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Headwaters

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Bright citrus and an earthy hop character define this pale ale, hopped with Citra and Simcoe over Pilsner, Munich and Briess malts. It has 5.2% ABV and 45 IBU. Victory brews it with quality water, which it calls beer's most essential ingredient, and every pour helps support water initiatives. It is released from December through March.

ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter45 IBU
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
earthycitrusyhoppy
earthy
citrusy
hoppy
clean
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced citrus notes from the Citra hop, offering bright grapefruit and lemon character.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Headwaters

◎ Appearance

Headwaters presents a bright golden-amber hue characteristic of its 8 SRM specification. The beer displays excellent clarity with a white, persistent head that leaves fine lacing along the glass. Carbonation is lively, creating a steady stream of fine bubbles that sustains the foam structure throughout the pour.

golden-amberclearpersistent headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced citrus notes from the Citra hop, offering bright grapefruit and lemon character. Beneath this sits an earthy, herbal foundation from Simcoe, grounding the aromatic profile. A subtle biscuit and grain sweetness from the Pilsner and Munich malt base emerges on closer inspection, creating a balanced and inviting bouquet.

citrus-forwardherbal-earthybiscuit grainbright Citra

◐ Taste

The palate entry is clean and crisp, with the citrus character transitioning seamlessly from nose to mouth. Mid-palate reveals a gentle Malz sweetness from the Munich malt, which integrates with the earthy hop bitterness without overwhelming. The 45 IBU bittering sits at a moderate level, providing structure without harsh edges, and the finish remains dry and refreshing.

citrus biteearthy hopmoderate bitternessclean palate

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and crisp, with lingering citrus and herbal notes fading gradually into a clean aftertaste. The overall impression is refreshing and balanced, without astringency or harshness.

dry finishlingering citrusrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
75
Serve at 7–10°C

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Headwaters

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About Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Pale Ale

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →