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Winterfest

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Bright golden in color, with a citrus flavor and an aroma of grapefruit, orange zest and a touch of the tropics. It is an IPA made by 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 appears in the winter season of the house.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter60 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
citrusyorangehoppy
citrusy
orange
hoppy
tropical
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent grapefruit and orange zest, layered with subtle tropical fruit notes that recall distant stone fruit and citrus blossom.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Winterfest

◎ Appearance

Bright golden hue with excellent clarity and good light transmission. A modest white head forms quickly and settles to a thin lacing that clings to the glass wall with moderate persistence. Carbonation is evident and well-integrated, creating fine bubbles that rise steadily through the body.

bright goldenclearmoderate head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent grapefruit and orange zest, layered with subtle tropical fruit notes that recall distant stone fruit and citrus blossom. Clean noble hop character dominates without any sharp or grassy edges, while the Malz foundation remains restrained and neutral in support.

citrus-forwardgrapefruit and orangetropical fruit notes

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with immediate citrus and orange flavors that coat the mid-palate cleanly. Bitterness builds gradually to a balanced 60 IBU, never harsh or aggressive, while the Malz backbone provides subtle sweetness without heaviness. The finish remains dry and composed throughout.

citrus-drivenbalanced bitternessclean and crisp

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is medium in length with lingering grapefruit and a subtle herbal hop bite. The beer exits cleanly without astringency or residual sweetness, leaving the palate fresh and ready for the next sip.

dry finishherbal lingering
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
78
Appearance
78
Finish
74
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 Winterfest

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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 citrusy, orange, hoppy character as Winterfest 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 United States beers →