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Merry Taj

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Floral notes in the aroma give way to bright tropical fruit and citrus rind, finishing in a spicy, piney bitterness from Simcoe. Chinook, Centennial, Amarillo, Cascade and Simcoe make up the blend, and the name riffs on Meritage, the wine term for a blend, while nodding to the holiday season. 8.5% ABV.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
floralpineytropical
floral
piney
tropical
spicy
citrusy
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced floral notes from the Edelhopfen blend, quickly followed by bright tropical fruit—pineapple and stone fruit—paired with citrus rind.
also:resinous,clean
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Merry Taj

◎ Appearance

Merry Taj presents a bright golden-amber hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with crisp lacing. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating an inviting visual presentation that signals the beer's aromatic intensity.

golden-amberclearpersistent headcrisp lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced floral notes from the Edelhopfen blend, quickly followed by bright tropical fruit—pineapple and stone fruit—paired with citrus rind. A resinous, piney undercurrent emerges, anchored by the Simcoe character, creating a layered and complex bouquet that rewards repeated sniffs.

floraltropical fruitcitrus rindpineyresinous

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and crisp, with tropical and citrus notes leading the palate. Mid-palate develops a spicy hop character balanced against subtle malt sweetness, allowing the five-hop blend to show its full range. The bitterness builds progressively, finishing with a pronounced piney, resinous bite from Simcoe.

tropicalcitrus-forwardspicy hopsbalanced bitternessresinous finish

◑ Finish

The finish is long and dry, with lingering piney bitterness and a warming alcohol presence that complements rather than dominates. Hoppy notes persist on the palate well after swallowing.

drylingering bitternesswarming
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
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 Merry Taj

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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 floral, piney, tropical character as Merry Taj 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 →