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Craftworks Moon Bear IPA

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Craftworks' most celebrated beer — named after the Asian black bear (moon bear) native to Korea. Rich, hoppy and assertive with citrus and pine resin character. Moon Bear IPA became a revelation for Seoul's early craft drinkers and remains Craftworks' signature offering after 15+ years.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycitrusyresinous
hoppy
citrusy
resinous
piney
clean
fruity
Aroma
The nose bursts with assertive citrus and pine resin aromatics that immediately establish this beer's hop-forward character.
also:herbal,malty
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Craftworks Moon Bear IPA

◎ Appearance

Moon Bear IPA presents a bright golden amber hue with excellent clarity and a persistent white head that demonstrates proper carbonation and conditioning. The beer's luminous appearance is characteristic of a well-crafted American IPA, inviting the drinker with its vibrant visual presentation.

golden amberbrilliant claritypersistent white headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose bursts with assertive citrus and pine resin aromatics that immediately establish this beer's hop-forward character. Complementary floral and herbal undertones add complexity, while subtle tropical fruit esters suggest a sophisticated yeast profile that balances the aggressive hop bill.

citrus-forwardpine resinfloralherbal

◐ Taste

The palate delivers bold grapefruit and citrus flavors upfront, followed by pronounced pine and resinous hop character that builds throughout the mid-palate. The 60 IBU bitterness remains assertive yet balanced, creating tension with subtle tropical fruit notes while maintaining impressive drinkability for a 6% ABV beer.

citrus-dominantgrapefruitpine-resinousbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

Moon Bear concludes with a clean, dry finish that showcases excellent hop expression without excessive lingering bitterness. The crisp departure leaves a pleasant herbal and citrus aftertaste that invites the next sip.

dry finishcrispclean departure
86
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
85
Appearance
84
Finish
85
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Craftworks Moon Bear IPA

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Craftworks Jirisan IPA
American IPA
5.8% · 60 IBU
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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, rich character as Craftworks Moon Bear IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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