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Zmaj IPA

Zmajska Pivovara
Croatia·American IPA
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Zmajska Pivovara's flagship IPA — a well-hopped American IPA from Zagreb's Dragon Brewery. American hop varieties deliver tropical fruit, citrus and a resinous bitterness over a clean, balanced malt base with a firm, dry finish at 60 IBU. Zmaj IPA is one of Croatia's most awarded craft IPAs: a beer that demonstrates the Dragon Brewery's technical ambition and hop expertise.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous 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
hoppyresinousclean
hoppy
resinous
clean
fruity
tropical
piney
Aroma
The nose is dominated by classic American hop aromatics—vibrant citrus and tropical fruit notes lead, with prominent grapefruit and pine undertones.
also:citrusy
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Zmaj IPA

◎ Appearance

A bright golden amber body with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head. The carbonation is crisp and well-integrated, creating fine bubbles that cling to the glass. A visually balanced and appealing pour that signals a well-crafted IPA.

golden amberclearwhite headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by classic American hop aromatics—vibrant citrus and tropical fruit notes lead, with prominent grapefruit and pine undertones. Floral and herbal hop characteristics provide complexity, while the clean malt base allows the hop character to shine without any yeast or adjunct distraction.

citrus-forwardtropical fruitpinefloral

◐ Taste

The palate opens crisp and clean, with immediate citrus and grapefruit hop flavors layered over a balanced malt sweetness. The mid-palate builds a resinous, herbal bitterness that's well-integrated rather than harsh, supporting the tropical and fruity hop profile. The 60 IBU delivers firm structure without overwhelming the overall balance.

citrus-drivenresinousbalancedbitter edge

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and crisp with a lingering resinous aftertaste that showcases the hop expertise. Clean and refreshing, with no cloying sweetness—the bitterness fades gracefully into a pleasant herbal memory.

drycleanlingering hop character
83
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
82
Finish
81
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 Zmaj IPA

More from Zmajska Pivovara

Zmaj Pale Ale
Zmaj Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
5% · 38 IBU
Find matches →

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 hoppy, bitter, resinous character as Zmaj IPA 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 Croatia beers →