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Cosmic Little Thing

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
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🌍 United States · New England Double IPA · One of 25 New England Double IPAs in hopIQ

Introduced in 2024 as a limited release of the Little Thing series and kept in national distribution since, this hazy double IPA is built around hop varieties with space-themed names: Comet, Strata and Helios, joined by Eureka and Simcoe. Munich malt, oats and wheat give a soft, slightly bready body. The hops bring orange, passion fruit and lychee with notes of berries and citrus zest, and a clean snap of bitterness keeps the finish dry.

ABV
8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter35 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
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
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A clean close sets the character — an invitation to the next sip.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another New England Double IPA.
Hop character
orange
citrusy
tropical
hoppy
Distinctive notes
hazy
berry
Malt character
bready

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Cosmic Little Thing

◎ Appearance

Hazy golden-yellow with a soft, persistent white head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The cloudiness comes from the wheat and oat adjuncts, creating an opaque, inviting visual character typical of the New England style. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated.

hazy goldensoft white headcloudy from grain

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus zest and stone fruit—orange peel and passion fruit dominate, with an underlying lychee sweetness that rounds the top notes. A gentle bready warmth from the Munich malt provides foundation, while the noble hop character (Comet, Strata, Helios) adds a clean, almost floral complexity without aggressive earthiness. The overall impression is fruit-forward and inviting, with minimal alcohol vapour.

passion fruit, orangelychee, citrus zestbready grain baseclean hop character

◐ Taste

The palate opens soft and slightly sweet, with the oats and wheat delivering a velvety mouthfeel and mild biscuit undertone. Mid-palate fruit flavours intensify—berries and citrus emerge alongside the passion fruit from the aroma—while a clean bitterness builds gradually from the Eureka and Simcoe additions. The finish turns dry and snappy, with the IBU level (35) providing structure without harshness, letting the fruit linger without overwhelming sweetness.

soft, velvety bodyberries, citrus, passion fruitclean bitternessdry snap

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is crisp and relatively short-lived, with citrus zest and a whisper of berry persisting as the bitterness fades cleanly. No cloying sweetness remains, and the alcohol warmth is barely perceptible despite the 8% ABV.

dry citrus fadeshort, clean finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Cosmic Little Thing

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 Cosmic Little Thing

About New England Double IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a New England Double 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 New England Double IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hazy, dry, bready character as Cosmic Little Thing will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other New England Double IPAs in hopIQ

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