HOPIQ FACEOFF
United States · American Pale Ale · 5.5% ABV
82%
Overall similarity
hopIQ take
Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale if you want a more assertive, full-bodied pale ale,
Heart of Darkness Impermanence Pale Ale if you want something leaner and more delicate.
Both hit the same IBU target at 38, but that extra 0.8% ABV in Invasion gives it noticeably more weight and malt presence. Impermanence plays the restraint game—it's got backbone without demanding your attention. Choose based on whether you're in the mood to be grabbed or gently convinced.
At a glance
Generated from the four anchored axes — never hand-written.
Structurally near-identical
Structurally these two are the same beer. The difference is in the aromatics. Bitterness and texture match exactly. Heart of Darkness Impermanence Pale Ale runs a touch fuller in body (Δ 4). Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale brings a distinct floral note that Heart of Darkness Impermanence Pale Ale doesn't.
Beer DNA
Body
Δ 4
Sweetness
Δ 3
Situations
In words
Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale
Invasion leans into its name with a bolder malt foundation than you'd expect from the ABV. There's a caramel sweetness upfront that anchors the pine and citrus notes without letting them run wild. The body sits solidly in the middle—not thin, not heavy—which gives the hops room to work without overshadowing the beer's structure. Finishes with a dry, slightly resinous edge that keeps you reaching for another sip.
Heart of Darkness Impermanence Pale Ale
Impermanence is the thinking person's pale ale—restrained where others overreach. The malt bill is almost transparent, just enough to support the hops rather than compete with them. You get bright, clean grapefruit and a whisper of herbal bitterness that feels precise rather than aggressive. It drinks light on your palate but doesn't taste thin; there's intelligence in the construction.
See what fits your taste
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Bitterness
Δ 0
Texture
Δ 0
Only Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale
Shared character
Only Heart of Darkness Impermanence Pale Ale