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Cape May IPA

Cape May Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · American IPA · One of 386 American IPAs in hopIQ

The flagship that started it all — the first keg hand-delivered to a local beach bar in 2011. Apollo, Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial give dank citrus and pine over a clean malt backbone, finishing with a firm, dry, lingering bitterness. Classic Cape May from can one.

ABV
6.3%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber10
See all American IPA alternatives →
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

Very dry and assertively bitter.

A trim base, a hop-led finish — the classic setup for a hop-forward beer.

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

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Cape May IPA

Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that leaves clean lacing down the glass. Bright carbonation visible throughout, maintaining a tightly woven foam collar that signals proper conditioning and freshness.

pale goldenbrilliant claritypersistent headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose opens with assertive citrus and pine from Apollo, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops, underpinned by dank, earthy resinous notes. Beneath the hop intensity lies a clean, neutral malt character that provides foundation without competing, allowing the four-hop blend to lead entirely.

citrus peelpine and resindank earthinessclean malt base

Taste

Entry is crisp and well-defined, with bright citrus and piney hop bitterness establishing themselves immediately on the palate. The malt backbone remains restrained but present, offering just enough body to balance the assertive 60 IBU without sweetness, while the dryness builds steadily through the mid-palate.

citrus bitepine forwarddry palatefirm bitterness

Finish

The finish is characteristically dry and lingering, with hop bitterness persisting well into the aftertaste. A clean, resinous dankness holds the palate without any residual sweetness or warming alcohol note.

long dry finishpersistent bitterness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Cape May 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 Cape May 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 hoppy, citrusy, clean character as Cape May 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 →