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Midnight Sun Sockeye Red IPA

Midnight Sun Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · American IPA · One of 356 American IPAs in hopIQ

Midnight Sun's flagship — a red IPA named after Alaska's iconic sockeye salmon. Caramel malt backbone balanced against Centennial and Cascade hops for citrus and pine. Sockeye Red IPA is Anchorage's most recognisable craft beer: bold, balanced and distinctly Alaskan.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
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

Very dry and assertively bitter.

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
citrusy
piney
Malt character
caramel
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
fruity
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Midnight Sun Sockeye Red IPA

Appearance

Deep amber to copper red hue with excellent clarity and bright luminosity characteristic of the style. A dense, off-white head forms quickly and persists well, indicating proper carbonation and malt body. The visual presentation is inviting and suggests a well-crafted, balanced American IPA.

copper-redbright claritypersistent headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose is dominated by crisp pine and citrus notes from classic Centennial and Cascade hop varieties, with prominent grapefruit and herbal undertones. A subtle floral character emerges alongside resinous hop oils, while caramel malt provides a gentle sweet backbone that prevents the aroma from becoming overly aggressive. The overall bouquet is inviting and distinctly Pacific Northwest in character.

pine-forwardcitrus-grapefruitresinous hopsfloral-herbal

Taste

The palate opens with robust hop bitterness balanced by a supportive caramel malt sweetness, creating the hallmark equilibrium of the IPA style. Mid-palate delivers vibrant citrus and pine complexity with a slightly resinous texture that coats without overwhelming. The 65 IBU provides assertive bitterness without astringency, while medium body carries the flavors cleanly through.

balanced bitternesscitrus-pine complexitycaramel sweetnessmedium-bodied

Finish

A dry, lingering bitter finish showcases the Cascade hop character with persistent pine and herbal notes. The aftertaste remains clean and crisp, fading gracefully without metallic or harsh qualities.

dry finishlingering bitternessclean exit
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
81
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Midnight Sun Sockeye Red 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 Midnight Sun Sockeye Red 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, piney, caramel character as Midnight Sun Sockeye Red IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other American IPAs in hopIQ

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

WHERE TO BUY

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