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Hopfather

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Notes of black currant, stone fruit and citrus, with a smooth, warm finish that balances bitterness and malt. Russian River says this beer is all about the hops. It started back in the day with leftover Amarillo and Centennial hops, and over the years the recipe was upgraded with new hop varieties to strengthen the hop foundation.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
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
hoppycitrusydark fruit
hoppy
citrusy
dark fruit
malty
resinous
clean
Aroma
The nose opens with assertive noble hop character—herbal notes and resinous undertones dominate the profile.
also:tropical
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hopfather

◎ Appearance

Pale golden with a light amber tint, reflecting the 8 SRM profile. The beer presents excellent clarity with a resilient white head that maintains good lacing down the glass. Carbonation is brisk and well-integrated, lending a lively visual presentation.

pale goldenclearfine white headpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with assertive noble hop character—herbal notes and resinous undertones dominate the profile. Black currant and stone fruit emerge beneath, with bright citrus notes cutting through the mid-palate. The overall impression is fresh and punchy, with subtle malt sweetness providing a grounding base.

resinous hopsblack currantstone fruitbright citrus

◐ Taste

The palate entry is bold and hop-forward, with 60 IBUs delivering structured bitterness rather than harshness. Mid-palate balances this with subtle malty sweetness and stone fruit character, while citrus notes persist throughout. The 7% ABV remains unobtrusive, allowing the hop profile and clean fermentation character to shine.

pronounced bitternesscitrus-drivenclean fermentationmalt balance

◑ Finish

The finish is warm and moderately long, with lingering resinous and citrus notes fading gradually into dry minerality. Bitterness remains present but softens into a pleasant, balanced aftertaste.

dry finishlingering hop bitternesswarm fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
78
Finish
80
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

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.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Hopfather

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About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a 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 IPA

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all IPA beers in hopIQ →New to IPA? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →