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Handsome Jack

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Handsome Jack is a dry-hopped IPA in the American West Coast style at 6.6%. Sweet orange leads, followed by juicy tropical fruit and further citrus notes. The bitterness is high and comes from a mix of American and Japanese hop varieties; Irish pale malt and a share of caramel malt set a rounded sweetness against it, so the beer stays smooth and balanced despite its intensity. It is named after Jack Criss, a 17th-century Irish pirate.

ABV
6.6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter49 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden7
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
citrusyorangetropical
citrusy
orange
tropical
hoppy
juicy
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent sweet orange and mandarin notes, quickly followed by juicy tropical fruit character—mango and passionfruit dominate.
also:caramel
not found:piney,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Handsome Jack

◎ Appearance

Handsome Jack presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass with good lacing. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a visually crisp and inviting pour.

bright goldclear, fine headpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent sweet orange and mandarin notes, quickly followed by juicy tropical fruit character—mango and passionfruit dominate. A secondary wave of citrus zest and a subtle herbal edge from the American and Japanese hops round out the aromatic profile without overwhelming the fruity foundation.

sweet orangetropical fruitcitrus zest

◐ Taste

The palate entry delivers the promised juicy citrus and tropical fruit immediately, backed by a rounded malt sweetness from the caramel component that prevents harshness. The mid-palate develops a firm, clean bitterness from the hop blend—dry and assertive but never aggressive—while the Irish pale malt base provides structure and balance throughout.

citrus-forwardtropical, juicybalanced, clean bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with citrus and herbal hop notes fading gradually into a faintly bitter aftertaste. The beer's 6.6% ABV remains unobtrusive, allowing the flavor to trail off cleanly without alcohol warmth.

dry, lingeringcitrus fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
82
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 Handsome Jack

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About West Coast IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a West Coast 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 West Coast IPA

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all West Coast IPA beers in hopIQ →New to West Coast IPA? Read our guide →Browse Ireland beers →