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Lake Effect IPA

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Hazy orange under a tight, snow-white head. Grapefruit, mango and tangerine in the aroma. The body is medium with subtle malt behind a balanced bitterness, and the flavour turns to grapefruit, wintergreen and a soft touch of pine. The finish comes out dry. Built around North American hops, with oats and wheat alongside barley malt. The brewery releases it in winter.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Very bitter80 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyorangehoppy
citrusy
orange
hoppy
piney
wheat
resinous
Aroma
The nose is dominated by vibrant North American hop character: grapefruit and tangerine lead, with secondary notes of ripe mango cutting through.
also:clean
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Lake Effect IPA

◎ Appearance

Lake Effect IPA presents a hazy orange body with moderate turbidity characteristic of its wheat and oat adjuncts. A tight, snow-white head sits atop the beer, displaying good initial retention and clean Schaumkleiden down the glass as you drink. The haziness and warm golden-orange hue create an inviting, textured visual presence.

hazy orangetight white headmoderate clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by vibrant North American hop character: grapefruit and tangerine lead, with secondary notes of ripe mango cutting through. Beneath the citrus sits a subtle grainy sweetness from the barley, wheat, and oat bill, grounding the aromatics without overpowering them. No yeast-derived esters or phenols distract from the clean, fruit-forward profile.

grapefruitmangotangerinecitrus-forward

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and medium-bodied, with the wheat and oat structure providing a soft, slightly creamy mouthfeel. Mid-palate reveals grapefruit and a hint of wintergreen alongside gentle piney resin from the hop selection, while a balanced 80 IBU bitterness builds without becoming harsh. The Malz character remains subtle, allowing the hop bitterness and citrus notes to dominate through the center of the palate.

citrus bitternessclean palatepiney resinmedium body

◑ Finish

The finish turns decisively dry, with lingering grapefruit and a peppery hop bite fading cleanly into the aftertaste. No sweetness or cloying malt character remains, leaving the mouth refreshed and ready for the next sip.

drygrapefruit fadeclean exit
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
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 Lake Effect IPA

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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 hazy, citrusy, dry character as Lake Effect IPA 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 Canada beers →