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pFriem Winter Ale

pFriem Family Brewers
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🌍 United States · Red IPA · One of 15 Red IPAs in hopIQ

pFriem Winter Ale is a hop-forward seasonal ale on a rich malt backbone, brewed with pale, Munich and dark crystal malts, a touch of dehusked roasted malt, and Chinook, Citra, Mosaic and Eclipse. Bright tawny amber with an off-white head, it smells of fresh fruitcake, light spice and spruce. The palate is bold, carrying orange zest and huckleberry, and a trace of caramel lingers before an assertive bitterness closes the finish.

ABV
7.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter53 IBU
SRM
golden8
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Dry and firmly 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 Red IPA.
No character signal.

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for pFriem Winter Ale

◎ Appearance

Bright tawny amber hue with excellent clarity and an off-white head that displays good retention and lacing. The carbonation is visible and lively, contributing to a clean, inviting presentation that belies the beer's complexity.

tawny amberbright, clearpersistent white head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with fresh fruitcake spice and a pronounced spruce note that speaks to the Edelhopfen selection. Beneath the herbal and piney aromatics lies a subtle breadiness from the malt bill, creating a rounded, seasonal character.

fruitcake spicespruce, herbalbread malt notes

◐ Taste

The palate enters with bold citrus forward character—distinct orange zest and huckleberry—supported by the rich malt backbone. A trace of caramel sweetness mid-palate provides balance before an assertive hop bitterness closes the finish with clean, drying intensity.

orange zest, citrushuckleberry fruitcaramel sweetnessassertive bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, dominated by the hoppy bitterness with a subtle spice fade. The aftertaste remains clean and refreshing despite the beer's 7.2% ABV.

dry, hoppylingering bitterness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
83
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
79
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of pFriem Winter Ale

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 pFriem Winter Ale

About Red IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Red 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 Red IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same flavor character as pFriem Winter Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Red IPAs in hopIQ

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