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Central City Red Racer IPA

Central City Brewers + Distillers
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🌍 Canada · American IPA · One of 364 American IPAs in hopIQ

BC's most awarded IPA — multiple World Beer Cup medals for a reason. Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe hops with grapefruit, citrus and pine over a firm bitter backbone. Red Racer IPA is the benchmark for West Coast Canada IPA: bold, precise and race-ready.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
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
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Very dry and assertively bitter.

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

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American IPA.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
orange
piney
floral
herbal
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best Canadian IPAs

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Central City Red Racer IPA

Appearance

Brilliant golden-amber hue with excellent clarity and bright translucence. A dense, off-white head forms quickly and clings persistently to the glass walls, leaving defined lacing with each sip. Fine carbonation creates a lively, sustained effervescence.

golden-amberbrilliant claritypersistent foamfine carbonation

Aroma

Assertive hoppy character leads with bright grapefruit and orange citrus notes, backed by resinous pine and herbal undertones from Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe. The malt base remains restrained, allowing clean Noble hop character to dominate without muddiness. Aroma is crisp and inviting, with no apparent yeast or adjunct influence.

grapefruit, citruspine, resinherbal hopclean, crisp

Taste

Entry is bright and citrus-forward, with orange and grapefruit flavors establishing themselves immediately on the palate. Mid-palate reveals a firm, dry bitterness with piney, herbal complexity that builds steadily without overwhelming. The malt backbone is lean but present, providing structure and balance to the pronounced hop bitterness. Finish is dry and clean.

citrus-forwardfirm bitternessdry palateherbal-piney

Finish

Long, dry finish with lingering grapefruit bitterness and subtle pine notes that fade gradually. The aftertaste remains clean and refreshing, with no cloying sweetness or hot alcohol.

long, drygrapefruit lingerrefreshing
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
89
Taste
88
Appearance
86
Finish
87
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Central City Red Racer 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 Central City Red Racer 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, crisp character as Central City Red Racer IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American IPAs in hopIQ

Explore all American IPA beers in hopIQ →New to American IPA? Read our guide →Browse Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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