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Giant Step

CRAK Brewery
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🌍 Italy · American IPA · One of 388 American IPAs in hopIQ

CRAK's statement double-dry-hopped IPA — loaded with Simcoe and Citra for an explosion of mandarin, mango, pineapple and cedar with dank resinous undertones. A chewy malt backbone holds up a long, satisfying bitter finish at 7.5% ABV. Where Guerrilla shows finesse, Giant Step shows raw hop power — the DIPA sibling to CRAK's flagship and one of Italy's most intensely hopped beers.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
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 and assertively bitter.

The grain stays in the background so every note the beer offers can come from the hops.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American IPA.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
dank
piney
resinous
tropical
orange
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#7 of 50The Best Italian IPAs

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Giant Step

Appearance

Bright golden amber with excellent clarity and fine carbonation. The dense, creamy head builds quickly and clings persistently to the glass, leaving substantial lacing as the beer descends.

golden amberfine carbonationpersistent head lacing

Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant citrus—mandarin and grapefruit pith from Citra—layered with ripe mango and pineapple notes from Simcoe. A woody cedar and resinous pine backbone emerges beneath, with subtle dank herbal undertones that add complexity and depth.

mandarin, mango, pineapplecedar and pineresinous, dank

Taste

The palate opens with bright tropical fruit and citrus zest, backed by a firm, chewy malt structure that prevents the beer from becoming thin or one-dimensional. The bitter finish develops steadily, with piney resin and dank herbal notes asserting themselves through the middle and building into a lingering, dry conclusion at 60 IBU.

tropical fruit forwardchewy malt backbonesustained bitter finish

Finish

Long and satisfying, with the resinous hop bitterness persisting well into the aftertaste. Dry, warming, and unapologetically hop-driven, leaving the palate gripped by cedar and pine.

long, dry finishresinous aftertaste
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
90
Taste
88
Appearance
85
Finish
87
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Giant Step

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 Giant Step

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, resinous character as Giant Step 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 Italy beers →