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Ichthyosaur IPA

Great Basin Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · American IPA · One of 386 American IPAs in hopIQ

Named after Nevada's state fossil, the Icky IPA has been the flagship since day one in 1993. Cascade hops drive citrus-and-pine bitterness over a caramel malt backbone — balanced enough to convert non-IPA drinkers, bold enough to satisfy hopheads. Won silver at the 2006 World Beer Championships.

ABV
6.4%
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
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Bone-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Sharp bitter finish.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Very dry and assertively bitter.

A trim base, a hop-led finish — the classic setup for a hop-forward beer.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American IPA.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
piney
orange
Malt character
caramel
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ichthyosaur IPA

Appearance

Golden amber hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. Carbonation is bright and even, with a steady stream of small bubbles rising through the body. The overall presentation is clean and inviting, characteristic of a well-crafted American IPA.

golden amberclearpersistent headfine carbonation

Aroma

The nose is immediately dominated by Cascade hop character — bright citrus notes mingle with herbaceous pine and a subtle earthy quality. Beneath the hop expression lies a restrained caramel malt foundation that adds warmth without overshadowing the floral and resinous top notes. Clean fermentation allows the hop aromatics to shine without yeast-derived distractions.

citrus-forwardpiney hopscaramel undertoneclean fermentation

Taste

Entry is smooth and approachable, with balanced malt sweetness from the caramel backbone providing a solid platform for the hop bitterness. Mid-palate reveals layered citrus and pine flavors that build gradually, supported by gentle toasted malt notes that prevent harshness. The 60 IBU bitterness is firm but integrated, never astringent — a hallmark of restraint that invites both IPA enthusiasts and those new to the style.

balanced bitternesscitrus and pinesmooth entrycaramel malt support

Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with hop bitterness lingering pleasantly without excessive astringency. A faint orange note emerges in the aftertaste, echoing the citrus character and inviting another sip.

dry finishlingering bitternessrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Ichthyosaur IPA

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 Ichthyosaur IPA

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, piney character as Ichthyosaur IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American IPAs in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all American IPA beers in hopIQ →New to American IPA? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →