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Competition

Highland Park Brewery
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🌍 United States · West Coast IPA · One of 81 West Coast IPAs in hopIQ

Competition is a West Coast IPA hopped with Simcoe, Mosaic and Citra; the exact hop bill shifts from batch to batch, and some batches add Strata. It pours clear gold, and the aroma is expressive, with kiwi chewy candy, lemon zest and juicy mango over a dank, resinous base. The malt stays in the background, a firm bitterness gives the beer its structure, and the finish is dry and snappy at 7.3 percent.

ABV
7.3%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
SRM
golden7
See all West Coast IPA alternatives →

AWARDS

Gold · 2024
Great American Beer Festival
American-Style India Pale Ale
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (American-Style India Pale Ale)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
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.

The malt sets the frame and lets the hops carry the flavour.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another West Coast IPA.
No character signal.

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Competition

◎ Appearance

Competition pours a clear, bright gold with excellent clarity. The head is stable and compact, leaving clean lines of lacing around the glass as it settles. Carbonation is evident and well-integrated, creating a lively visual presence.

bright goldclearstable head

◌ Aroma

The nose is expressive and layered, leading with juicy tropical fruit—kiwi and ripe mango—alongside bright lemon zest and a subtle chewy candy sweetness. Beneath the fruit-forward character sits a dank, resinous hop base that anchors the profile with earthy, piney notes. Malt is restrained, allowing the hop character to dominate.

kiwi, mango, lemondank resinexpressive hop character

◐ Taste

The palate opens clean and hoppy, with the tropical and citrus notes from the aroma translating into a juicy, snappy entry. A firm, structured bitterness emerges in the mid-palate, providing backbone without harshness, while malt remains supportive rather than prominent. The bitterness carries through cleanly to the finish.

firm bitternesscitrus-drivenclean hop bite

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and snappy, with lingering hop bitterness that fades briskly. No sweetness or malt character lingers; the aftertaste is clean and refreshing.

drysnappy finishbitterness lingers
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Competition

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 Competition

About West Coast IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a West Coast 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 West Coast IPA

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

Other West Coast IPAs in hopIQ

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