Central City Red Racer IPA vs Copper State IPA: Which Should You Drink?

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Central City Red Racer IPA

Central City Brewers + Distillers

Canada · American IPA

hopIQ rank #434

78%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Copper State IPA

Huss Brewing Company

United States · American IPA

HOPIQ TAKE

Central City Red Racer IPA if you want a clean, West Coast backbone with restraint, Copper State IPA if you want something richer and more textured. Both clock in at identical specs—6.5% ABV, 60 IBUs—so the split is really about philosophy: Red Racer is that disciplined, drinkable IPA that doesn't overstay its welcome, while Copper State leans into malt sweetness that actually makes those bittering units feel integrated rather than sharp. They're the same beer on paper but completely different drinking experiences.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Central City Red Racer IPA when…

→You want to taste what classic American IPA fundamentals actually taste like
→You're drinking multiple beers and need something that won't fatigue your palate
→You prefer bitterness upfront with minimal sweetness interference

Pick Copper State IPA when…

→You like IPA but find some versions too sharp or one-dimensional
→You want malt character visible alongside the hop profile
→You're new to IPAs or skeptical about the style

SIDE BY SIDE

	Central City Red Racer IPA	Copper State IPA
ABV	6.5%	6.5%
Bitterness	Strongly bitter	Strongly bitter
Colour	Golden	Amber
Style	American IPA	American IPA
Origin	Canada	United States

WHAT IT TASTES OF

7 shared · 4 distinct

Both beers

hoppycitrusycrisppineybittercleanrefreshing

Only Central City Red Racer IPA

orange

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Central City Red Racer IPACopper State IPA

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Central City Red Racer IPA

HoppyCitrusyCrisp

Red Racer tastes like someone figured out the exact moment to stop adding hops and call it done. There's a bright, almost herbal snap on the front—citrus pith, maybe some pine—but it backs off quickly into a crisp, slightly grainy finish. No residual sweetness trying to balance anything out; this beer trusts that 60 IBUs will do the talking. It's the kind of IPA that finishes dry enough to make you want another sip immediately, which is exactly the point.

Copper State IPA

HoppyCitrusyCrisp

Copper State has weight to it that Red Racer doesn't—there's a caramel malt undercurrent that makes the beer feel rounder in your mouth. The bitterness is there (you definitely taste those 60 IBUs), but it's playing against a backdrop of bread crust and subtle sweetness rather than floating alone. It's more approachable if you're not a hop-head, but it's not dumbed down. This is an IPA for someone who wants flavor complexity without the aggressive edges.

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