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Loose Cannon

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Maryland's most beloved IPA and Heavy Seas' undisputed flagship — Simcoe, Palisade, and Centennial dry-hopped for a nose of grapefruit, herbs, and pine, a big resinous palate, and a dry, clean, firmly bitter finish. The IPA that made Maryland a craft beer state.

ABV
7.3%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
hoppycitrusyresinous
hoppy
citrusy
resinous
clean
herbal
piney
Aroma
The nose leads with assertive citrus—grapefruit pith and orange zest—layered over a pronounced herbal and piney backbone.
also:fruity,orange
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Loose Cannon

◎ Appearance

Loose Cannon displays a bright amber hue with excellent clarity and a golden sheen. A dense, creamy head forms readily and persists with fine lacing that clings to the glass. The carbonation is brisk and well-integrated, lending visual liveliness without excessive aggression.

amber, clearpersistent foambright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with assertive citrus—grapefruit pith and orange zest—layered over a pronounced herbal and piney backbone. The Simcoe, Palisade, and Centennial hops deliver a resinous, slightly woody character that sits beneath the brighter top notes. Malt presence is restrained, allowing the hop profile to command the aromatics.

grapefruit, orange zestpine, resinherbal hop blend

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp with upfront citrus bitterness and resinous hop intensity. The mid-palate develops a clean, dry malt foundation that neither softens nor competes with the bold hop character. Bitterness builds steadily and sits firmly throughout, creating a full-bodied sensation without sweetness or astringency.

resinous, pineycitrus-forward bitternessdry, clean palate

◑ Finish

A long, dry finish with lingering herbal and pine notes fades gradually into a firmly bitter aftertaste. The 60 IBU bitterness persists cleanly without harshness, characteristic of well-balanced American IPA construction.

long, bitter fadeherbal persistence
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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 Loose Cannon

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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 hoppy, citrusy, resinous character as Loose Cannon 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 →