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Arms Race

Big Grove Brewery
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🌍 United States · American Pale Ale · One of 217 American Pale Ales in hopIQ

An American pale ale that lives on the IPA border — Chinook, Centennial, and a massive Citra dry-hop over a rich amber-malt body. Bright citrus and stone-fruit hop aromas, firm bitterness, and enough malt sweetness to balance without cloying. Arms Race is Big Grove blurring style categories on purpose.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter55 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
See all American Pale Ale alternatives →
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

Firmly bitter and dry.

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 American Pale Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
tropical
orange
piney
floral
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Arms Race

Appearance

Arms Race presents a bright amber hue with excellent transparency and a fine white head that settles to a persistent collar. The carbonation is lively, with steady streams of fine bubbles maintaining good head retention and clean lacing down the glass.

bright amberclearpersistent headfine carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant citrus notes—orange zest and grapefruit—layered over tropical fruit esters that suggest peach and apricot from the generous Citra dry-hop. Beneath the hop-forward character sits a subtle floral spice from Chinook and Centennial, with just enough warm Malz sweetness to anchor the profile.

citrus forwardtropical fruitfloral spicedry-hopped

Taste

The palate enters with crisp citrus and stone fruit intensity, followed by a firm but clean bitterness that builds gradually through the mid-palate. The amber Malz base provides a bready, slightly toasted foundation that balances the hop aggression without turning cloying, leaving room for the piney resin notes to shine.

citrus-drivenfirm bitternessMalz backbonestone fruit

Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering citrus and a subtle bitter edge that fades into a faint Malz sweetness. The aftertaste remains pleasantly hoppy and refreshing without fatigue.

dry finishlingering citrusclean exit
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Arms Race

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

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Arms Race

About American Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar American Pale Ale

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

Other American Pale Ales in hopIQ

Explore all American Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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