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Empire IPA

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Floral aromas from a blend of English and American hops sit over a deep malt backbone in this 5.2% IPA. It looks back to the original India Pale Ale, brewed for export with higher alcohol and hop levels to survive the sea voyage across the British Empire. The brewery says that style has become much rarer in recent years.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
floralmaltyhoppy
floral
malty
hoppy
clean
tropical
citrusy
Aroma
The nose leads with floral and herbal notes from a carefully balanced blend of English and American hop varieties.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Empire IPA

◎ Appearance

Empire IPA presents a deep golden to light amber hue, characteristic of its substantial Malz backbone. The beer shows good clarity with a persistent white head that leaves crisp lacing down the glass. Carbonation is moderate and evenly distributed, supporting a stable foam collar.

deep goldenclearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with floral and herbal notes from a carefully balanced blend of English and American hop varieties. Beneath the hop character lies a pronounced Malz sweetness—toasted grain and subtle caramel undertones that anchor the aromatic profile. The interplay between noble florality and deep grain character reflects the beer's historical brewing tradition.

floral hopsherbaltoasted grain

◐ Taste

The palate opens with moderate malt sweetness and biscuit notes that establish a solid foundation. Hop bitterness develops gradually across the mid-palate, reaching approximately 60 IBU with a clean, resinous edge rather than sharp astringency. The malt backbone remains present throughout, preventing the beer from becoming thin or one-dimensional, and balances the hop expression effectively.

malt-forwardmoderate bitternessbalanced

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with the bitterness tapering gradually while a faint Malz sweetness persists. The aftertaste carries echoes of floral hops and toasted grain, leaving a satisfying and gently warming conclusion.

dry finishlingering
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
78
Finish
76
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 Empire IPA

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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 floral, malty, hoppy character as Empire IPA 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 Kingdom beers →