hopIQ
ENDE
Sign up freeSign in

Lunch

Maine Beer Company
Tap to rate
🌍 United States · American IPA · One of 357 American IPAs in hopIQ

Maine Beer Co.'s flagship — an East Coast take on a West Coast-style IPA. Intense hop flavours and aromas of tropical and citrus fruit and pine dominate, balanced by a subtle malt sweetness. Often cited as Maine's best IPA, and the beer the brewery is best known for.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
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
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Firmly bitter and dry.

The malt sets the frame and lets the hops carry the flavour.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American IPA.
Hop character
hoppy
tropical
citrusy
orange
piney
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
clean
Compare with another beer →

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 tropical, hoppy, fruity character as Lunch will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American IPAs in hopIQ

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Lunch

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.

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Lunch

Appearance

Lunch presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine white head that settles to a thin collar with good lacing retention. The carbonation is assertive and visible, creating steady streams of bubbles that maintain the beer's liveliness throughout the pour.

bright goldenclearpersistent lacing

Aroma

The nose is dominated by vibrant tropical fruit and citrus notes—pineapple, orange zest, and passionfruit lead the charge, backed by a distinctive pine resin character that anchors the composition. Beneath the hop intensity lies a subtle malt sweetness that provides gentle balance without obscuring the aromatic complexity.

tropical fruitcitruspine resinclean hop profile

Taste

The palate opens with a crisp, clean entry that immediately showcases hop-driven bitterness and citrus flavour. The mid-palate maintains intense fruity and piney hop character while a restrained malt sweetness prevents the beer from becoming one-dimensional, creating a well-integrated balance that carries through to the close.

hoppy and bittercitrus-forwardbalanced sweetness

Finish

The finish is dry and refreshing, with lingering hop bitterness and a faint citrus persistence that gradually fades. The aftertaste remains clean and crisp, with no cloying residue.

dry finishlingering bitterness
85
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
85
Appearance
85
Finish
82
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Lunch

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

WHERE TO BUY

Not sure where to find Lunch? Search on:

RateBeer →Untappd →