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Nug Wizard

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Five experimental Hop Breeding Company varieties, HBC 586, 630, 638, 522 and 472, go into this 7.6% IPA, a five-hop alchemy that rains down notes of citrus and stone fruit. The brewery labels it an Experimental IPA, a seasonal release brewed in Columbus and sold in cans and on draft only in Ohio.

ABV
7.6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
citrusyfruityhoppy
citrusy
fruity
hoppy
dark fruit
clean
tropical
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus—grapefruit and lemon zest—layered beneath stone fruit notes of apricot and peach.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Nug Wizard

◎ Appearance

A bright golden-amber hue with excellent clarity and fine, persistent carbonation. The head builds quickly and holds with good retention, leaving thin bands of lacing down the glass as it subsides. Light catches the beer with an inviting translucence.

golden-amberclearfine carbonationpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus—grapefruit and lemon zest—layered beneath stone fruit notes of apricot and peach. The five experimental hop varieties create a complex backdrop of tropical fruit and resinous herb character, with a clean, grassy undertone that prevents the aroma from becoming muddled.

citrus zeststone fruittropical notesresinous herbals

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and moderately full-bodied, with immediate citrus and stone fruit flavors that mirror the aroma. The mid-palate develops darker fruit character—plum and cherry notes—balanced against a measured bitterness that sits at 60 IBU without dominating. The finish remains crisp and relatively dry.

citrus-forwardstone and dark fruitmoderate bitternessdry finish

◑ Finish

A lingering citrus and herbal note carries into the aftertaste, with gentle bitterness fading gradually. The finish is clean and leaves the palate refreshed rather than raw.

citrus lingerclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Nug Wizard

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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 citrusy, fruity, hoppy character as Nug Wizard 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 United States beers →