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Imperial Sculpin

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Sculpin turned up: more hops and 8.5% alcohol. Bursting with citrus and tropical fruit aromas, it delivers orange and resinous hop notes with hints of caramel, a wave of hop bitterness and a body that stays smooth from start to finish. A robust double IPA for hop lovers, brewed year-round, on draft and in cans.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter70 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusytropicalhoppy
citrusy
tropical
hoppy
orange
resinous
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant citrus—orange zest and grapefruit—layered beneath tropical fruit notes of mango and stone fruit.
also:fruity
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Imperial Sculpin

◎ Appearance

Deep golden amber with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The carbonation is brisk and well-integrated, creating a lively visual presence that reflects the beer's assertive character.

deep golden amberpersistent head lacingbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant citrus—orange zest and grapefruit—layered beneath tropical fruit notes of mango and stone fruit. Resinous pine and herbal Edelhopfen character dominate the mid-range, with a subtle caramel sweetness emerging in the background.

citrus zesttropical fruitresinous pineherbal hop

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied despite the elevated alcohol, with orange marmalade and tropical fruit expanding across the palate. Mid-palate brings a wave of assertive bitter resins and clean hop character, balanced by soft caramel malt sweetness that prevents harshness.

orange marmaladesmooth full bodyassertive hop bitternessbalanced sweetness

◑ Finish

Long, warming finish with lingering citrus and resinous hop notes. The alcohol presence becomes gently apparent on the aftertaste without being harsh, leaving a dry, slightly spicy impression.

long finishwarming alcoholdry aftertaste
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
85
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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 Imperial Sculpin

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About Double IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Double 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 Double IPA

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Double IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →