty
herbal
Aroma
The nose opens with bright evergreen and fresh spruce notes layered over caramel malt sweetness and resinous undertones.
also:citrusy
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Nollaig

◎ Appearance

Deep tawny gold with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with good lacing. Medium carbonation creates a gentle effervescence that sustains throughout the pour.

tawny goldclearpersistent headwell-laced

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright evergreen and fresh spruce notes layered over caramel malt sweetness and resinous undertones. Bold American hops—Columbus, Citra, Simcoe, and Chinook—deliver punchy citrus and pine character that frames the festive botanical character without overwhelming the malt foundation.

fresh spruceevergreen forestresinouscaramelcitrus-forward hops

◐ Taste

Entry brings sweet, malt-driven caramel and wheat notes with a rich, full mouthfeel. The mid-palate develops resinous spruce and herbal pine complexity, supported by assertive hopping that builds toward a pronounced bitter finish. The 7% ABV provides enough body to balance the 45 IBU without excess alcohol warmth.

resinous maltherbal pinebalanced bitternessfull-bodied

◑ Finish

Medium-length finish with lingering spruce, pine, and subtle citrus notes fading into a clean, moderately dry aftertaste. The bitterness recedes gently, leaving a pleasant herbal memory.

spruce-forward aftertastedry finishherbal fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Nollaig

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About Spruce IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Spruce 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 Spruce IPA

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

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