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Celebration

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A winter IPA first brewed in 1981 and released each year from October to December. The brewers select Cascade, Centennial and Chinook on a road trip through the Pacific Northwest and use the dried hops within a few weeks of harvest. The result smells of grapefruit, orange peel and pine resin with a floral edge. Caramel malt gives a full, toffee-tinged body under the hops, and the finish is crisp, resinous and bitter for a long time.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Very bitter65 IBU
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
resinouspineycitrusy
resinous
piney
citrusy
caramel
orange
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with bright citrus notes of grapefruit and orange peel, layered beneath a pronounced pine resin character that carries a subtle floral undertone.
also:floral,clean
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Celebration

◎ Appearance

Deep golden amber with brilliant clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with visible lacing. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a steady stream of small bubbles that sustains the foam structure throughout the tasting.

deep golden amberbrilliant claritypersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright citrus notes of grapefruit and orange peel, layered beneath a pronounced pine resin character that carries a subtle floral undertone. Caramel Malz contributes a soft, toffee-like sweetness that balances the herbaceous hop profile without overwhelming the fresh, harvest-driven character.

grapefruit and citruspine resinfloral edgetoffee sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate enters full-bodied and rounded, with caramel Malz providing a toffee-tinted foundation that carries through the mid-palate. Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops deliver a sustained bitter bite with resinous, herbal notes that build gradually, creating a dry, assertive finish that extends well beyond the initial swallow.

full-bodiedtoffee characterresinous bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and lingering, with a persistent resinous bitterness that holds on the palate for an extended period. The drying effect leaves a clean, herbaceous aftertaste.

long, crisp finishpersistent bitterness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
83
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 Celebration

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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 resinous, piney, citrusy character as Celebration will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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