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Devil's Staircase

Back Forty Beer Company
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🌍 United States · American IPA · One of 364 American IPAs in hopIQ

Back Forty's balanced everyday IPA — bright citrus and mild tropical hop character over a bready American-pale-ale spine, moderate bitterness, and a dry-but-not-punishing finish. Named for the trail. This is what Alabama craft looks like when it's not trying to be either a hazy or a west-coast bruiser. Middle-of-the-plate, done right.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter43 IBU
Citrus 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

Dry finish.

A clean close sets the character — an invitation to the next sip.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American IPA.
Hop character
hoppy
citrusy
orange
floral
tropical
Malt character
bready
malty
Distinctive notes
hazy
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Devil's Staircase

Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright translucence. The head forms with modest persistence, laying down fine lacing as the beer settles. Carbonation is crisp and visible, with steady streams of fine bubbles rising through the glass.

pale goldenclearbright carbonationfine lacing

Aroma

The nose leads with clean citrus notes—bright orange zest and lemon—supported by gentle tropical fruit undertones of pineapple and stone fruit. A subtle floral character threads through, with light bready Malz in the background providing a grounding American pale-ale foundation.

citrus zesttropical fruitfloral accentclean malt

Taste

Entry is crisp and approachable, with immediate citrus and orange character melding into a balanced middle palate. The bready Malz backbone holds firm without sweetness, while moderate hop bitterness builds gradually across the mid-palate—enough to assert presence without aggression.

citrus forwardbalanced bitternessbready spinedry palate

Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with lingering hop bitterness and orange peel character fading steadily without harshness. Aftertaste remains refreshing and inviting, encouraging another sip.

dry finishlingering citrusclean aftertaste
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
80
Appearance
78
Finish
77
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Devil's Staircase

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 Devil's Staircase

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, bitter character as Devil's Staircase 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 United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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