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Day Drifter

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A bright, smooth IPA with citrus and tropical hop notes, dosed with nitro and crafted for crushability. At 4.8% ABV and 25 IBU it is built for long afternoons and easy repeat rounds, a lighter-bodied way into Harpoon's hoppy side that stays lively without getting heavy in the glass.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusytropicalhoppy
citrusy
tropical
hoppy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus notes—lemon zest and grapefruit pith—layered beneath tropical fruit esters of pineapple and passionfruit.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Day Drifter

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a bright, clean presentation. The nitro infusion creates a dense, fine-bubbled head that clings to the glass with persistent lacing. Carbonation is visibly lively yet refined, maintaining a creamy collar throughout the drinking experience.

pale goldennitro-soft headpersistent lacingbright clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus notes—lemon zest and grapefruit pith—layered beneath tropical fruit esters of pineapple and passionfruit. A subtle herbaceous quality from the noble hops threads through without aggressive resin or pine. The Malz base remains restrained and clean, allowing the hop character to dominate the aromatic profile.

citrus zesttropical fruitherbaceous hopsclean malt

◐ Taste

The palate enters soft and approachable, with the citrus character translating smoothly from aroma into a gentle flavor base. Mid-palate develops tropical stone fruit and a light, dry hop bitterness that remains well-integrated at 25 IBU—present enough to frame the beer without dominating. The low alcohol footprint keeps the body light and drinkable, finishing crisp without astringency.

smooth entryintegrated bitternesslight bodydry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and brief, with residual citrus and tropical notes fading gracefully into a dry, refreshing aftertaste. No lingering harshness or heaviness—the beer invites another sip.

drybrief faderefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
82
Finish
75
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 Day Drifter

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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, smooth, tropical character as Day Drifter 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 →