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Fluctuation

Equilibrium Brewery
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🌍 United States · New England Double IPA · One of 10 New England Double IPAs in hopIQ

Fluctuation is a hazy double IPA named after the solar fluctuations that create the northern lights, which also appear on its label. The nose brings passion fruit, mango, pineapple and lychee over an undertone of sorbet and cream. On the palate it is resinous and tropical, with an assertive yet soft bitterness, and it ends in the juicy, fruit-laden finish the brewery aims for across its hoppy beers. It has served as the starting point for several later variants.

ABV
8.1%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
SRM
amber9
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 New England Double IPA.
No character signal.

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fluctuation

◎ Appearance

Fluctuation presents a pale golden hue with pronounced cloudiness from suspended yeast and hop particles, characteristic of the New England style. The head is generous and long-lasting, with fine lacing that clings to the glass. Bright carbonation visibly supports the voluminous foam retention.

pale goldenhazy, yeast-ladenpersistent foam

◌ Aroma

The nose is immediately dominated by stone fruit and tropical notes: passion fruit, mango, pineapple and lychee form the primary layer. Beneath this fruit-forward character lies a supporting base of sorbet and cream, lending a soft, almost dessert-like undertone that prevents the hops from becoming sharp or one-dimensional.

passion fruit, mango, pineapplelychee, tropicalsorbet, creamy backdrop

◐ Taste

Entry is juicy and fruit-saturated, with tropical hop character unfolding across the palate. The mid-palate reveals a resinous quality alongside continued stone fruit notes, while the bitterness—measured at 60 IBU—asserts itself without harshness, finishing soft and integrated. The finish is long and fruit-laden, clean and refreshing without astringency.

resinous, tropicaljuicy fruitassertive yet soft bitterness

◑ Finish

The aftertaste lingers with the signature hop-driven fruitiness, fading gradually rather than abruptly. A subtle drying sensation and lingering tropical notes mark the very end, leaving the palate primed for the next sip.

lingering fruitclean, refreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Fluctuation

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 Fluctuation

About New England Double IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a New England Double 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 New England Double IPA

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

Other New England Double IPAs in hopIQ

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