Tröegs Perpetual IPA
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Tasting Notes
Perpetual IPA leads with a loud, resinous hop aroma — pine, grapefruit pith, and a thread of tropical fruit underneath. On the palate it's assertively bitter with a medium-full body that gives the hops something to push against; there's enough biscuity malt backbone to keep it from feeling harsh. The finish is long and drying, with the resin lingering well past the swallow. It's a straightforward West Coast-leaning IPA that doesn't try to be subtle about what it is.
About the Brewery
Tröegs Independent Brewing is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, founded by brothers Chris and John Trogner in 1997. They built a reputation on hop-forward beers and have maintained serious craft credibility in a competitive Mid-Atlantic market. Their Scratch Series of rotating experimental beers and the bourbon barrel-aged Troegenator are among their most talked-about offerings alongside Perpetual. They operate a large brewpub and production facility that draws visitors from across the region.
Food Pairings
The sustained bitterness and resinous character here work well against rich, fatty foods that need cutting. A burger with aged cheddar is a natural match because the hop bite slices through the fat cleanly. Spicy chicken wings pair well because bitterness and heat amplify each other in a way that keeps both interesting. Sharp cheddar or a hard, pungent cheese like aged gouda mirrors the resinous quality without fighting it. Fish tacos with a lime slaw also work — the citrus in the hops echoes the lime while the body stands up to the fish.
Style Guide
American IPA is defined by prominent hop character — bitterness, aroma, and often dry-hopping — built on a relatively clean, neutral malt base that supports rather than competes with the hops. The style typically runs 6–7.5% ABV and draws on American hop varieties like Centennial, Cascade, Simcoe, and Citra, which deliver citrus, pine, and tropical notes absent from their English predecessors. It diverged from English IPA by dialing down the malt sweetness and dialing up raw hop intensity, and it sits between the lighter session IPA and the heavier double IPA in both alcohol and bitterness.