hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

River Runner

Tap to rate

The third release in the brewery's 2026 Road Trip Series, named for the rivers, hills and coastline of northern New South Wales. The dry hops lead: Krush in cryo form brings fresh mango, guava and peach, while Mosaic, Superdelic and Nectaron add waves of tropical fruit, citrus and berry. Pale malt with a little light Munich gives a clean, lightly bready base. The palate is juicy yet bright, and a clear bitterness from Magnum keeps the finish dry.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus 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
fruitytropicalpeach
fruity
tropical
peach
juicy
citrusy
bready
Aroma
The nose is immediately fruit-forward and tropical, led by the Krush cryo hops delivering vibrant mango, guava and peach.
also:berry,clean,hoppy
not found:piney,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for River Runner

◎ Appearance

River Runner presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright, lively carbonation. The head forms with moderate density and displays solid retention, leaving fine lacing as the beer settles. The overall impression is clean and inviting, with an active bead that sustains throughout the tasting.

pale goldenbrilliant claritypersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose is immediately fruit-forward and tropical, led by the Krush cryo hops delivering vibrant mango, guava and peach. Mosaic, Superdelic and Nectaron layer in additional waves of citrus, stone fruit and berry complexity. Beneath these lies a clean, lightly bready maltiness from pale malt and Munich, providing a subtle base without dominating the hop aromatics.

mango, guava, peachtropical citrusberry notesbready backbone

◐ Taste

The palate opens juicy and bright, with the stone fruit and tropical character following through from the aroma. The malt foundation remains light and clean, adding a subtle bready sweetness that frames the hops without becoming cloying. A clear bitterness from Magnum builds through the mid-palate, progressively drying the finish and keeping the beer crisp and balanced.

juicy tropical fruitstone fruit sweetnessbright, clean maltprogressive bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is decisively dry, with the Magnum bittering holding firm and the residual fruit fading steadily. The aftertaste carries a lingering citrus and herbal dryness without astringency, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

dry, clean finishherbal citrus fade
85
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
84
Appearance
82
Finish
83
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

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.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with River Runner

More from Black Hops Brewing

Black Hops Pale Ale
Black Hops Pale Ale
Pale Ale
4.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
East Coast Crisp
East Coast Crisp
Mid-Strength Lager
3.3%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
East Coast Haze
East Coast Haze
Hazy Pale Ale
4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
East Coast Local
East Coast Local
Australian Lager
4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
East Coast Pacific
East Coast Pacific
Pale Lager
4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
G.O.A.T.
G.O.A.T.
New England IPA
6%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Hornet
Hornet
IPA
5.6%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
No Filter
No Filter
Schwarzbier
5.4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →

About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 IPA

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

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