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Big Hearted

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An Imperial IPA with citrus and berry hop aromas and a slight bitterness. At 9.5% ABV it is a year-round member of the Hearted IPA line, brewed with water, malt, hops and cane sugar. Bell's says it took care to honor the legacy of Two Hearted IPA when creating it, so that the new Hearted beers could sit alongside that beer.

ABV
9.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Citrus 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
citrusyberryhoppy
citrusy
berry
hoppy
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus notes—grapefruit zest and orange peel—layered with stone fruit and berry character that suggests a careful balance of noble and American hop varieties.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Big Hearted

◎ Appearance

Big Hearted presents a deep amber hue with excellent clarity and a tightly knit head that leaves fine lacing around the glass as you drink. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, supporting a dense foam collar that persists throughout the tasting.

deep amberclearpersistent head lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus notes—grapefruit zest and orange peel—layered with stone fruit and berry character that suggests a careful balance of noble and American hop varieties. A subtle malt backbone emerges beneath, contributing a light caramel sweetness without dominating the aromatic profile.

citrus zeststone fruitberry notesnoble hops

◐ Taste

Entry reveals immediate citric and fruity hop character, with the medium-high bitterness settling in quickly and building toward the mid-palate. Cane sugar adds a clean, dry sweetness that prevents the beer from becoming too resinous, while the 9.5% ABV provides body and warmth without harsh alcohol burn. The finish is dry and lingering, with persistent hop bitterness framed by a light fruit sweetness.

citrus forwarddry bitternessmedium-full bodywarming alcohol

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is marked by a sustained, clean bitterness with fading berry and citrus notes that extend the experience. Alcohol warmth builds gradually, leaving the palate dry and inviting another sip.

lingering bitternessdry finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
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 Big Hearted

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About Imperial IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial 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 Imperial IPA

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

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