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Skull Candy

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Citrus with a honeyed edge and pine needles come from Centennial in the kettle; sunny citrus, more pine needles and a tropical kiss follow from the Citra, Mosaic and Chinook dry hop. This Hazy IPA reaches 6.5% ABV and winks at the headphones of the 2010s. Barley, wheat and oat malt, hops and yeast build it, brewed in Lübeck's Werftquartier.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
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
citrusyhoppypiney
citrusy
hoppy
piney
fruity
tropical
honey
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus notes—lemon zest and orange pith—layered beneath a subtle honeyed sweetness from the malt foundation.
also:wheat
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Skull Candy

◎ Appearance

Skull Candy presents a pale golden hue with pronounced haziness throughout the body, characteristic of the style. The suspended yeast and fine hop particles create an opaque, cloudy appearance that catches light with a soft, diffused glow. A modest white head forms and clings to the glass with fair retention, leaving sporadic trails of lacing as you drink.

pale goldenhazy throughoutsoft white head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus notes—lemon zest and orange pith—layered beneath a subtle honeyed sweetness from the malt foundation. Pine needles emerge distinctly from the Centennial kettle addition, while the dry hop blend of Citra, Mosaic, and Chinook introduces a tropical character: hints of passionfruit and stone fruit weave through. The overall profile remains clean and punchy, with no harsh alcohol burn despite the moderate 6.5% ABV.

citrus zestpine needlestropical fruithoneyed malt

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and citrus-forward, with orange and lemon flavors taking the lead before pine bitterness arrives mid-palate. The addition of wheat and oat malz contributes a light, creamy mouthfeel and subtle breadiness that balances the hop intensity. Bitterness reaches approximately 50 IBUs—enough to provide structure and drying sensation without overwhelming the fruit-forward character, while a whisper of tropical stone fruit lingers through the mid-palate.

citrus-drivenpine bitternesscreamy wheat basetropical undertone

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length with a clean, dry exit that leaves subtle pine and citrus oils on the palate. Lingering honeyed notes fade gracefully, leaving behind a refreshing, thirst-quenching aftertaste without astringency.

dry finishrefreshinglingering citrus
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
77
Appearance
75
Finish
76
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 Skull Candy

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About Hazy IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Hazy 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 Hazy IPA

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

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