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Bear Knuckle IPA

Boxing Bear Brewing Co.
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🌍 United States · American IPA · One of 386 American IPAs in hopIQ

A classic American IPA with 9+ pounds of hops per barrel — well above stylistic average. Aromatics are bright, resinous and bitter-threaded, with a bone-dry finish that hides the 7.7% ABV. Four-time winner of the New Mexico IPA Challenge (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021) — in the local craft canon this is now as inevitable as gravity.

ABV
7.7%
Bitterness
Very bitter80 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
See all American IPA alternatives →

AWARDS

Winner · 2016
NMIPA Challenge 2016
Winner · 2017
NMIPA Challenge 2017
Winner · 2019
NMIPA Challenge 2019
Winner · 2021
NMIPA Challenge 2021
Winner — NMIPA Challenge 2016
Winner — NMIPA Challenge 2017
Winner — NMIPA Challenge 2019
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Bone-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Sharp bitter finish.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Assertively bitter and very dry.

The malt sets the frame and lets the hops carry the flavour.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American IPA.
Hop character
hoppy
resinous
citrusy
piney
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bear Knuckle IPA

Appearance

Bright golden amber with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a steady stream of small bubbles. The color sits at the lighter end of the amber spectrum, reflecting the restrained grain bill beneath the hop-forward formulation.

golden amberclearpersistent lacingwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose is immediately assertive and resinous, with bold pine and citrus notes rising from the substantial hop charge of 9+ pounds per barrel. Behind the bright hop aromatics lies a clean, mineral-forward backdrop with minimal malt sweetness—the grain recedes into a supporting role. The overall impression is of fresh, herbal bitterness threaded through with grapefruit zest and woody undertones.

resinous pinecitrus, grapefruitherbal, mineralhop-forward

Taste

The palate enters dry and intensely hoppy, with the 80 IBUs expressing themselves as a sustained, clean bitterness rather than harshness. Mid-palate offers piney and citrusy character with a subtle backdrop of pale Malz that adds structure without sweetness. The full body carries the bitterness confidently through to the finish, with no lingering sweetness to soften the edges.

bone-dryresiny hopcitrusfull-bodied bitterness

Finish

The finish is long and impressively dry, with the 7.7% ABV masked entirely by the intensity of the hop profile. Lingering pine and resinous notes fade gradually, leaving behind a clean, slightly woody aftertaste with no residual malt sweetness.

dry finishlingering pineclean aftertaste
86
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
87
Appearance
84
Finish
85
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Bear Knuckle IPA

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Tulip glass
Recommended for this style

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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

Food Pairing

What to eat with Bear Knuckle IPA

About American IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American 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 American IPA

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

Other American IPAs in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all American IPA beers in hopIQ →New to American IPA? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →