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Liquid Swords

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A West Coast IPA with a hop character of pineapple, papaya and passionfruit, finishing crisp and dry. It comes from Free State in Lawrence, Kansas, the brewery that opened in 1989 as the first legal brewery in the state in over 100 years, and it is the West Coast IPA of the house. Free State’s beers go from a 14-barrel brewhouse to Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter60 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
tropicalhoppyjuicy
tropical
hoppy
juicy
piney
citrusy
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant tropical stone fruit—prominent pineapple and papaya notes intermingle with passionfruit character.
not found:floral,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Liquid Swords

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright clarity and excellent transparency. The head forms quickly with fine, delicate bubbles that maintain steady retention, leaving thin curtains of lacing down the glass. Carbonation is lively and well-defined throughout.

pale goldenclearfine head retentionwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant tropical stone fruit—prominent pineapple and papaya notes intermingle with passionfruit character. A subtle piney and herbal undertone from the Edelhopfen rounds the bouquet, while a light grainy malt base sits quietly underneath, never overwhelming the hop expression.

tropical stone fruitpineapple, papayaherbal pineclean malt backbone

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a juicy tropical entry that carries through to the mid-palate, where moderate bitterness (60 IBU) emerges with restraint. Citrus and pine notes develop as the beer sits on the tongue, balanced by a light, clean malt structure that keeps the overall impression refreshing rather than heavy. The hop bitterness is firm but integrated, never astringent.

juicy tropicalmoderate bitternesscitrus and pineclean, dry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and decisively dry, with lingering hoppy bitterness and a faint citrus fade that extends for several seconds. The aftertaste leaves the palate clean and thirsty.

crisp and drylingering bitternessrefreshing fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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 Liquid Swords

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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 tropical, dry, crisp character as Liquid Swords will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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