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Bad Santa

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Toasted malt and roast character blend with an alluring herbal hop aroma from copious Fuggle hops in this deep red-brown Cascadian dark ale. Brewed for a limited time each holiday season at 7.5% ABV and 65 IBU, with two-row, melanoidin and dehusked black malt and Magnum, Fuggle, Willamette and Cascade hops. Its tagline borrows from the holiday song: you'd better watch out.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Very bitter65 IBU
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
dark30
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
roastedherbalhoppy
roasted
herbal
hoppy
malty
dark fruit
piney
Aroma
Copious Fuggle hops lead with a pronounced herbal character, layered beneath toasted malt and subtle roast notes.
also:citrusy
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Bad Santa

◎ Appearance

Deep red-brown body with opaque clarity, characteristic of the Black IPA style. A thick, tan head forms with moderate retention and fine lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation appears brisk, evident in the steady rise of bubbles.

deep red-brownopaquefine lacing

◌ Aroma

Copious Fuggle hops lead with a pronounced herbal character, layered beneath toasted malt and subtle roast notes. Willamette and Cascade hops add herbal complexity with hints of pine and gentle citrus zest. The nose balances dark grain warmth with noble hop aromatics.

herbal hopstoasted maltpine, citrus notes

◐ Taste

Entry presents roasted malt sweetness with melanoidin depth, quickly met by assertive herbal and piney hop bitterness. Mid-palate develops dark fruit undertones and lingering resinous character from Fuggle's earthy signature. The 65 IBU delivers moderate bitterness without overwhelming the malt backbone.

roasted maltherbal bitternessdark fruit

◑ Finish

A persistent dry finish with herbal and piney hop resins lingering on the palate. Slight roast character fades into a clean aftertaste at 7.5% ABV, leaving no alcohol heat.

dry, herballong finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
80
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 Bad Santa

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About Black IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Black 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 Black IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, herbal, hoppy character as Bad Santa will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Black IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →