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8-Ball

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Spicy rye and zesty hops get mashed up in 8-Ball Rye IPA, one of the first recipes the brewery took out of the kitchen. Rye and crystal rye share the malt bill with Simpsons Best, CaraGold and a low-colour crystal malt in this 6.2% IPA, while Magnum, Columbus, Cascade, Citra and Galaxy carry the hops.

ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicyhoppycitrusy
spicy
hoppy
citrusy
malty
piney
herbal
Aroma
The nose leads with prominent spice and pepper notes from the rye grain, layered beneath bright citrus and stone fruit aromatics from Citra and Galaxy hops.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 8-Ball

◎ Appearance

8-Ball presents a bright copper-gold hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The carbonation is crisp and active, with steady streams rising through the liquid. The overall impression is clean and inviting, characteristic of a well-crafted IPA.

copper-goldclearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with prominent spice and pepper notes from the rye grain, layered beneath bright citrus and stone fruit aromatics from Citra and Galaxy hops. Cascade contributes herbal undertones that balance the forward fruit character, while Columbus adds earthy depth. The malted grain bill rounds out the profile with subtle caramel and toasted notes.

rye spicecitrus and stone fruitherbaltoasted grain

◐ Taste

The palate opens with immediate rye-driven spice and pepper warmth, followed by a wave of citrus zest and tropical fruit from the hop blend. The malt sweetness emerges in the mid-palate with caramel notes and a light toasted character that provides structure without heaviness. Bitterness builds steadily, clean and resinous, finishing dry with lingering hop grip at 60 IBU.

rye spice and peppertropical citruscaramel maltclean resinous bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and moderately long, with the spice and hop bitterness fading into a subtle grain character. A peppery warmth persists on the palate, inviting another sip.

dry finishlingering spice
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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 8-Ball

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About Rye IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Rye 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 Rye IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, hoppy, crisp character as 8-Ball will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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