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Nosferatu

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A strong red IPA that began at the Cleveland brewpub in the early 1990s and now returns every August in the Double Feature series. Simcoe and Cascade hops meet a grist of two-row malt, Crystal 77 and Special Roast. It pours deep ruby to chestnut under a tan head. Toasted bread crust, caramel and a light roast sit beneath grapefruit and pine resin, with an earthy, woody edge from the hops. The body is full, the bitterness firm and lingering, and the finish turns dry with some alcohol warmth.

ABV
8.0%
Bitterness
Very bitter70 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
hoppypineytoasty
hoppy
piney
toasty
earthy
citrusy
roasted
Aroma
The nose opens with toasted bread crust and caramel sweetness from the Crystal 77 and Special Roast malts.
also:caramel
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Nosferatu

◎ Appearance

Nosferatu presents a deep ruby to chestnut hue, characteristic of its Red IPA classification and malt bill. A tan head forms and maintains moderate retention, settling into persistent lacing. The beer displays excellent clarity with bright light transmission through the glass.

deep ruby to chestnuttan head, good retentionbright and clear

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with toasted bread crust and caramel sweetness from the Crystal 77 and Special Roast malts. Grapefruit and pine resin from the Simcoe and Cascade hops emerge in the mid-register, layered beneath a woody, earthy undertone. The overall composition balances malt-derived warmth with assertive noble hop character.

toasted bread, caramelgrapefruit, pine resinearthy, woody hop edge

◐ Taste

The palate enters with full body and pronounced bitterness that builds and lingers across the mid-palate. Caramel and toasted grain flavors provide backbone, while citrus and piney resin notes from the hops cut through with precision. The 70 IBU rating manifests as a firm, measured bitterness rather than harshness, balanced against the beer's 8% alcohol presence.

full-bodied, firm bitternesscaramel, toasted graincitrus and pine resin

◑ Finish

The finish turns distinctly dry, with lingering bitterness and a light alcohol warmth in the throat. The aftertaste leans toward wood and hop resin, fading gradually with no cloying sweetness.

dry finish, lingering bitternesslight alcohol warmth
83
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
81
Finish
80
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 Nosferatu

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About Red IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Red 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 Red IPA

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

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