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Miss California

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Miss California is the Imperial IPA in the Freigeist range, standing next to historical German styles such as Gose and Lichtenhainer. Freigeist Bierkultur is the experimental offshoot of the Cologne brewpub Braustelle, with brewers Peter Esser and Sebastian Sauer behind it, and works without a brewery of its own.

ABV
8.0%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter45 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
hoppycitrusy
hoppy
citrusy
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent citrus and pine notes from noble hops, revealing grapefruit and orange peel character.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Miss California

◎ Appearance

Miss California displays a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves distinct lacing on the glass. The beer shows lively carbonation and maintains good visual presence throughout the drinking experience.

golden, clearpersistent headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent citrus and pine notes from noble hops, revealing grapefruit and orange peel character. Beneath the hop-forward profile, subtle malt sweetness and grain notes provide a balanced foundation, with clean fermentation character throughout.

citrus-forwardpine, grapefruitnoble hop character

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and assertive, with citrus and hop bitterness immediately present on the palate. The mid-palate carries sustained bitterness and resinous hop oils, supported by toasted malt sweetness that keeps the beer from becoming one-dimensional. At 8% ABV, the alcohol warmth is noticeable but well-integrated.

hoppy, citrusyfull-bodiedbalanced bitternesswarm alcohol

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with hop bitterness persisting alongside a gentle warming sensation. The aftertaste remains refreshingly crisp without excessive harshness.

dry finishlingering bitternesswarming
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
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 Miss California

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About Imperial IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial 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 Imperial IPA

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

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