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Black Hills IPA

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Black Hills IPA from Rapid City wears its geography in every sip — named for the ancient granite surrounding the Firehouse brewery, it pours deep gold with citrus and pine leading the charge, backed by a crisp, mineral bitterness (60 IBU) that mirrors the landscape itself. At 6.5%, it's assertive without being heavy, clean without being thin. Built for wide-open spaces.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycitrusymineral
hoppy
citrusy
mineral
clean
piney
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus—orange and grapefruit pith—layered beneath a pronounced pine resin character.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Hills IPA

◎ Appearance

Deep gold pour with excellent clarity and bright translucence. The head forms quickly and persists with fine retention, leaving distinct lacing on the glass with each sip. Carbonation is assertive and visible, creating a lively visual impression that underscores the beer's crisp character.

deep goldclearfine lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus—orange and grapefruit pith—layered beneath a pronounced pine resin character. Underneath sits a mineral backbone that echoes the granite landscape, with a subtle clean malt foundation that avoids sweetness. The hop profile is forward without being aggressive, inviting immediate engagement.

citrus-forwardpine resinmineral backboneclean

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and bright, with citrus and pine building quickly across the mid-palate. The mineral character—reminiscent of slate and stone—provides a dry, geological undercurrent throughout. The 60 IBU bitterness lands firm but never harsh, lingering as a clean, refreshing bite that balances the hop intensity without overwhelming the palate.

hoppy bitemineral-drivencitrus depthbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

Medium-length finish with persistent bitterness that fades cleanly to a dry, almost granite-like dryness. Aftertaste maintains the pine and citrus memory without any lingering sweetness or cloying quality.

dry finishmineral aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
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 Black Hills IPA

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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 hoppy, citrusy, mineral character as Black Hills IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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