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Space Race

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Space Race is a 9.5% hazy IPA from Surly, brewed with El Dorado, Citra and Simcoe hops for a juicy flavour the brewery promises will send you straight to the moon. The tagline reads Hazy, Juicy, Citrusy. Dark yellow, low in bitterness, built on Vienna and Pilsner malt, oats and unmalted wheat. Despite the strength, the brewery says it is easy to drink. On draught.

ABV
9.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyjuicyhoppy
citrusy
juicy
hoppy
fruity
malty
wheat
Aroma
The nose leads with bright citrus notes—grapefruit pith and tangerine zest—delivered primarily by the Citra and El Dorado hops.
also:tropical
not found:piney,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Space Race

◎ Appearance

Space Race presents a pale golden hue with a distinctly hazy, turbid appearance characteristic of the style. The cloudiness arises from suspension of yeast and adjunct proteins, creating a soft, diffuse glow rather than a clear shine. A creamy head with moderate retention forms, leaving gentle lacing that gradually fades.

pale goldhazy from yeastmoderate head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright citrus notes—grapefruit pith and tangerine zest—delivered primarily by the Citra and El Dorado hops. Beneath that runs a juicy stone-fruit character, with hints of apricot and peach, while the Simcoe adds a subtle pine backbone. Soft Vienna and Pilsner malt provides a clean, grainy foundation without assertive sweetness.

citrus-forwardstone fruit, apricotnoble grain base

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and approachable despite the 9.5% alcohol, which integrates without harshness. The palate develops a full tropical-citrus profile—grapefruit, orange, and melon—with the oat and wheat adjuncts lending a soft, almost creamy mouthfeel. Bitterness remains restrained at 50 IBU, manifesting as a gentle herbal and piney dry-down rather than aggressive resin.

tropical citrussoft, creamy bodyrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and relatively quick, with citrus and stone fruit lingering for a moderate length. A subtle drying sensation builds from the grain and low bitterness, inviting another sip without fatigue.

citrus persistencegentle fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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 Space Race

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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, juicy character as Space Race will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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