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DirectoryWhitewater Brewery

Belfast Ale

Whitewater Brewery
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🌍 Northern Ireland · Pale Ale · One of 65 Pale Ales in hopIQ

Northern Ireland's most recognised craft ale. Amber-coloured with a malty character, fruity hop aroma and a balanced bitter finish. Brewed with Mourne spring water.

ABV
4.5%
IBU
30
SRM
amber12
Alle Pale Ale-Alternativen →

Flavor Profile

How this beer tastes, mapped across 44 dimensions

crisp
75%
refreshing
63%
malty
50%
dry
38%
fruity
25%
hop bitterness
25%
hoppy
25%
wheat
25%
bodied
25%
floral
13%
citrus
13%
smooth
0%
Explore all Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Compare with another beer →

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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 crisp, refreshing, malty character as Belfast Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Pale Ales in hopIQ

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Belfast Ale

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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
Recommended for this style

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.

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Belfast Ale

Appearance

Belfast Ale presents a beautiful amber hue that exemplifies the Irish Pale Ale style, with excellent clarity and bright translucency. The beer displays a dense, creamy white head that persists well, indicating proper carbonation and fresh condition. The visual presentation is inviting and characteristic of a well-crafted pale ale.

amberclearwhite headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose reveals a harmonious blend of fruity hop aromas balanced with subtle malty sweetness and grain character. Fresh herbal and floral notes emerge from the hops, while the Mourne spring water accentuates the crisp, clean aromatic profile. This is a restrained yet complex nose that invites further exploration.

fruity hopsfloralmalty graincrisp

Taste

The palate opens with a clean, crisp entry featuring balanced grain and bread-like malty notes that provide a satisfying foundation. The mid-palate develops hoppy and fruity characteristics that complement rather than overpower the malt structure, while maintaining excellent drinkability. The finish transitions to a dry, medium-bodied bitterness (30 IBU) that feels sophisticated and well-integrated rather than harsh.

clean maltfruity-hoppy balancedry finishmedium-bodied

Finish

The finish is pleasantly dry with a lingering bitter edge that fades gracefully, leaving no unpleasant aftertaste. The crisp, clean character persists through the finish, making this an excellent session ale.

drycleanbalanced bitter
82
hopIQ score
aroma
80
taste
83
appearance
85
finish
81
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Food Pairings

What to eat with Belfast Ale